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Post by kap on May 2, 2011 21:37:44 GMT -5
Kathy and I are going to Arkansas in 2 weeks to dig Crystals and go to the Diamond Mine. We are staying in Mt Ida. We were thinking about the Sweet Surrender mine and Ron Colman's has any one been? Any where else anyone would recommend? I love the hard digging but Kathy would do better where she can surface hunt. Thanks Keith
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on May 3, 2011 6:07:25 GMT -5
If I'm not mistaking, there is no HARD DIG in the pay to dig mines. You either go through tailing piles or they bring you a loader full if you have the bucks. The diamond mine is fun, but you have to be real lucky.
Lee
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Post by kap on May 3, 2011 7:04:37 GMT -5
Lee you can still dig at the Sweet Surrender mine accoring to the owners that was one reason I was thinking about them. I was hoping someone had been. Keith
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rockncajun
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 344
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Post by rockncajun on May 3, 2011 7:28:20 GMT -5
Hey Kieth, Check with Judy's Crystals between Hot Springs and Mt. Ida. I hear she has a mine that you can dig in. Someone from our club went there and said it was good. Let me know if you go. I would like to check it out also on Memorial weekend. Thank Ray
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Post by kap on May 3, 2011 9:02:17 GMT -5
Ray I had heard that also I will check it out
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engineersteve
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2011
Posts: 11
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Post by engineersteve on May 3, 2011 10:20:18 GMT -5
I'll be curious to hear about your experience down there.
In October I am taking my 10 year old daughter with me to Mt. Ida to compete in the World Championship Quartz Digging Competition put on by the Chamber of Commerce. We go to 3 different mines in 3 days, and at the end of each day we each submit our best single point piece and best cluster for judging, plus we get to keep everything we find.
Be sure to take and post pictures!
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rons
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2010
Posts: 450
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Post by rons on May 3, 2011 15:17:41 GMT -5
You can dig at the Sweet Surrender, good large clusters can show up if they open a good pocket, however the crystals will have a heavy and hard manganese coating it can be removed, just takes time and the quality of the crystal is real nice as they have been well protected by the coating, hope you have a blast
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Post by kap on May 3, 2011 15:28:24 GMT -5
So thats the place with the black coating that a couple of our members dug at when we all went out. I remember they had good luck finding them.
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Post by kap on May 15, 2011 18:42:36 GMT -5
WE ARE HERE!!! We are staying at the Crystal Inn in Mt Ida Ar. We are digging at Fiddlers Ridge on Monday will try and post some pics. Not sure where else we are digging will wait and see how it goes tomarrow. Keith
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on May 15, 2011 23:38:48 GMT -5
Have bunches of fun & come back with loads of good stuff!
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Post by kap on May 16, 2011 19:04:06 GMT -5
We dug at Fiddlers Ridge today and done pretty good! We brought out about 90lbs(2 and a half 5 gal buckets) about 2 gal loose crystals and the rest clusters. Jim and his son Bobby really done a great job helping us find crystals. We are going to Ron Colmans tomarrow let you know how we do there. Keith
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on May 16, 2011 20:07:29 GMT -5
Keith:
Glad you've had success! And thanks for the update! Can't wait to see your 'treasures'.
Sue
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Post by kap on May 20, 2011 18:32:57 GMT -5
1866 miles later we are HOME!!! We had a great time thought I would post a few pics after I unwrapped everything. Uncleaned mostly single crystals The clusters Some clusters closeups I cant wait for them to dry out so I can start cleaning them We only hit 2 mines this trip the Fiddlers Ridge (really enjoyed it there) and Ron Colman's( they had not brought any new material up in a while so we did not do as good there. I did find one crystal bigger than both my hands). I will try them next trip if they are bringing up new stuff. A couple of people that was staying where we were went to Wagner's and Dee & Gee's and done good. Judy's had not moved any material there trackhoe was done. We hit the Diamond mine for a few hours one day did not find anything but one guy found 2 while we were there. I think I will check it off my bucket list as been there done that . I cant wait to go back. Keith
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