GMS September Field Trip

**FIELD TRIP(S) FOR SEPTEMBER**
A The Georgia Mineral Society Georgia's Oldest Gem and Mineral Society - Founded in 1935 Extended Field Trip September 24, 25, & 26, 2010 Keokuk/Hamilton IL. "Geode Fest" Collecting Geodes: This is a festival put on every year with a swap shop and 5 field trips. Actually there are 9 sites with some that are not normally open for collecting, but are open for the festival. There are 2 trips on Friday, 2 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday. There are different leaders so when you sign up at the Chaney Creek Boat Access you would have to decide which sites you would like to attend. You can try 5 different sites or try to go back and keep visiting one site. Sites vary from Easy, Moderate or Difficult. There are stream sites so be prepared to get wet, but would be an easy trip to just bend over and pick up the geodes. Of course the more difficult sites with heavy digging might give the largest geodes up but there are enough sites that everyone should be able to collect some. Cost: You can sign up for one day, two days or all three. On the days that have multiple trips you can sign up for one trip or both trips. The cost is the same, no mater how many of the 5 trips you attend, $20 fee for an individual or $30 fee for a family. There is an additional fee of $20 for every 5 gallon bucket collected. On the more difficult trips the cost is $25 a bucket or $1.50 a pound if it doesn’t fit in the bucket. Sign up: You can get further information on the “Geode Fest” web site or “Firstcrackgeodes” or contact me. I have some release forms and registration forms and might be able to give you more information. Actually I am choosing a motel that we might be able to meet to discuss the different locations and best places to search. If nothing else, please give me a cell phone number (or where you are staying or camping) that we might be able to get together for dinner at some restaurant. Many of the motels are giving discounts but some discounts are only for those that sign up early. Directions: Map Quest or any atlas should be able to get you there. I punched in my address and Keokuk and it said 12 hours / 750 miles. You can decide if you want to push it driving for a day or take your time for two. On the trip back the field trips are over at noon on Sunday so you can leave then but most likely would need a stop on the way home. An Official Field Trip of the Augusta Gem & Mineral Society (Augusta, GA) (HOST) An Official Field Trip of the GEORGIA MINERAL SOCIETY September 25^th, 2010 Amos Cunningham Farm Due West/Antreville Area, South Carolina 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM FEE SITE What: Mineral Collecting Trip - good sized beryl crystals, amethyst and smokey quartz. This site has the best South Carolina beryl specimens of any site that I know how to get access to. The crystals are well shaped hexagons with flat ends. The color is green though most have a blue cast. The beryl ranges from translucent to opaque. Most crystals are specimen quality though some gem quality is present. Where: The Amos Cunningham Farm is between Antreville and Due West, SC. From Anderson, SC drive 18 miles down route 28 East (really south) to Antreville. Turn left on route 184 East heading toward the town of Due West. Travel for 4 miles and turn left on the George Alewine Road. Drive for less than 1 mile. You will pass a trash/recycling site on the right, cross a bridge over a small creek and turn into the first land on the right. If you pass the Cunningham Backhoe Service on the left you have gone too far. When: Saturday, September 25^th, 2010 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Digging Conditions: The site is flat to rolling land of South Carolina red clay. The digging areas have been machine trenched down to white kaolite veins that have the beryl and quartz crystals. Dirt and rock removed from the trenches and piled up, also contain beryl and are good places to search. What to Bring: Picks, shovels, rock hammers and scratching tools. Large hammers will not be very useful. Also bring plenty of drinks and a picnic lunch unless you want to drive a few miles for lunch. Cost: $25.00 per person. Children 13 years old and under are $15.00. Children and pets must be supervised by an adult. Everybody attending the dig must be a member of a Southeast Federation Club and must sign a Release Form. Mr. Cunningham will also have good specimens for sale at his Cunningham Backhoe and Bushhogging Service building. Lodging: There are many motels in and around Anderson, SC. There is no lodging in Antreville or Due West.

The Georgia Mineral Society
Georgia's Oldest Gem and Mineral Society - Founded in 1935

Extended Field Trip
September 24, 25, & 26, 2010
Keokuk/Hamilton IL.
"Geode Fest"

Collecting Geodes: This is a festival put on every year with a swap shop and 5 field trips. Actually there are 9 sites with some that are not normally open for collecting, but are open for the festival. There are 2 trips on Friday, 2 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday. There are different leaders so when you sign up at the Chaney Creek Boat Access you would have to decide which sites you would like to attend. You can try 5 different sites or try to go back and keep visiting one site. Sites vary from Easy, Moderate or Difficult. There are stream sites so be prepared to get wet, but would be an easy trip to just bend over and pick up the geodes. Of course the more difficult sites with heavy digging might give the largest geodes up but there are enough sites that everyone should be able to collect some.

Cost: You can sign up for one day, two days or all three. On the days that have multiple trips you can sign up for one trip or both trips. The cost is the same, no mater how many of the 5 trips you attend, $20 fee for an individual or $30 fee for a family. There is an additional fee of $20 for every 5 gallon bucket collected. On the more difficult trips the cost is $25 a bucket or $1.50 a pound if it doesn’t fit in the bucket.

Sign up: You can get further information on the “Geode Fest” web site or “Firstcrackgeodes” or contact me. I have some release forms and registration forms and might be able to give you more information. Actually I am choosing a motel that we might be able to meet to discuss the different locations and best places to search. If nothing else, please give me a cell phone number (or where you are staying or camping) that we might be able to get together for dinner at some restaurant. Many of the motels are giving discounts but some discounts are only for those that sign up early.

Directions: Map Quest or any atlas should be able to get you there. I punched in my address and Keokuk and it said 12 hours / 750 miles. You can decide if you want to push it driving for a day or take your time for two. On the trip back the field trips are over at noon on Sunday so you can leave then but most likely would need a stop on the way home.

An Official Field Trip of the Augusta Gem & Mineral Society (Augusta, GA) (HOST)
An Official Field Trip of the GEORGIA MINERAL SOCIETY

September 25^th, 2010
Amos Cunningham Farm
Due West/Antreville Area, South Carolina

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

FEE SITE

What: Mineral Collecting Trip - good sized beryl crystals, amethyst and smokey quartz. This site has the best South Carolina beryl specimens of any site that I know how to get access to. The crystals are well shaped hexagons with flat ends. The color is green though most have a blue cast. The beryl ranges from translucent to opaque. Most crystals are specimen quality though some gem quality is present.

Where: The Amos Cunningham Farm is between Antreville and Due West, SC. From Anderson, SC drive 18 miles down route 28 East (really south) to Antreville. Turn left on route 184 East heading toward the town of Due West. Travel for 4 miles and turn left on the George Alewine Road. Drive for less than 1 mile. You will pass a trash/recycling site on the right, cross a bridge over a small creek and turn into the first land on the right. If you pass the Cunningham Backhoe Service on the left you have gone too far.

When: Saturday, September 25^th, 2010 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM.

Digging Conditions: The site is flat to rolling land of South Carolina red clay. The digging areas have been machine trenched down to white kaolite veins that have the beryl and quartz crystals. Dirt and rock removed from the trenches and piled up, also contain beryl and are good places to search.

What to Bring: Picks, shovels, rock hammers and scratching tools. Large hammers will not be very useful. Also bring plenty of drinks and a picnic lunch unless you want to drive a few miles for lunch.

Cost: $25.00 per person. Children 13 years old and under are $15.00. Children and pets must be supervised by an adult. Everybody attending the dig must be a member of a Southeast Federation Club and must sign a Release Form. Mr. Cunningham will also have good specimens for sale at his Cunningham Backhoe and Bushhogging Service building.

Lodging: There are many motels in and around Anderson, SC. There is no lodging in Antreville or Due West.