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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 2, 2012 20:00:23 GMT -5
I have to be in Denver by the 7th of Sept so will be on the road during last half of your trip anyway. Keep me in the loop for the early part though. Calico is a 10 minute drive for me.
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Post by jakesrocks on Aug 2, 2012 20:09:13 GMT -5
Guess I'd better hang on to the few slabs of silver lace I have left. Sounds like it may be in short supply.
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Post by paulshiroma on Aug 2, 2012 22:51:06 GMT -5
Yeah, Shotgunner, I remember someone pointing it out to me although I never made it past Christopher's booth. I spent almost the entire time talking with him, John, and Bill (BillG22). Tammy - We should be available the first week of September - maybe that Sunday (2nd) or Monday (3rd) - as the boys start school on Tuesday. They might want one last trip rockhounding before school starts. Maybe we can get a trip together with the Southern California RTH members on one of those days and meet up. Although I'd like to keep the bumpers on my Intrepid. LOL. I need the vehicle as a trade in for the eventual "off-road vehicle" Nathaniel wants us to get Paul
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Aug 3, 2012 0:45:11 GMT -5
johnsgems let me know I am open if not a trip maybe we could just get together and visit.
paulshioma I got the tickets and will be coming on those dates so pick a day and I will be sure to let the family know. also I can not hike ( I am hadicapped) can walk short distances though Kinda. when it gets closer I will pm you two my cell #
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 3, 2012 20:47:01 GMT -5
The onyx claim was not "destroyed in anger". BLM wanted a restoration bond to restore the site to original pristine desert conditions. Owners figured it would cost a fortune. BLM alternative was to let them give up the claim. Since they were undercutting the hillside, BLM made them hire a bull dozer and cave in the hillside. We will likely start our trip to Denver on either Sunday or Monday.
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Post by helens on Aug 6, 2012 21:59:09 GMT -5
OMG!!! I was wondering what silver laced onyx was, and just realized that what Don just sent me was from this mine!!! WOW!! This is what it looks like: The stuff's gorgeous! OMG! Thank you sooo much Don! I'm gonna frame it!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2012 14:34:19 GMT -5
Imagine a 6" sphere made of that stuff! I was given the gps coords of the site. I am told good material is still there. I'll go out there in October'ish and see what I can find. OMG!!! I was wondering what silver laced onyx was, and just realized that what Don just sent me was from this mine!!! WOW!! This is what it looks like: The stuff's gorgeous! OMG! Thank you sooo much Don! I'm gonna frame it!!
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<'))))>< Fish
Cave Dweller
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,841
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Post by <'))))>< Fish on Aug 7, 2012 19:43:41 GMT -5
Just come to my yard, you find anything you want...
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 7, 2012 19:56:27 GMT -5
BLM told me there was a little bit of the vein on the end still exposed but I have not hiked up the steep road to see. You do find a few small pieces on the loose shale below the mine. I tried to get the claim but BLM made it pretty clear it wouldn't happen in this lifetime. The steep road to the mine was "removed from their maps" so any plan (up to a year for plan approval) that included using the existing road which no longer exists would have to include removing the existing road which no longer exists and restoring to pristine desert and a huge restoration bond to cover that and the rest of the project. I asked him if they were really keeping any small miners out of the picture and just got a grin for an answer.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Aug 7, 2012 20:58:16 GMT -5
Here is a 4" onyx sphere I won at a show raffle. Sorry about the blurry photos. I just got back from a 5 day camping trip and caught a cold the very next day. So I feeling a little under the weather.
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cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 879
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Post by cardiobill on Aug 7, 2012 21:05:42 GMT -5
Great post. Cracked up at the pic of your boys with the nintendos. Looks like every meal I have had at a restaurant with my kids. Looks like great times with the kids. I bet they will remember these times with dad forever
Bill
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Post by paulshiroma on Aug 8, 2012 22:20:24 GMT -5
Tammy - call when you get in town, we'll be available the weekend of Labor Day (Sept 1, 2, 3); maybe we can meet up in Calico for lunch? Or at the Outlet Mall just south of Barstow on 15? Lots of places to eat there and access will be easier than Calico. I'll PM you our contact information. Thanks Paul johnsgems let me know I am open if not a trip maybe we could just get together and visit. paulshioma I got the tickets and will be coming on those dates so pick a day and I will be sure to let the family know. also I can not hike ( I am hadicapped) can walk short distances though Kinda. when it gets closer I will pm you two my cell #
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Post by paulshiroma on Aug 8, 2012 22:22:39 GMT -5
Hey, Bill, yeah, that waitress thought it was a kick as well! I recall my rock hounding and backpacking trips with my Dad and wanted to do similar things with my boys while I'm still young enough to get around . Don - great looking piece of onyx! Christopher - very cool sphere! Blurry photos regardless. Thanks for checking out the thread. Paul Great post. Cracked up at the pic of your boys with the nintendos. Looks like every meal I have had at a restaurant with my kids. Looks like great times with the kids. I bet they will remember these times with dad forever Bill
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billg22
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 451
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Post by billg22 on Aug 8, 2012 23:46:59 GMT -5
Looks like you had another great time at Yermo! I've been so busy that I haven't had much time to check the board. I've had a chance to collect in a few places over the past month. To tell the truth I couldn't tell you where I was on what day. I'll have to post a few things soon. We still have to get together and yak about rocks and stuff.
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Aug 9, 2012 10:13:06 GMT -5
sounds good paul. I would still like to go rock hunting if you know somewhere that you can just pick them up off the ground without hiking. I will make sure I rest up. I have a book about California rocks and sites I am taking with me. might try to go out to Hinkley when I am there where my brother lives and check out a hill a couple miles away funny thing is I used to hike to all the mountain and hills around barstow and Hinkley ( it was our play ground) all the time when I was younger and picked up rocks here and there but didn't know much about them back then and don't have them anymore (Shucks). or I might try opal mountain if I can get my brother to go with LOL he probably will he likes stuff like that too he has been there before.
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 9, 2012 12:15:46 GMT -5
We will probably leave for Denver on the holiday Monday so I should be around before that. Kramer Junction has some pretty flat collecting areas. Or if you want to see the Calicos you could take the drive through Mule Canyon and possibly collect at Palm Ridge (you can drive right to the collecting area) or Green Ash Hills although best collecting is on the hillside. What will you be driving? I go everywhere there in my beater, 7" ground clearance Subaru Forrester. Or my old 2 wheel drive Toyota before my Granddaughter totaled it. There is a hill of jasp agate in Mule Canyon with a steep road up to it. Jeeps go up with no problem. I could drive you up in the beater probably. It is a really scenic drive through that canyon. It was the sight of a large borax mine and the road was used by the 20 mule team wagons (2 day trip to Daggett) hence the Mule Canyon name.
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Post by paulshiroma on Aug 10, 2012 0:14:03 GMT -5
Hey folks, maybe we can all meet up at the Minneola off-ramp (highway 15) at that lone remaining gas station just east of Calico and do some collecting in that location. The area I take the boys isn't as far in as the Green Ash hills but it is flat and easy to get around - important for a 9 and 5 year old - and the pickin's are decent. As John mentions, if we went farther in, we'd probably get considerably better stuff. Maybe I can convince my wife to let me borrow the Pilot as it at least has off-road tires and good ground clearance.
Hopefully, we can get a group together and head up. It'd be fun to see everyone! Again, we'll be available on Sept 1, 2, or 3. John, if you're heading out on Monday, maybe Sunday the 2nd? We could swing Saturday the 1st but it'll be tight for due to other appointments.
Weigh in, folks! Maybe we can get a group together, do some collecting and then lunch in Calico or somewhere ...
Paul
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Aug 10, 2012 0:45:19 GMT -5
Wish I could come, but i'm out on a dive boat the whole weekend (plus some). I'll be thinking of you though!
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 10, 2012 8:11:03 GMT -5
I can do Sunday. You would not need ground clearance to get to Green Ash Hills. It is a nice gravel road all the way to the turn off.
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Post by paulshiroma on Aug 10, 2012 8:34:43 GMT -5
Looking forward to seeing your posts! And yes, let's grab some dessert and chat. Also, check your calendar, see if you can join that weekend. Looks like you had another great time at Yermo! I've been so busy that I haven't had much time to check the board. I've had a chance to collect in a few places over the past month. To tell the truth I couldn't tell you where I was on what day. I'll have to post a few things soon. We still have to get together and yak about rocks and stuff.
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