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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics)
#22060516 - 08/07/15 08:41 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I'm finding 'em!
Edited by passifloracaerulea (08/08/15 06:09 PM)
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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nice find
just outta curiosity, are those worth your while to mine?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22061403 - 08/08/15 02:15 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yes they're worth $5-$200 per carat depending on color, clarity, and shape. There's about 500 carats in my hand and for 3 days digging that's not a bad score, plus the nicer ones that aren't in the pic. Most in the pic are in the $10-$50 per carat range.
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Here's the same pile with the junk removed.
 Here are some real beauties, and I've only been digging 3 days!
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cApTaInCrAp
Delightfullyexcellent



Registered: 03/19/04
Posts: 2,613
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Man that seems pretty fun, makes me want to look into my area to see if there's any plots/items worth while. How'd you get into this hobby?
-------------------- "...Terrific, im glad we've had this time to discuss..im outro, call me if you wanna blaze one up.."
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Dude that's awesome What's the next step for those gems? Jewelry?? If so I may be interested
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22073722 - 08/10/15 08:52 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I got into obsidian mining years ago and had a really good year last year that I could never beat. I almost went into aquamarine mining 7 years ago when I started obsidian but it seemed far away and really hard to do. There isn't much else I want to mine and I have a lifetime supply of good obsidian. I'm digging in southern California this winter too for tourmalines, aquamarine, morganite, kunzite, and whatever else grew in those pegs.
Yes i'm making jewelry with these stones, but handmade Colorado aqua jewelry don't come cheap.
No more pics yet, my arctic cat has been in the shop. Got her back today and we should be back on the mountain early in the morning.
Edited by passifloracaerulea (08/10/15 08:54 PM)
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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That's awesome man. How would you say you make your living? With the jewelry or with mining?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22092765 - 08/14/15 09:13 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Both. I sell rough rock and finished pieces. I'm only specializing in rare varieties and very sought after american gems.
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SoulButter
Joint Chief of Soul


Registered: 06/23/15
Posts: 312
Last seen: 3 years, 3 days
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This is awesome! ive tried my hand at some gem mining.. it was always a struggle to free the crystals from the rocks. how do you get yours out so cleanly?
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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I have always pictured you having to move a bunch of dirt to get where you are funding these gems. Is that true or have I been watching too much discovery channel?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22096430 - 08/15/15 08:46 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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We're finding the aquamarine at 8' depth in a white granite scree slope on Mt White. We have to shovel a few cubic yards per day to get into the depth and keep it open. We're always fighting an overhanging bank above us. No matter how much we take it back, it's always dangerous. You learn to feel when it's all about to cave in and get the fuck out! We have some massive boulders in the pit right now that we need to drill and blast in order to remove, which I'll do in the next week. I took my screen up today and we screened all of our previous tailings. I walked away with a good handful.
Oh yeah, lightning and hail have chased us off of the mountain every day for the last week. It's pretty fucking scary seeing a pinpoint bright flash hit the top of the slope you're working on followed by the loudest crack you'll ever hear.
Edited by passifloracaerulea (08/15/15 08:52 PM)
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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It sounds like you have a cool ocupation. What's the certification process like to play with the explosivee?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22100643 - 08/16/15 10:13 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I just have a microblaster unit which uses firecracker sized charges and compressed co2 gas to split large boulders. Most of what we do is pick, shovel, screen, and pry bar work.
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Good ole manual work..
I remember you starting a thread a while back looking for some help.. How many guys you typically have to a team? Or does it really not matter much?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22101558 - 08/17/15 05:49 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Now I'm working with one friend and we're prospecting my claims. We have access to another miner's claim who is literally on the aquamarine. Amanda (from the prospectors show) dug a 55 ct aqua 2 days ago from the claim we're working above us somewhere. We didn't even know she was up there that day because the film crew wasn't there.
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Sounds like the damned film crewngot caught slipping..
May have to check that show out.. Gem mining seems pretty damned interesting
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22104080 - 08/17/15 07:10 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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The girls(Jessica is the new addition to the show) apparently found something big today. They were all screaming and the film crew was there to get it all. We didn't go down to the camp and find out what was found because the lightning ran us off again. We'll hear about it tomorrow. We did find a few 100 ct range sky blue aquas today that aren't absolutely perfect, but will cut some beautiful cabochons in the $400-$500 range. I also dug a small inch long pencil. Damn good day and I know we're on to a really sexy find.
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Right on man.. How the hell this Amanda chick find a show what makes her special?
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Not many chicks can handle mining at 13K. I was there in June, it is hard core. Glad your doing well, passiflora. Please post more pics!
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: Middleman]
#22108337 - 08/18/15 08:00 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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From the show it seems like she always has makeup on at every interview... I'm not hating that shit looks like dangerous hard work..my hats off
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: rackem]
#22114187 - 08/19/15 09:03 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Mt White with Prospectors show film crew driving to where we dig 200' from them.

Our Pit

View of the Subway Pocket and Diane's Pocket on Mt Antero from Mt White.

My dog Tourmaline chillin' at the work site on Mt White.

Mt Tabeguache

Edited by passifloracaerulea (08/19/15 09:04 PM)
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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That's awesome...
I need to know what kinda dog that is... I think I need a few
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: rackem]
#22115237 - 08/20/15 03:29 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Shiba Inu.
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P-O
#AnyoneButHarper


Registered: 05/13/09
Posts: 13,636
Loc:
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nice finds op
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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thats more than likely going to be my next dog breed.
ive always had bully breeds but that dog looks like he can get down one way or the other.
any more finds on the aquas? the season must be coming to a close right?
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CookieCrumbs
Fucked off to the pub



Registered: 12/10/11
Posts: 14,146
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OP, out of curiosity, how do you decide where to dig?
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Free time is the only time
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: CookieCrumbs]
#22172725 - 09/01/15 07:06 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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I was dragged off the mountain and am now coming down off a great acid trip here at burning man. I'll be going back to Colorado next week as soon as this is over with!
I got lucky and have access to another miner's claim that's valued at 7 million. I have my own claims but haven't located any aqua yet, only metals and quartz crystals.
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: CookieCrumbs]
#22176090 - 09/01/15 09:54 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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i was kinda thinking the same thing.
seems like the art of knowing where to dig is where the money is at.
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: rackem]
#22188719 - 09/04/15 03:51 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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You look for signs of blue in the surface float material then dig to hopefully find more. You can see where the slides come from and if the hard rock above has blue, then the material below should have eroded pockets as well.
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CookieCrumbs
Fucked off to the pub


Registered: 12/10/11
Posts: 14,146
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interesting
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Free time is the only time
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: CookieCrumbs]
#22265266 - 09/20/15 02:33 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Here are some pics of aquamarine on matrix that I dug. These were the walls of the pocket I was digging.







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CookieCrumbs
Fucked off to the pub


Registered: 12/10/11
Posts: 14,146
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It's beautiful. I really envy you OP.
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Free time is the only time
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: CookieCrumbs]
#22326259 - 10/02/15 10:44 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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Just made this piece today.
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Sfp
Stranger
Registered: 09/30/15
Posts: 67
Last seen: 8 years, 9 days
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Do you sell these?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: Sfp] 1
#22327354 - 10/03/15 09:30 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yeah, but I haven't really priced anything yet. I'll likely want somewhere around 200 for this piece. I'm just trying to get as much as possible done before the Tucson gem shows in February.
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Mental Taco



Registered: 07/02/14
Posts: 2,290
Loc: Hell
Last seen: 6 years, 8 months
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From these pics your life seems beautiful man.
Must be nice to experience what you do and make a living off of this beautiful earth.
Are these stones the soul source of all your income?
Im curious do you believe in the "meanings" behind the certain types of stones. Im sure theres a better name for this belief but its like certain cleansing properties of the minerals. My ex got me into it got me a bunch of different stones with cards of what they help with and how to clense them in sun or moonlight. Dont know if i believe in it but it fasinates me and i give it a chance. I forget most of the meanings but i know emerald is love, i remember hematite because i have a piece i sometimes carry with me its supposedly helps with mental clarity and calmness.
-------------------- Did you not know that the royal hunting grounds are always forbidden?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: Mental Taco]
#22658597 - 12/15/15 01:27 PM (8 years, 1 month ago) |
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I don't put a lot of value into metaphysical properties of stones unless they can be scientifically proven. They do exist however. When pressure or friction is applied to quartz it will produce piezoelectric current. Tourmaline attracts statically when heated. Even obsidian has cochoidal fracture which when sound or vibration passes through, will organize the frequencies into a cone shape that produces a beautiful chime sound in various tones and notes. It literally can change negative or angry energy into a more friendly tone. I make obsidian wind chimes for this purpose. Here's my latest aquamarine pendant that I mined on mt white this last season.
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MadMuncher
destroy weyerhauser



Registered: 10/27/12
Posts: 8,406
Loc: not in compliance
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Awesome stuff man. Do you ever find jasper, malachite or jade out there?
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amanita phalloides prints for trade $BanEnlil $IgnoreEnlil Spicemaster said: The stories. The words. The descriptions. Keep your list handy. 1234Go said: I bet you guys PM about me... Ban Lotto Wins: IIIII
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: MadMuncher]
#22693611 - 12/24/15 03:58 AM (8 years, 1 month ago) |
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I dig for aquamarine and tourmaline. I spent 7 years prospecting for the electric blue obsidian and found the last deposit of it. Agates and jaspers are something that occur everywhere except for the picture jaspers which are mostly mined out and only available at high prices from old collections. There's a lot of nephrite jade up and down the west coast and a bit of jadeite in northern California, but I'm not into it. The aquamarine, tourmaline, and kunzite that are mined in the us are considered the finest gems in the world, and once I got my hands on those materials there was no looking back.
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MadMuncher
destroy weyerhauser



Registered: 10/27/12
Posts: 8,406
Loc: not in compliance
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That's cool. I have lots of jasper. Not sure if picture jasper. KNow of any relative prices? Should start a rock hounding thread this spring
Jasper and jade samples from my collection

Any picture jasper in there?
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amanita phalloides prints for trade $BanEnlil $IgnoreEnlil Spicemaster said: The stories. The words. The descriptions. Keep your list handy. 1234Go said: I bet you guys PM about me... Ban Lotto Wins: IIIII
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: MadMuncher]
#22695387 - 12/24/15 04:03 PM (8 years, 1 month ago) |
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There's a whole forum dedicated to this subject. http://www.shroomery.org/forums/postlist.php/Board/158 The jasper doesn't look like anything too special. Some people make cabs out of it if it isn't porous but no value other than the work put in. If you had tonnage of the material you could sell it for .50-1.00 a pound but you'd likely sit on it for twenty years trying to move it. It makes good chip beads though.
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Shins
Fun guy



Registered: 09/15/04
Posts: 16,337
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Best thing I've prospected yet was a large amythist/chalcedony deposit in a bunch of serpentinite, couldn't stay for long though. There was petrified wood around too. Finding more precious gemstones would be great. Found a few nice pieces of jade and one large 75 lb piece as well low grade.
Last summer I found some nice very vibrant red jasper near a limestone canyon. Some of it had green "rinds" with purple in between and looked like "watermelon" jasper. Not sure if the green "rinds" are chert or jasper... I also found a Stromatolite fossil up in the limestone canyon.
Edited by Shins (01/07/16 01:42 AM)
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CookieCrumbs
Fucked off to the pub


Registered: 12/10/11
Posts: 14,146
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Thanks for the link
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Free time is the only time
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: CookieCrumbs]
#22758704 - 01/09/16 07:16 PM (8 years, 21 days ago) |
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I made it to my tourmaline claims today after getting a friend set up in quartzsite selling my obsidian. We already found one peg over a foot wide but the claims are so fucking choked in chaparral, manzanita, santa rosa sage, tan oak, and a few other shrubs that it's absolutely impenetrable. I came back down to get a machete and heavy duty pruners from the hardware store. Trails first apparently.
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Thanks for the updates man. Good luck out there.
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Shins
Fun guy



Registered: 09/15/04
Posts: 16,337
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: Middleman]
#22761065 - 01/10/16 11:08 AM (8 years, 21 days ago) |
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Cool, that must be black tourmaline? I have a tourmaline "stump" about 1 foot by one foot. One of my favorite pieces.
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics) [Re: Shins]
#22768486 - 01/12/16 12:42 AM (8 years, 19 days ago) |
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I dug a fucking gorgeous deep blue watermelon with a thin bright green rind yesterday at pala chief mine. Fuck that place though their dog is a piece of shit that should be shot. Fucker attacked my dog and I whacked him across his eye with an 18" prybar. That's what you get when you threaten my dog! The fucker was a massive English bulldog of pure muscle and it could have easily killed me. It was gonna kill my dog. The asshole owner said he kills mountain lions and coyotes regularly. Thankfully my dog left the situation with a good scare and no bites. I would have murdered that dog if it had been able to get past me and hurt my dog. Oh well I ended up finding the best tourmaline on the mountain found in a long time.
We cut a good half mile of trail into one of my claims today and I came to the conclusion that the geology isn't quite right to find gemmy pegs there. I'm too high. I need to be lower on the mountain but it's a wilderness preserve and the other good pegs are running under rich people's properties. I'd have to sink a shaft straight down 50-100' then search for pegs down there. I know the gems are there but it'll cost a shit ton to get a road in and drilled, not to mention the ~10 years in planning, training, and permitting involved in doing such a large operation. It's discouraging... Can't wait to get back to my claims in Colorado. The obstacles there are nothing compared to what I'm dealing with here. Fuck it I'm gonna go cut and polish tourmalines in the desert!
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