southforkmining
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2006
Posts: 275
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Post by southforkmining on May 14, 2009 1:22:57 GMT -5
Hi Guys...I have found several outcroppings of Garnets in Schist in Northern California......so far at the surface outcrops and on rocks I have broken open..the garnets are not gem quality....I am looking for info on garnet deposits....web sites...books...contacts....I am trying to find out if it is likely to expect a better quality of stone deeper into the deposit...in other words would it be common for the surface stones to differ from what may be deeper in the wall rock or below the surface....these are remote locations, access by foot, with hand tools.....anyone one have any knowledge or experinence to help me understand these deposits...thanks...Rich
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on May 14, 2009 8:13:32 GMT -5
We have alot of garnet in schist around here. Never found any gem quality material yet.
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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 May 14, 2009 16:04:09 GMT -5
Rich, Year ago and I mean probably 40+ years ago, I had the opportunity to go up by Garnet Hill south of Salt Springs reservoir Rd in Calaveras County. We could not get into the mine proper but the access road which was full of sharp turns had several areas where trucks had crashed or dumped their loads. The garnet hunting there was excellent and we found crystals from 1/4 inch to over an inch in the roadside piles. The colors ranged from semi-translucent red brown to black with the black ones being real nice I just googled the site and it's apparently still there so might be worth investigating. There was another fine area up by Dinky Creek that had nice garnets and epidote and near Exchequer Bluff SW of Dinky there was a fantastic pegmatite hilltop full of nice massive rose quartz and smoky quartz crystals. I'm not really a crystal guy so only noted this site while hiking with my pop who was in the CCC's making trails in this area when he was a kid, but it might be on some geological maps of the area. I don't remember gem quality garnets from either site but the crystals were very well formed. I have an old mining journal and I'll check out gem quality garnet sites in California for you to see what I can find...Mel
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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 May 14, 2009 16:17:14 GMT -5
Rich: Checked my Calif division of mines bulletins ans Sinkankas and only gem quality garnet locations listed are in San Diego County up around Ramona, Pala, Gem Hill near Pala etc. The other sites listed are only for massive material or specimen grade crystals....Mel
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ldhuff/Hiram Abif
having dreams about rocks
May it forever wave!!!!
Member since May 2009
Posts: 52
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Post by ldhuff/Hiram Abif on May 14, 2009 21:10:41 GMT -5
Hi Rich, Re post your question on McRocks.com. Go to the Message Board. Mike Streeter is the host and a very good source for this type info.
Larry
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southforkmining
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2006
Posts: 275
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Post by southforkmining on May 14, 2009 23:24:56 GMT -5
Thanks for the help guys...Mel...those mines up in San Diego county are quite famous...and have produced some famous stones...I would like to get down there sometime....but for now..I am concentrating on local deposits....I feel there is much to find here....that has been overlooked and left un-explored pretty much...I have found some quality micro garnets...I mean...only can see them under a microscope...I will keep poking around these...and hope to bump into some cool specimen types...........Rich
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