An example of the quality of the rose quartz in the Greenhorn Mtns - K. Zellner
Karl & Dan get ready to mine rose quartz at the Pugh Claim, Tulare County.
Rose Quartz rescheduled Field Trip August 29th, 2010
Rescheduled due to the Bull fire in Kernville, only a small group was able to join us on this adventure. But we were lucky enough to meet up with members of the Tri Club Field trip, who had braved 38 degree nights to camp out nearby. Larry Layton showed off some star rose quartz, and 4 people were able to collect some of that beautiful material. It was nice to see so many newbies out on their first trip.
Rainbow Ledge Field Trip March 27, 2010
After meeting at 9:30am at the Inyokern Market, we headed to the Claim, with the last hardy souls staying until around 3:00pm. Vehicles parked from the bottom of the hill around to the top, and alot of great material, as usual, was collected. Everyone collected safely, and seemed happy with their adventure. There were rockhounds from Tehachapi, Palmdale, and the Kern River Valley.
Panamint Springs Agate Trip Sunday, February 21st, 2010
Members of our club joined the Lone Pine club for a trip to the Minietta Road area west of Panamint Springs Road, just outside the Death Valley National Monument. Meeting early in Lone Pine, then at the cafe in Panamint Springs, we were treated to a look at some of the unusual agates, smokey quartz crystal, chalcedony, and more found by trip leader Jonathan, before heading out to the area. The weather was perfect, with crisp views of snow capped mountains to the east and west.
We worked our way up each side of the road heading west towards Thompson Canyon. We explored the washes, and further up, the tailings piles of old mines near a historic cabin maintained for public use. A great deal of fascinating and unusual agate was found, along with a small mineral scene with a perfect quartz crystal sticking out, and numerous mineral specimens. My friends and I left at 4:30, and carefully made our way thru a heavt snowstorm over Walker Pass, then thru the rain the rest of the way to our homes above the desert. Great fun!
November 2012 Anaconda Mine Dumps, Darwin, California
Many thanks to the Lone Pine Club for inviting us to the Anaconda Mine dumps in Darwin, then on to the optical calcite dumps nearby. Seemingly everyone got plenty of pyrite, from cubes, to cubes in matrix, and massive pieces. There was also chalcopyrite, calcite, tiny pyrite crystals in calcite, and numerous other minerals to be identified at home. The optical calcite site was also productive, plenty of calcite , less of the optical, glass clear pieces.
