rockbrain
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Member since January 2022
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 17, 2023 12:47:54 GMT -5
I need to get out this weekend. A rockhounding trip would be great I'll probably end up over by Big Sur as it's fairly close and a lot of possibilities or maybe the beaches around Santa Cruz but would love to hit a new spot. My first thought was Stony Ford or Stony Creek area but that's probably a bit far (3.5 hours). I'm in Atwater between Fresno and Modesto. Anyone have suggestions on a spot? I also looked at Stone Canyon but doesn't look like there is much there for us anymore. I have a 4 wheel drive available. Not really looking to do lot of digging.
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Mark K
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Member since April 2012
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Post by Mark K on Feb 17, 2023 13:01:46 GMT -5
You are over 5 hours from anywhere I know of.
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Post by aDave on Feb 17, 2023 13:02:12 GMT -5
I can't really help, but I'm tagging a couple of folks who might be able to. Tommy MsAli
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Post by MsAli on Feb 17, 2023 18:19:46 GMT -5
You're not far from Mariposa (Mariposite) and also there is a place called Chinese camp where I dug common opal. I don't remember exactly where it was though. I'd have to look back and figure that out if your interested. If it was me though I'd head to Moonstone beach. I know it's a bit of a drive, but finding them is really fun and there is some other cool rocks on that beach.
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rockbrain
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Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,539
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 17, 2023 22:13:32 GMT -5
Thanks @msali, I'm familiar with Chinese Camp had no idea there was common opal around there. I've spent lots of time in Mariposa. My band used to have a monthly gig up there and we also regularly played a couple of events. I've got loads of Mariposite already. I love Moonstone Beach but that's where I usually end up. I'm thinking I might head more towards Santa Cruz.
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Feb 17, 2023 22:21:35 GMT -5
I would 2nd what MsAli said about Mariposite, I can give you approx coordinates of the main dig or you can swing by my house off hwy 49 near Bootjack and pick me up and we'll find it. OR we can go pry a few mariposite rocks out of the Catheys Valley park historical marker or the Hwy 140 bridge as you come into Mariposa (just kidding ... they are very well cemented in place grrr...) Eastman Lake and surrounding area for andulasite (google "cross rocks"). Fun little crystal buggers - once your brain adjusts and you finally "see" them you see them everywhere. Snelling rockpiles for red/yellow jaspers - or take your 4x4 up the hill to Hunters Valley for the real deal Hornitos Poppy. Head across the valley to Coalinga and up to Clear Creek and climb up to the Aurora mine for Plasma Agate. Access permits are still required I believe.
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Post by MsAli on Feb 17, 2023 22:25:54 GMT -5
Clear creek was always one I've wanted to do as well as Eastman lake
Isn't there suppose to be Amethyst near Shaver?
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Feb 17, 2023 22:28:51 GMT -5
Thanks @msali, I'm familiar with Chinese Camp had no idea there was common opal around there. I've spent lots of time in Mariposa. My band used to have a monthly gig up there and we also regularly played a couple of events. I've got loads of Mariposite already. I love Moonstone Beach but that's where I usually end up. I'm thinking I might head more towards Santa Cruz. We were writing at the same time. If you end up near Santa Cruz try Capitola Beach for whale bone or plan for a receding tide and head north up to Pescadero Beach for white banded agate pebbles.
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Feb 17, 2023 22:34:44 GMT -5
Clear creek was always one I've wanted to do as well as Eastman lake Isn't there suppose to be Amethyst near Shaver? I'm not familiar with that one. Supposedly there are little garnet crystals to be had fairly close to me but I haven't looked for them. I never had a lot of interest in anything too small to cab haha As a side note we've got natural quartz veins running across our property and I see little crystal pockets but I haven't investigated it too closely yet.
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quartzilla
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Post by quartzilla on Feb 17, 2023 22:49:18 GMT -5
Tommy’s yard it is! Lol.
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Post by MsAli on Feb 18, 2023 7:42:49 GMT -5
Clear creek was always one I've wanted to do as well as Eastman lake Isn't there suppose to be Amethyst near Shaver? I'm not familiar with that one. Supposedly there are little garnet crystals to be had fairly close to me but I haven't looked for them. I never had a lot of interest in anything too small to cab haha As a side note we've got natural quartz veins running across our property and I see little crystal pockets but I haven't investigated it too closely yet. Kris R and Garrick have been up there getting quartz not far from where the Mariposite is. Some of it's nice stuff, but the majority is milky and IMO not worth the amount of work to get it out.
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rockbrain
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 18, 2023 9:13:18 GMT -5
Tommy thanks for all the great ideas. I saw something earlier about you being in Mariposa but somehow missed out that you had a place there. I used to camp just past Bootjack when I was in Boy Scouts and have done a lot of AC work in that area. Clear Creek the road in is washed out right now. Done the cross rocks at Eastman, it's weird how you can't find them till you finally see one then they're all over! I've heard of jaspers in the Snelling rock piles. I'm about 20 miles from Snelling. I've been through a lot of rocks there, helped my dad haul them home and stopped there a couple of times recently. Never found anything in the way of colored jaspers. It is one of our go to, close by kayak spots though. I've been shooting at Hunters Valley a few times and hounding once. I think I need to start at the top and work my way down. When I went all I got was a horrible case of poison oak.
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rockbrain
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 18, 2023 9:17:40 GMT -5
Clear creek was always one I've wanted to do as well as Eastman lake Isn't there suppose to be Amethyst near Shaver? I've read there's amethyst around Shaver Lake. That surprised me as it's another place I spent a bit of time as a kid and explored the area a lot. I stayed at a summer camp there a couple of times.
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rockbrain
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 18, 2023 9:34:25 GMT -5
Probably not going until Sunday as I'm up this morning and nothings ready or decided. I'm leaning towards the Santa Cruz beaches. There's a good low tide this weekend and it's the middle of the afternoon so that would work out. Aptos Street BBQ has been beckoning too.
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rockbrain
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Member since January 2022
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 18, 2023 9:42:03 GMT -5
Tommy if you need some help exploring some of those quartz veins let me know! On a side note, I've got a customer in Cathey's Valley that has offered to take me around on his property. He has the last place on the right in Catheys Valley as you're heading up the hill. He has a large chunk of land (I think it's about 18,000 acres) He own's most of the land going up to the top of the bluff you're looking at as you about to go around that last bend and start the climb. I was at his place a couple of months ago. I asked him about finding rocks or crystals on his property and he said we could get together and do some exploring starting at the top of that bluff and coming down. There's supposed to be a couple of old mines and some other cool stuff on his property. I need to give him a call this next week (that one won't be a wife friendly trip) I think I might need to come up with an ATV first though.
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Post by MsAli on Feb 18, 2023 9:47:39 GMT -5
Lots of old mines in that area. Watch your step 😅 Might be a great place to prospect, especially if he has any creeks (dry beds) running through the property
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Feb 18, 2023 11:40:04 GMT -5
Tommy if you need some help exploring some of those quartz veins let me know! On a side note, I've got a customer in Cathey's Valley that has offered to take me around on his property. He has the last place on the right in Catheys Valley as you're heading up the hill. He has a large chunk of land (I think it's about 18,000 acres) He own's most of the land going up to the top of the bluff you're looking at as you about to go around that last bend and start the climb. I was at his place a couple of months ago. I asked him about finding rocks or crystals on his property and he said we could get together and do some exploring starting at the top of that bluff and coming down. There's supposed to be a couple of old mines and some other cool stuff on his property. I need to give him a call this next week (that one won't be a wife friendly trip) I think I might need to come up with an ATV first though. That 18k acres exploration sounds like a lot of fun. Definitely take him up on the opportunity. We originally were looking for a place in Catheys Valley / Hunters Valley and there were a lot to look at but when covid hit apparently there was a huge buying spree by people from the big cities and most of that area was gobbled up. We got lucky with this 5 acre VA forclosure about 5 miles off the highway south of Bootjack. The house is solid but it needs everything (including AC combo unit and ducts replaced). I've been living here since the end of Dec and working my tailfeathers off trying to get it in living condition. Work is picking up and tho so I'm headed back to Napa end of next week. Unfortunately our biggest quartz vein goes right across our main driveway haha.
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Mark K
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Post by Mark K on Feb 18, 2023 13:21:08 GMT -5
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rockbrain
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 19, 2023 10:11:29 GMT -5
Sipping some coffee waiting for my wife to awaken then we should be heading to the coast. Tommy belated congrats on your new place. Bootjack is a cool area. I know a guy that does a little AC and heating work.
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rockbrain
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Member since January 2022
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 20, 2023 18:07:30 GMT -5
The rocks were not exposed on the beaches we went to. But it was a beautiful day and we had a great time. I found one rock!
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