morticia monroe
One of you asked me to post what I found when I went digging for crystals last weekend, so I took some photos.
I have to say it was the most fun I can remember having in a long time! You cannot go down into the actual mines, as they are running the bulldozers down there and it is too dangerous. But when the dozers are looking for the large deposits, they scoop up tons of dirt and clay and deposit it up top. There are giant hills of dirt, and you just sift through them. I found after awhile that the best crystals were in the chunks of wet clay that you uncover. I used a three pronged garden fork to sift with, and when I found clay, I just kind of rubbed some away and if I felt something smooth and glassy, I knew it was a crystal, and left the clay on it so it would not break on the ride home.
After arriving home, I hosed off the clay, finding some beautiful crystals, and also finding some ugly old sandstone rocks. LOL. After you get off all the dirt you can with the hose, I carefully scrubbed the clay out of the crevices with a toothbrush, and then soaked them in oxalic acid for a day. I am pleased with them, but wish I could have stayed longer. Unfortunately, I took my son and one of his friends with me, and after about three hours they began to drive me crazy with the "How much Longer?"s,,,,,so next time, I'll go alone and stay all day. All in all, i ended up with about a dozen really nice clusters, one large wand, one giant geode, and tons of smaller, imperfect wands and tips.
I swear if I could, I'd sell everything I have and move to Hot Springs, buy some land, and dig every day...It was so peaceful, enjoyable, and fun. And Mother Nature never fails to blow me away with her beauty and strength.
BTW, I also posted a few pics of a few deck bags I've made on page 2. I think I'm going to make a few and raffle them off because I LOVE the raffles, don't you?
http://groups.msn.com/aeclecticstuff/shoebox.msnw
http://groups.msn.com/aeclecticstuff/shoebox.msnw?Page=2
Click on the photos to enlarge.
I have to say it was the most fun I can remember having in a long time! You cannot go down into the actual mines, as they are running the bulldozers down there and it is too dangerous. But when the dozers are looking for the large deposits, they scoop up tons of dirt and clay and deposit it up top. There are giant hills of dirt, and you just sift through them. I found after awhile that the best crystals were in the chunks of wet clay that you uncover. I used a three pronged garden fork to sift with, and when I found clay, I just kind of rubbed some away and if I felt something smooth and glassy, I knew it was a crystal, and left the clay on it so it would not break on the ride home.
After arriving home, I hosed off the clay, finding some beautiful crystals, and also finding some ugly old sandstone rocks. LOL. After you get off all the dirt you can with the hose, I carefully scrubbed the clay out of the crevices with a toothbrush, and then soaked them in oxalic acid for a day. I am pleased with them, but wish I could have stayed longer. Unfortunately, I took my son and one of his friends with me, and after about three hours they began to drive me crazy with the "How much Longer?"s,,,,,so next time, I'll go alone and stay all day. All in all, i ended up with about a dozen really nice clusters, one large wand, one giant geode, and tons of smaller, imperfect wands and tips.
I swear if I could, I'd sell everything I have and move to Hot Springs, buy some land, and dig every day...It was so peaceful, enjoyable, and fun. And Mother Nature never fails to blow me away with her beauty and strength.
BTW, I also posted a few pics of a few deck bags I've made on page 2. I think I'm going to make a few and raffle them off because I LOVE the raffles, don't you?
http://groups.msn.com/aeclecticstuff/shoebox.msnw
http://groups.msn.com/aeclecticstuff/shoebox.msnw?Page=2
Click on the photos to enlarge.
