Goin on a crystal hunt

[HetHert]

We're finally going to go crystal mining in Arkansas. Oct 14- the weekend. Wish us luck and may we find a good yielding pocket!!

Any tips from anyone who's already been at this before please post em because I want to make this a successful endeavor.

We're also going to hunt for diamonds at the park so I hope to come home with a few from there. I'm really hoping the husband find me a nice sized one I can wear. :boing:

[Crystal Willowtree]

sorry, havent got any tips, but good luck and happy hunting :)

[Wolfsong]

Find a guy named Stuart Schmitt.. he used to own a mine called Sweet Surrender Crystal Mine and I think now he also owns one called Clear Creek Crystal Mine. He is very helpful.. at least he was the few times I was there... I know he is friends with Melody who has dug on his mines and he also at one point helped melody get her own claim there started.. not sure if she still has it... a really cool guy.

Check out the rock shops in Mt. Ida.. some great stuff to find there.... check out the small crystals for sale by small shops there as well as people selling out of their yards ... again.. in Mt Ida. Take a close look at the loose crystal bins in all of these spots. There are many treasures to be found in these bins. A few years back I spent a few hours digging through a bin there with thousands of smaller crystals. I found 6 manifestor which I paid 6 bucks for total. I have seen many manifestors for sale on the net of no where near the quality of the 6 I found ranging in price from 20 to 60 bucks.

Also in Mt Ida... stop by the local mine claims place.. it's on the right if you are driving in from the west side of town... they can give you the names and directions to local pay to dig mines in the area... not sure if this building is still there though.

Also.. driving into errr... Little Rock from the west.. just before you get into town there will be a rock shop on the left... it's big but I cant remember the name.... they have some beautiful rock and mineral specimens from all over the world. He also has (when I was there at least) some beautiful specimens of Solution Quartz.

There is also a huge rock shop in Mt Ida on the right side of the road driving in from the west (not sure if it is still there though) They had beautiful specimens from all over the world but they also had a great assortment of Amethyst cathedrals which blew my mind.

Most importantly.. HAVE FUN!!!!!:thumbsup:

And of course.. let us know how it went when you get back :boing:

[Wolfscout1]

never been to a crystal mine as such... sounds like fun.

Enjoy yourself most of all.. and Good luck..
second the letting us know how it goes......

[Carri]

Oh I'm so jealous!! I wanted to fit this into the schedule this year but couldn't! Please let us know how it goes and good luck! Wishing you many chrystals!

[Wolfsong]

Satellite is back in range so I have a few more minutes before my time is up....


Weather shouldnt be a problem at this time of year.... remember that most of the quartz around Mt Ida is found within clay deposits.. thats why they have so many floater crystals and floater clusters found there... your gonna get really dirty!!! Make sure to pack a lunch and plenty to drink. If the sweet surrender mine is still open and if nothing has changed the road, if you want to call it that, to it sucks so be careful. Try to arrange it so you are there while the mine owner is working there... it's easy for him then to bring in the back hoe or whatever the equipment is called and dig a fast new trench.... just a few scoops with that will open up some new areas... if he isnt working there at the time chances are that the area you are allowed to dig in will be picked over.. that doesnt mean you wont find anything... it just means your odds of finding a larger cluster are not as good. This goes for any mine in the area where the crystals are found in clay.

Bring a hat and working gloves for sure .. rubber boots are a good idea jusat in case the weather is bad.... check and make sure they supply other tools... I usually always take a case of bottled water with me to wash off specimens to get a good preliminary look.. some places have hoses or water supplies there already....

Depending on the mine you go to.. most of the crystals you find with be coated with other minerals... lots of areas down there have crystals which are coated with iron oxide... they can look cool as they are but most of the times you want to get that removed... some of the mines offer this service.



I'm not sure if they still allow visitors but check in Little Rock if you can go check out the Jeffery Quarry.. this is the only place in the world where solution quartz is found... if I remember right though the quarry for the most part has been destroyed but you never know.. maybe there is still something there to see... but I| really think the area has been developed.. hopefully I am wrong

One last thing regarding the diamonds.. if you are going to the public site there to dig... Diamonds are extremely rare there.... there are only a few found every year and thousands go there to dig... but you never know!!!!

[HetHert]

Thanks so much for the wonderful info Wolfsong!!! I have a plan now to hit the sweet surrender mine first since you suggested it and I checked out the website. I'm not sure that Crystal Clear mines is open to the public to dig but will make it over there to check out his stuff. :)

And thanks everyone for the well wishes

[_Banbha_]

I've seen Discovery channel stuff with people going to mine for a day in Arkansas so I've no real advice; but it looks like so much fun! Are there caves in that area too? Other than the rare diamond, what would you expect to find?

Totally guessing here but I'd probably want to dig on the edge in some far corner, near a tree or something where others might not bother to dig often.