GMS March Field Trips

**FIELD TRIP(S) FOR MARCH**
Official Field Trip of the GEORGIA MINERAL SOCIETY Graves Mountain, Lincoln Co. Ga. Saturday, March 6^th, 2010 9:00 a.m. Disclaimer: At present there is some reclamation work being done on the mountain. While the caretaker thinks it will be completed before our trip there is the possibility that the main pit will be closed. What does that mean? Normally most rock hounds　head into the main pit for rutile. It might be a bit of a disappointment but I have seen many crystals come from the saddle and the largest single crystals, that were found at the mountain, while I was there, came from outside the main pit. If the pit is open, then we will be one of if not the first club to visit. The crystals could be brought down with the work and may just be laying on the ground. Might be a throw of the dice but I will not miss it.Collecting: Rutile, lazulite, kyanite, prophyllite, goethite/hematite (iridescent), pyrite, muscovite, and ilmenite. For micro collectors, barite, cacoxenite, candallite, gypsum, phosphosiderite, strengite, variscite, wavellite and woodhousesite can be found. 　 Directions: Exit I-20 for Washington, GA SR 78 (SR 10, SR 17). Travel north to Washington, turn right onto SR 378 and drive 11 miles to the Graves Mountain area. Food and Drinks: Bring your own as there is nothing available at Graves Mountain. 　 Meeting Location: Just as you pass the Lincoln County line, the first street on the left is Norman Road.. We will meet at the corner of Norman Road and Highway 378 to sign liability release forms, give a donation and pick up the key to the mountain . 　 Fees: While there is no fee to dig at the mountain lets remember the caretaker does his best that all rock hounds have a great day so lets be generous with our donations. 　 Equipment: A transport cart, buckets, backpack, 8-lb sledge, 2-4 lb crack hammer, rock hammer, pry bar, shovel chisels, SAFETY EYEWEAR, and gloves. Hard hat required if you plan to work adjacent to the high wall areas. 　 Children and Pets: Children 12 years and older can participate but must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Pets must be kept under control by owner. 　 Special Conditions: Ladders or power tools of any kind are not allowed. (Hand tools Only) 　　　　　　　　　Stay away from edge of all high walls 　　　　　　　　　No repelling off anything 　　　　　　　　　No one is allowed to drive their vehicle beyond the parking area 　　　　　　　　　Everyone to be off the mountain by dust Lodging: The Cullars Inn in Lincolnton, Ga. Tel. (706) 359-6161 　 Camping: Elijah Clark State Park – approximately 6 miles east of Lincolnton on Hwy SR 378. Reservations (770) 389-7275 or 1-800-864-7275. Park Office (706) 359-3458. 　 An Official Field Trip of the Western South Carolina Gem and Mineral Society-Greenville, SC(HOST) An Official Field Trip of the GEORGIA MINERAL SOCIETY 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM EST Saturday, March 13, 2010 Diamond Hill Mine, Anderson County, SC FEE SITE Where: The Diamond Hill Quartz Mine near Antreville, South Carolina When: Saturday, March 13, 2010 Time: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM EST Collecting: Quartz crystals in numerous forms such as amethyst, smokey quartz, clear crystals, milky quartz, skeletal quartz, and quartz coated with hematite or manganese. Also some microminerals such as cacoxenite are found there. In recent years new veins of amethyst and smokey quartz were uncovered by machines. Directions: Take I-85 to exit 21 (US 178/ Anderson, SC). Go south on 178 for one mile and bear right onto SC 28. Stay on SR 28 all the way to Antreville. It is 21 miles from Exit 21 to Antreville. Drive past Crawford's store on the left and turn right on SR 284 just before Emmanuel Baptist Church. Drive 2.3 miles and turn right on Suber road (S-01-508). Go 7/10 of a mile and turn right on Diamond Mine Road (gravel road). Go for 1/2 mile to the mine entrance on the right. The gamineral web site has a map. Fee: Adult fee is $15.00, $6.00 for children under 16 and for non-digging spouses and elderly. A filled out release of liability form will be necessary for each person attending. Some forms will be available, but you can avoid delays by going to www.gamineral.org/commercial-diamondhill.htm and printing off the form found under permission procedure for private individuals. Bring the completed form and fee with you. What to bring: Buckets, picks, shovels, rock hammers, sledge hammers, chisels, scratching tools, sun screen, drinks, and a picnic lunch. No power equipment is allowed.

Official Field Trip of the GEORGIA MINERAL SOCIETY

Graves Mountain, Lincoln Co. Ga.
Saturday, March 6^th, 2010
9:00 a.m.

Disclaimer: At present there is some reclamation work being done on the mountain. While the caretaker thinks it will be completed before our trip there is the possibility that the main pit will be closed. What does that mean? Normally most rock hounds　head into the main pit for rutile. It might be a bit of a disappointment but I have seen many crystals come from the saddle and the largest single crystals, that were found at the mountain, while I was there, came from outside the main pit. If the pit is open, then we will be one of if not the first club to visit. The crystals could be brought down with the work and may just be laying on the ground. Might be a throw of the dice but I will not miss it.Collecting: Rutile, lazulite, kyanite, prophyllite, goethite/hematite (iridescent), pyrite, muscovite, and ilmenite. For micro collectors, barite, cacoxenite, candallite, gypsum, phosphosiderite, strengite, variscite, wavellite and woodhousesite can be found.
　
Directions: Exit I-20 for Washington, GA SR 78 (SR 10, SR 17). Travel north to Washington, turn right onto SR 378 and drive 11 miles to the Graves Mountain area.

Food and Drinks: Bring your own as there is nothing available at Graves Mountain.
　
Meeting Location: Just as you pass the Lincoln County line, the first street on the left is Norman Road.. We will meet at the corner of Norman Road and Highway 378 to sign liability release forms, give a donation and pick up the key to the mountain .
　
Fees: While there is no fee to dig at the mountain lets remember the caretaker does his best that all rock hounds have a great day so lets be generous with our donations.
　
Equipment: A transport cart, buckets, backpack, 8-lb sledge, 2-4 lb crack hammer, rock hammer, pry bar, shovel chisels, SAFETY EYEWEAR, and gloves. Hard hat required if you plan to work adjacent to the high wall areas.
　
Children and Pets: Children 12 years and older can participate but must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Pets must be kept under control by owner.
　
Special Conditions: Ladders or power tools of any kind are not allowed. (Hand tools Only)
　　　　　　　　　Stay away from edge of all high walls
　　　　　　　　　No repelling off anything
　　　　　　　　　No one is allowed to drive their vehicle beyond the parking area
　　　　　　　　　Everyone to be off the mountain by dust

Lodging: The Cullars Inn in Lincolnton, Ga. Tel. (706) 359-6161
　
Camping: Elijah Clark State Park – approximately 6 miles east of Lincolnton on Hwy SR 378. Reservations (770) 389-7275 or 1-800-864-7275. Park Office (706) 359-3458.
　

An Official Field Trip of the Western South Carolina Gem and Mineral Society-Greenville, SC(HOST)
An Official Field Trip of the GEORGIA MINERAL SOCIETY

9:00 AM to 5:30 PM EST

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Diamond Hill Mine, Anderson County, SC

FEE SITE

Where: The Diamond Hill Quartz Mine near Antreville, South Carolina

When: Saturday, March 13, 2010

Time: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM EST

Collecting: Quartz crystals in numerous forms such as amethyst, smokey quartz, clear crystals, milky quartz, skeletal quartz, and quartz coated with hematite or manganese. Also some microminerals such as cacoxenite are found there. In recent years new veins of amethyst and smokey quartz were uncovered by machines.

Directions: Take I-85 to exit 21 (US 178/ Anderson, SC). Go south on 178 for one mile and bear right onto SC 28. Stay on SR 28 all the way to Antreville. It is 21 miles from Exit 21 to Antreville. Drive past Crawford's store on the left and turn right on SR 284 just before Emmanuel Baptist Church. Drive 2.3 miles and turn right on Suber road (S-01-508). Go 7/10 of a mile and turn right on Diamond Mine Road (gravel road). Go for 1/2 mile to the mine entrance on the right. The gamineral web site has a map.

Fee: Adult fee is $15.00, $6.00 for children under 16 and for non-digging spouses and elderly. A filled out release of liability form will be necessary for each person attending. Some forms will be available, but you can avoid delays by going to www.gamineral.org/commercial-diamondhill.htm and printing off the form found under permission procedure for private individuals. Bring the completed form and fee with you.

What to bring: Buckets, picks, shovels, rock hammers, sledge hammers, chisels, scratching tools, sun screen, drinks, and a picnic lunch. No power equipment is allowed.