hand2mouthmining
spending too much on rocks
Purveyors of California Gem Rock
Member since September 2011
Posts: 495
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Post by hand2mouthmining on May 20, 2013 16:43:07 GMT -5
Hi, geoenthusiasts! The collecting just keeps getting better at Area 54, a former canal district gravel pit in the bed of Little Panoche Creek. This 1.5 x .5 mile site in western Fresno County, CA, is just a few miles off of I-5, and within a few hours drive of the Bay Area and Southern California. Now, with the release of Google Maps Engine, we have a new site map for Area 54. It includes a growing store of details, accessible by clicking the colored pins, badges and lines. Here's the link: mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zCdmE5btVtxA.kX9I6tpQQWoYRecent field trips have included the Northern California Field Trip Co-op, and members of the Roseville Rock Rollers, Mariposa, Tule, Lemoore, Santa Lucia Rockhounds and many other Societies. We've entertained guest rockhounds from as far away as Europe, Japan and China. This is the place for Blue G, and an endless variety of subduction metamorphosed stones. Bring plenty of buckets when you come to Area 54!If you're coming through Central California on I-5 and want an satisfying rockhounding experience, visit Area 54! Feel free to contact me if you want a guide, I relish any excuse to get out there and mine during the temperate months. Jasper & chert are among the colorful lapidary materials at Area 54Also feel free to check the Events Page at www.rockhound-field-trips.ning.com for information on planned field trips to Area 54 and other destinations. Eye popping poppy jasper is one of the Area 54 stars!We hope to see you out at Area 54, soon!Kris & Al
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Post by deb193redux on May 20, 2013 18:34:34 GMT -5
really nice poppy
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on May 20, 2013 18:35:38 GMT -5
nice, very cool to share that map
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deedolce
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2006
Posts: 1,828
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Post by deedolce on May 20, 2013 18:54:39 GMT -5
Love that poppy! Sweet. When I get a dependable vehicle, I'll be there!
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Post by paulshiroma on May 20, 2013 19:54:06 GMT -5
very cool, guys! We may try and hit the place on the way back from our annual August family vacation.
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doneall517
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 109
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Post by doneall517 on May 23, 2013 1:29:09 GMT -5
Does one need permission to collect here? Mike
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,651
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Post by Tommy on May 23, 2013 14:54:12 GMT -5
Awesome map Kris - thanks for putting that together.
Mike - no it's wide open - BLM land as I understand it. I know this is last minute but my son and I are headed down there again this Saturday (day after tomorrow) and if anyone wants to hook up let me know. It's getting hot as blazes in the central valley by now so we are going to hit the rocks for a few hours in the early morning. I've been there three times already - so far I haven't found any of the elusive red "california poppy" so I'm determined to find some this time.
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hand2mouthmining
spending too much on rocks
Purveyors of California Gem Rock
Member since September 2011
Posts: 495
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Post by hand2mouthmining on May 27, 2013 20:09:55 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies, guys (and gals!) Tommy, I hope that you had a good weekend at Area 54! Let me know if you had any success finding poppy jasper. We were quite fortunate last trip and brought back almost 5 pounds of the best we've seen. "California" poppy to "3P" (Panoche Paisley Poppy) jasperCalifornia poppy jasper, with lots of surface colors ... "Cross" poppy jasper, with dense sub-6mm poppies ... And some "blue glow" opal centers!The poppy out there is really scarce! It usually occurs in small walnut sized nodules, so these pieces are exceptional. I crowed with delight, and exclaimed "Rock of the Day!", in Denise's honor! To answer the jurisdiction question, this area has been used by both the Canal District and Fresno County for gravel extraction. The word from the "feet-on-the-ground" guys with the Canal District is "Rock? Take what you like!" Geological reports speak of core samples that show alluvium depths of 150-300 feet in this "mouth" deposit. As one geological report exclaimed,"The deposit is virtually inexhaustible!" The creek is unfenced and un-posted easement, and according to California Statute, open to casual and recreational entry. Rockhounding is considered routine, and we always get waves from farmhands and Canal District employees as they pass by. I hope that everyone has a chance to visit! Dry camping is quiet and comfortable, accommodations are good along I-5, and there's Mercey Hot Springs Resort if you want something totally different. You even have Subway's sandwiches less than 10 minutes away! Hope to see you all soon! Kris
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,651
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Post by Tommy on May 28, 2013 16:57:06 GMT -5
Tommy, I hope that you had a good weekend at Area 54! Thanks Kris - we had fun and nobody got hurt this time so it was a good day. I enjoyed playing around in my new truck and Jeremy popped off about 150 shells in his new shotgun. Regarding rocks - as I said in my other trip report post I was being very very picky and I came away with a beautiful lace agate about the size of my palm and 1" thick, and a bright red jasper rock that I think might have interesting stuff inside. Other than that I gathered about 200 lbs of beautiful garden rocks for my garden. (edited to call it "lace" agate instead of "fortification")
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on May 29, 2013 11:56:33 GMT -5
I have gone a-hunting in this area twice. I got a couple of pieces of so-so Blue G. Most of my pieces had inclusions of a yellow flakey material that left a pitted surface. I got some nice brick red jaspers with clear and milky quartz lines running through them and a similar material in olive green. My two favorite finds were a dark blue material with a brecciated pattern and a green moss agate with a cross of quartz running through the whole stone. I also found a softer light blue material with brown/purple dots which I think are hematite. It takes a satiny sheen so I would not call it useful yet. I am still playing with it.
The first time I went up in April I camped out and froze my tail off. The second time I stayed in a hotel in Los Banos which is about 10 miles away. Los Banos is a small town but they have a Walmart, Starbucks and all the amenities of home. This is an easy field trip. It is close to gas, hot food and real restrooms. It is close to the highway, it has short and pretty flat dirt roads to travel on. It is not very hilly and you don't have to do a lot of digging to find good stuff. I filled up two milk crates with rocks just on the east end of Area 54. I did not make it to the middle before I caught my limit of rocks :) Next time I go up I will explore further. I can post some photos if anyone is that interested.
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hand2mouthmining
spending too much on rocks
Purveyors of California Gem Rock
Member since September 2011
Posts: 495
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Post by hand2mouthmining on May 29, 2013 17:16:52 GMT -5
Great finds, Tommy! The lace agate you posted on RFTF! is the first if its kind that I've seen from Area 54. I trust you won't mind my reposting it here to save you time. We've found a few fortification agates, but only a few. This is the largest, prettiest and laciest I've seen from Area 54. Nice find! Keep up the great rockhounding! Kris
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Sept 18, 2013 16:07:09 GMT -5
I went to area 54 last week on the way home from the Bay Area. Thanks to all who have posted info about this place. I didn't find too much more than landscape rock. I did find a cool jasper that looks like a cross between Stone Canyon & a plume jasper.
I checked out the link to the map with legend & noticed lots of cars & people milling about. Was that a club trip that any of us were at? Lynn
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Marie
starting to shine!
Member since March 2013
Posts: 40
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Post by Marie on Sept 19, 2013 19:02:40 GMT -5
Oh wow! I will absolutely stop by here next time I head to norcal!
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Oct 31, 2013 15:30:27 GMT -5
Here's a chunk of plumish/dendritic jasper that I found. It's the best piece I brought home. Sorry about the focus. Lynn
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luvtogrow
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2012
Posts: 194
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Post by luvtogrow on Nov 1, 2013 10:41:14 GMT -5
Area54 jasper boulder collected last month
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kimjesamax
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2014
Posts: 12
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Post by kimjesamax on May 29, 2015 13:14:30 GMT -5
I am heading to this spot next week to do some searching. I'm from NE Ohio and am tired of only being able to tumble stuff purchased on eBay. I will be in Fresno on business and may be able to sneak over to this area for a few hours. I'd love to find my own material that I can tumble.
Can anyone give me some pointers or some good, specific spots in this area? Will I need some tools to break off pieces, or is stuff laying around in workable pieces? I've been tumbling now for a year, but when it comes to rock hounding, especially in California... No clue.
I messaged the author but didn't hear back. I'm interested in finding anything that takes a good polish, especially poppy stuff. Also, any other places near Fresno to hunt?
Thanks in advance!!
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Post by captbob on May 29, 2015 16:49:01 GMT -5
Hey kimjesamax, Might have some luck reaching him through the first link in his signature area. There is a phone number at that linked site. Good hunting and welcome to the forum!
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luvtogrow
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2012
Posts: 194
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Post by luvtogrow on May 30, 2015 11:16:32 GMT -5
I like the creek bed to the far right of area54, above and around the areas where boulders stack. You'll need a rock hammer. There is poppy jasper all over a54, often find pj on top of ridges as the soil wears away to show the color/texture. Happy hunting!
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johnnyj
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2015
Posts: 1
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Post by johnnyj on Nov 2, 2015 19:48:57 GMT -5
Beautiful stones... I would love to go there some day!
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nycone
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2017
Posts: 1
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Post by nycone on Oct 9, 2017 13:26:09 GMT -5
I went to Area 54 yesterday. I did not do well. I found no speckled jasper. If anyone wants to go and be a guide, I'd be happy to hire you.
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