Mineral: Amethyst (the South Carolina state gemstone) 

    Time:  8:30 AM Saturday, August 24, 2002 

    Cost: $3.00 per person. 

    Meeting Place:  Crawford Store in Antreville, SC  on Highway 28 

Directions:  From Interstate 85 follow Highway 28 south through Anderson, SC,
    continue south about 15 to 20 miles to  Antreville.  The Crawford Store is on the left on Highway 28 

    Equipment:  A spade, picnic lunch, and drinks. 

 Some form of sun shade such as a broad brim hat, beach umbrella or tarp shade is recommended. 
 Other information:  Children and pets are welcome.  There are no close bathroom or restaurant facilities.  Plenty of motel space in Anderson, SC.  Camping facilities at the Anderson/Lake Hartwell KOA or Sadlers Creek State Park or Calhoun Falls State Park.  Plenty of parking is available.  The site is a large open field with trees around it, but little shade by the best digging areas.  Good sized amethyst crystals are found about one foot down over a wide area.  It appears that they have been scattered by plowing.  A lot of digging is required to find a few good crystals.  Spade away thin cuts of soil and feel and listen for the clink of the spade against the crystal.  Three large veins containing amethyst have been found in the past so if you hit white sandy vein material dig deeper.  Holes that are not deep enough to turn over a tractor do not need to be refilled.

"Field Trips are open to all members of associated clubs of the DMC program of the SFMS Field Trip Committee and to all members of SFMS member clubs who have provided their membership with SFMS liability insurance. Because of insurance requirements, members of the GENERAL PUBLIC are NOT invited on this or any DMC program field trips!"

Diamond Hill Mine
9:00 AM - Sunday, August 25, 2002 
Antreville, Abbeville County, SC 

Meet: 9:00 AM at Crawford's Country Store on Hwy 28, Antreville, SC.

What you can expect to find: This is a quartz mine and there is still plenty of quartz to be found.  Most common are gray, milky-smoky quartz and skeletal(secondary growth) white quartz. Less frequent are amethyst and high-quality smoky quartz. 

Children welcome. 

This is a fee site! The cost is $10.00 for adults, $7.00 for children between the ages 6 - 12 and children under 6 get in free.  I will be collecting fees and having people sign waivers on Saturday to deliver that evening.  If you will not be attending the trip on Saturday but would like to attend on Sunday, then get in contact with me for arrangements.

I will be leaving early Sunday afternoon, but anyone wishing to stay longer in the day will be allowed. 

Tools: A pick, shovel, chisels, hammers (sledge and rock), prybar, protective eyewear and buckets would be needed if you are planning on getting serious. Surface collecting will yield specimens, but not the best ones.  Don't forget newspaper for wrapping your specimens.

Bring: Lunch and plenty of water!  Sunscreen might be useful. There are no facilities.  Bring your necessities. 

(Click on camera for pictures from this collecting location)