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Post by Michael John on Feb 20, 2008 4:26:40 GMT -5
My Son, Zak, and I finally made it back up to the mine. What a trip!
Hiking up the wash, toward the mountain, we stopped at a massive outcropping of Indian Paint Stone, over 20' high and at least twice as long. He said, "I wish this was Chrysocolla so we wouldn't have to climb all the way up there."
Continueing up the wash, just at the foot of the mountain, I looked to my right and noticed an odd passageway between some rocks. I pointed it out to Zak, and we went over to check it out. Climbing up a few feet of rocks and walking back about 20 feet between the rock walls, we found ourselves in a little box canyon, about the size of a bedroom. It was SO cool! A PERFECT camping place, but it looked like nobody had ever been there before. There were a lot of eat things about the place, and we stayed there for about ten minutes. While going back out of the area, as I stepped down some rocks, a particular rock caught my eye. It was a big flat piece of rose quartz. I thought I was going to remove it and grab it on the way back down from the mine ... but
Once I started trying to remove the rock, I found that it was bigger than I thought. After about 10 minutes of moving dirt and rocks out of the way, and lots of pushing a prying, we finally unearthed it. It's MASSIVE ... about 3 feet by 2 feet and about 2-4" average thickness. I'd guess it weighs 100-150 pounds. IT IS GORGEOUS!!! Obviously, I couldn't take it with me and it's still there, but I'm definately going to find a way to get it out of there.
SO, we started to ascend the mountain. Instead of going the way we've taken before from this side, Zak suggested that we take a different route that looked a bit better, which was actually on the "neighboring" but adjoining mountain. Well, it was no easier. It was the "standard" rough climb. We were getting prtty close to the top when Zak, who was about 50 feet ahead of me, yelled, "DAD YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS!"
A minute later, I was staring at another new Chrysocolla vein! At first site, I could tell by the color and density that this was some good stuff! We took off our packs, broke out the tools, and proceeded to find-out what this new find had in store for us. O_M_G!!!
Quickly "peeling away" the outer material from about a 3' section, there it was ... Da Bomb! Gorgeous heavily saturated Chrysocolla in Quartz. Then I went to work. I exposed the area I wanted to work and started removing the Chrysocolla. I was getting some nice 3-5 pound chunks, and then came upon some pieces that didn't want to move. so I started prying at cracks throughout the area to loosen everything up. OH, NO WONDER! I pulled out a big chunk, about 15-20 pounds ... but that wasn't the big one ... more poking and prodding and ... a solid chunk of beautiful Chrysocolla which I'd estimate at 40-50 pounds! It could be used for a 10-12" sphere! But wait ... next to it is ... a chunk about 12"x 18"x 4" with one whole face COVERED IN DRUZY!!!
As I was digging the area out, Zak followed the vein and called me to come and look. Sure enough, it not only continued-on, it got wider and looked even better! What I'd been digging-out was the LEAST nice part of the vein!!!
We decided to fill our packs with the "normal"-sized pieces and go back up after the bigger and better stuff at a later date, but ASAP.
Another odd thing about the trip ... I didn't fall ... not once. EVERYONE usually falls like a dozen times or more. Even with over 50 pounds in my pack, I never bit the dust. WEIRD!
What a day!!!
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Tigger
freely admits to licking rocks
The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers is I'm the Only One!
Member since January 2008
Posts: 896
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Post by Tigger on Feb 20, 2008 7:23:39 GMT -5
Cool! Where's the pics??
Tonja
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Post by Titania on Feb 20, 2008 8:26:58 GMT -5
Yeah, we need pics!!! I'm so jealous of you guys who can just go out and find stuff.
Can't wait to see what you guys bring back. Keep us updated!
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huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
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Post by huffstuff on Feb 20, 2008 10:20:16 GMT -5
Wow! You said it - what a day! Hope you can get us pics of what you were able to bring back, after you recover from the shock of your new discovery. As I was reading your post, I was thinking "I hope no one gets back there and gets that stuff before michaeljohn can get back." You've called it "your chrys mine" before, I hope that means it's your land, and your fabulous new discoveries are safe from looters! If you'll give us the location, I'm sure many of us will volunteer to guard your find for you! ;D Only kidding.... Thanks for sharing the excitement with us! Amy
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Feb 20, 2008 10:42:02 GMT -5
Amy- mineral rights are different than land ownership, I believe michalejohn is the claimholder on "his" mine which means he has the mineral rights, but if the claim is not a "Patented claim" he only owns the mineral rights, but if it is Patented, he essentially owns the land as well.
In this case the question really is- is this new vein within the boundary of his claim, if so- he shouldn't have to worry about it as he has the exclusive legal rights to it, but if its outside his claim he will have to file a claim on this area as well.
At the same time, I'd agree that he should have no trouble lining up a few volunteers from this board to help out, maybe even clear out a little of that paint stone at the bottom of the hike while we are at it.....
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Post by catmandewe on Feb 20, 2008 11:09:25 GMT -5
OOOOHHH OOOHHHH OOOHHHH pick me!!!!! I will volunteer!!! Have backpack, will travel.
But seriously, you gotta put some pics up, now that you got us all excited. Can't wait to see them....................Tony
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Feb 20, 2008 13:06:48 GMT -5
FIE ON YOU MICHAELJOHN!
We Want Pictures!
We Want Pictures!
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Post by Michael John on Feb 20, 2008 13:38:13 GMT -5
For small scale mining, there's no advantage to a patented claim. That would be a lot of cost for no added benefit. But, no, this vein is not within the area of my claim, and I doubt I'll file it. Being located where it is, the chances of someone seeing it, climbing the mountain to get a better look, and then making the decision that they want to carry rock down in backpacks (like I do) is pretty slim, believe me. Nobody who may have seen it before I did ever made the decision to mine it, and to my knowledge, nobody has been up there since I found it. Besides that, if someone really DID want to mine it, they could jump my claim and there's nothing I could do about it unless I caught them red-handed. I might not even renew my claim the next time around because it's technically not really doing anything for me. I can legally mine it without a claim.
People have asked for pics before, but as I've said, that would mean carrying a camera up and down the mountain, and chances are that it would be broken in the journey. I don't even bring a celphone with me, for the same reason. The only way to do it, if I really wanted to, would be to buy a disposable, wrap it in bubble-wrap, take pics up at the location, rewrap it in bubble wrap to carry it back down, then take it in for film processing. To be honest, that's more trouble than it's worth for me, since I would view that as "taking a picture of a cow that makes you milk" ... the objective is to have the milk!
As I mentioned, there are several huge chunks up there that I have to retrieve. This weekend, I'm going up to get them. They're bigger than I would want my boys to try to carry down, so I'll get them myself (no prob). I'm going to get all three big chunks in one day (three trips). I'll take them down the mountain and hide them in the little box canyon that I mentioned, which is at the foot of the mountain. Then, another day, I'll have the boys come and help me carry them the couple of miles out of the wash, which is an easy hike. THAT day, I could take a camera without risk of breaking it, and take pics that (no doubt) would interest everyone here.
I REALLY want to get that massive chunk of rose quartz out of there in one piece. I'm still thinking about a reasonable way to do it. That thing is SO cool! If I end-up borrowing or renting an ATV for that, I'll probably cache a few hundred pounds of Chrysocolla in the box canyon, so that I get optimum usage of the vehicle for that day. Kill more birds with one stone. LOL
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Post by captbob on Feb 20, 2008 13:51:36 GMT -5
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Post by Michael John on Feb 20, 2008 14:00:13 GMT -5
Since people are throwing hints ...
You want to go up the mountain? Okay. Open invitation. Contact me to make arrangements, and I'll go up there with you. You can keep whatever you can carry down.
I'll warn you ... it's not an easy climb, and it's quite dangerous. One wrong step could lead to serious injury or death. No joke. I'll only be accompanying you, not taking you on a "guided tour". I cannot guarantee or be responsible for your safety. You would make the journey of your own free will. You'll need to bring your own pack, tools, and very large brass cajones.
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Post by Michael John on Feb 20, 2008 14:09:48 GMT -5
Hehehe you haven't seen the terrain. It would take WAY more effort to try to drag that cart than to pack the rock out. A cart like that might be do-able for a rock too big to be carried out, like the chunk of rose quartz, but it would be a lot of work, take a long time, and require three people. I'd MUCH rather use an ATV, if I can get my hands on one.
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Post by captbob on Feb 20, 2008 14:12:03 GMT -5
< checking airfare > only in my dreams... *sigh*
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 20, 2008 14:18:42 GMT -5
Wow! Make sure and take some pics after you get the hunks home. We'd all love to see your finds....Mel
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Post by stonesthatrock on Feb 20, 2008 16:39:59 GMT -5
ahem, wheres the stuff you brought home? remember i like the big chuncks lol
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Post by Michael John on Feb 20, 2008 18:53:11 GMT -5
Hehehe, Ralph, you're at the top of my list!
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Post by stonesthatrock on Feb 20, 2008 21:04:27 GMT -5
its mary ann, and you know i love to joke around. lol
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Post by Woodyrock on Feb 21, 2008 1:21:00 GMT -5
I made a "rock cycle" .....really a combination of motorcycle from wheel, and wheel barrow handles with a netted deck, and saddlebags over the wheel. The wheel is 19" diameter, so goes over pretty rough trails, and with the weight centered over the wheel, there is very little weight on the handles. I have hauled nearly two hundred pounds on this rig. The motorcycle wheel was chosen for the brake......really nice going downhill. When I have figured out how to get pictures from the camera to the forum, I will post pictures. Woody
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Feb 21, 2008 8:46:04 GMT -5
That sounds like a really cool trip! The mountains sound nice and rugged...just like I like it ;D Do they even allow patented claims anymore?? and doesn't a patented claim stay with the person who filed it...for life??? and through there family forever?? There is a patented claim on the mountain I enjoy hiking, and it's been that way since the late 1890's. I've heard it's still active if you can just find the proper ownership. I would love ;D..LOVE ;D ;D to meet you out there sometime. I have hiked some really rugged mountains. I always have my big backpack, along with a flashlight and rockhammer...and even sometimes my metal detector tied on the side. I always take my camera. There's been too many times that I've stumbled on something really cool, that calls for a picture. I used to take my mini-camcorder until I slipped down the side of the hill with a loaded backpack, and right into a stream. I landed on my back, and with the weight of the load, I was in the stream for a few minutes. Needless to say, my camcorder got ruined, and I no longer take the new one with. Although, I do have close to 10 hours of footage of going through mines, new discoveries, and some awesome scenery. I still take my digital camera, just wrap it up in a dishtowel, and put it in a ziploc. I would love to see the pictures of that country your talking about, and possibly see i t first-hand. How far is that from Salt LAke City area??? You sure are wetting my appetite with stories like that though! Steve
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Post by Michael John on Feb 21, 2008 15:21:09 GMT -5
Steve, you're more than welcome to come on down. The distance is about 500 miles, so I'm guessing it would be about an 8 hour drive, one way.
I always try to take as little as possible when I climb or rockhound. I generally take an all-metal 16oz claw hammer, metal wide-blade chisel, 2' prybar, 4" paint brush, toothbrush and lots of water (to wash off my finds and make sure they're worth keeping). Of course, if I think digging will be involved, I take a shovel (full size, doubles as a good walking stick). I also take some sort of "packing" material for wrapping specimens, so they don't get damaged. I MUCH prefer the claw hammer / chisel combo to a rock hammer!
Claims generally only serve their purpose if you can enforce them. If you don't live within eyesight of your claim, and you're not there every day, what's to stop someone from jumping your claim? At best, you can just hope that people will have respect for your claim.
Patented claims are more-or-less ownership. Lesser claims are more like renting. But the same enforcement predicament applies. If people aren't going to respect a claim, it doesn't matter what type of claim it is. If a person IS caught claim jumping, there can be VERY stiff penalties!
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one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
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Post by one80mike on Feb 21, 2008 23:09:09 GMT -5
That was a gripping read. You should write a rock hound novel. I hear what you're saying about the camera but all the same some photos would be sweet.
So, how did you "come across" what sounds like such a remote place to hunt for chrysocolla?
Mike
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