Children: OK, Children allowed only under close adult supervision.  Please be careful of holes.

Pets: OK, if they are well mannered. Pets allowed at this site on a leash.
Fee: This is a fee dig; There will be a $15.00 charge per adult and this allows you one 5-gallon bucket full of goodies to take home with you.  Children under 18 are free. 

TRIP: The new Wilkes Co. pay to dig amethyst site is located in Northwest Wilkes county, Georgia, between the communities of Rayle and Tignall in an area known as Jackson's Crossroads (abbreviated to " JXR").  In 1920 Tiffany Jewelers mined for amethyst near the site and around 1970 some guys digging a hole to hide moonshine also made a discovery of amethyst near the area. In approx. 1988 the area was clear cut logged and a fellow by the name of Plemmons rambled across the Clearing and discovered excellent gemmy deep purple amethyst. As the pine thicket grew up, deep in the woods along a winding path, people dug for the incredible specimens. Some had permission but most did not. As is typical with hand dug sites, those that dug reached a depth of 9 feet.  A mere scraping of the surface, but considering it was hand dug it was an amazing feat of human strength, determination, and perseverance.  In the year 2000, I was granted permission to bring a small machine to dig a test hole. As time went on and the property changed hands I was able to bring progressively larger and powerful equipment to bear prospecting the area.  Although most times after digging I would grade the area flat, boulders remain near the surface and just under it.  These boulders contain vugs that are drusy lined and some have gemmy deep purple amethyst.  The quality of these are sometimes of incredible water clear clarity and have a deep purple color that is quite unique. 

By: Rodney Moore  (Rodney will have specimens, and faceted stones as well as faceting rough for sale.")

 A Special Note: A Note from Rodney Moore (operator of dig site): I have had folks from all over the United States visit the site.  Everyone has been delighted with his or her visit except for one group that visited, which was the Georgia Mineral Society.  This group was under the impression that there was going to be a lot of boulders on the surface and this was not the case on their arrival.  These digs are planned months in advance and I can't guarantee what the surface of the place will be like in February, so hope for the best (that there will be boulders on the surface), but prepare for the worst (that you may actually have to work and dig for them).  There is plenty of amethyst on the property, as crystals in boulders and as free crystals in the soil, however they are NOT like apples just hanging from a tree, and NOT like snakes that will leap up and bite you.  I will try to schedule a machine to dig the area up prior to the DMC visit but I can't guarantee that this will happen.   The absolute cheapest that I can get a machine in is $550 and obviously I can't do this just for the dig, but I will try to schedule some work to be done prior to the field trip.  Everyone is invited to visit www.dixieeuhedrals.net for information about the place." 

COLLECTING: Amethyst Crystals, facet grade Amethyst, and Clear Quartz crystals.  Some of the finest Amethyst in Georgia and the Southeast.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Allowed one 5 gallon bucket full a material for each person. 

BRING: Sledgehammer, safety glasses, rock hammers, chisels, shovel, pick, scratching tools, and bucket with something to protect your finds such as newspaper, bubble wrap, or, etc.   We will have food and drinks to buy.  Dress for the weather can be cold this time of year!  If you would like to bring stuff to trade, that would be great addition to this field trip!

Where we will meet: Dollar General Store in Tignall, Ga. (Tignall, Ga. is between Washington, Ga. and Elberton, Ga. on Hwy 17)
When:  9:30 am to 3:30pm, Saturday, February 12, 2005
Directions to our meeting place: 
Coming from the South: on I-20 take exit 172 which is Highway 78 and head north to Washington, Ga.  In Washington take Highway 17 north to Tignall, Ga. The Dollar General Store is on the left in Tignall.
Coming from the North: on I-85 take exit 173 which is Highway 17 and head south to Elberton, Ga.   Continue on Highway 17 on Elberton to Tignall, Ga.  The Dollar General Store is on the right in Tignall. 

Note:  There are many other routes to this meeting site.  Depending on where you are coming from. But this location is near the Graves Mountain Location 

Drive Time: Depends on where you are coming from!

Accommodations: 

Days Inn Elberton, 302 Elbert St. Elberton, Ga. 706-283-2300 
 Shoney’s Inn, 14227 Jones, St. Lavonia, Ga. 706-356-3300
Jameson Inn, 115 Ann Denard Dr. Washington, Ga. 706-678-7925 
Howard Johnson, 1847 Washington Rd. Thomson, Ga. 706-597-9097 
Holiday Inn Express, 1893 Washington Rd. Thomson, Ga. 706-595-6500