DMC field trip for July 2006

COLLECTING: Ruby corundum (pink to red), Spinel (black to brown "galaxite" and magnesio-chromite), Sapphirine, Talc, Serpentine, Brucite (white to blueish chalky chunks), Tremolite, Actinolite, Smaragdite (chrome-emerald green amphibole), Pyroxine (chrome diopside/sparse green micro-crystals of weathered amphibolite matrix), Fuchsite and Dunite.

DIRECTIONS: At the intersection of US-64 and US-441 (southwest of Franklin, Macon County, NC), interested parties/individuals will take US-64 west (toward Murphy, NC) to the Buck Creek Road turnoff (north). All field trip/DMC members will meet here, because the entrance to Chunky Gal is unmarked. The Buck Creek Road turnoff is 17.5 miles west of Franklin, NC. In accordance with SFMS/DMC rules, all participants must meet at the meeting site, and then we will proceed to Chunky Gal, which is one mile further west on the road. This is a "free site" for collecting in the Nantahala National Forest, BUT DO NOT DIG ANY DEEPER THAN 18 INCHES, under Nantahala National Forest Rules (Chunky Gal has been designated as a "rockhound collecting site"). Please fill any and all holes that you dig! It will be July, but it may be cool at this altitude, so bring a light jacket or long-sleeved shirt.

TOOLS: If you wish to screen sediments (this is "blind mining") for home washing/tumbler cleaning, you will need shovels, 3-5 gallon buckets or 2-3 gallon plastic bags (like those from the market), 1/4 inch (6mm) screens, hand shovels, gloves, and goggles. Most of the above minerals will be found this way. If you wish to collect smaragdite with ruby, sledge hammers, chisels, 3-5 gallon buckets, gloves and goggles (eye protection) will be needed. Please make sure your "tetanus" shots are up to date. Please wear boots/hiking shoes. This is tick country so check yourself especially if you dress lightly. Sprays with "DEET" are recommended. Watch out for snakes, because this is rattlesnake country. DO NOT STEP OR PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE YOU CANNOT SEE!

ACCOMMODATIONS: Franklin, NC is the best bet for lodging and restaurants, especially on US-441, US-64, NC-28.

"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!"

DMC Program / SFMS Field Trip committee's purpose:
To collect field trip information from it's member societies; schedule and coordinate field trip dates; disseminate field trip information to all member clubs so that each member society may publish this information as one of their "official" scheduled field trips.