Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Dec 18, 2007 22:00:50 GMT -5
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Dec 19, 2007 2:40:37 GMT -5
Interesting question. I dug through some old notes, and I see I have a hand written note on amber in Alberta. I don't recall the source, but my note to myself says, "Only location of note seems to be Grassy Lake, which I believe is the town 30 km east of Taber. I don't know if the amber is at the lake/slough near the town, or at the South Sask. river approx. 10 km north of town." So tonight I did a little browsing, and found this link on Canadian amber that I'll add at the bottom. Seems there are some nice pieces to be found, and about 2% contain insect fossils. Your best spot of all seems to be Cedar Lake in Manitoba, but it sounds like the original source is weathered coal seams in Alberta and Saskatchewan. As to where to search... the amber is fossil resin (fossil pine gum) from the same plants that formed the coal. So no point looking above the coal seam. You could look directly in the coal seam, but I bet it would be better to look on the hillsides below the coal seam, or even in the creeks that drain the valleys with the coal, as then you can find the amber that has weathered out of the coal over long periods of time. Actually, since amber is very light, I would think that it would make it to the creeks fairly quickly, so maybe the creeks would be a very good place to start looking. Sounds like the amber is upper Cretaceous age, so that means searching the southern badlands and deeply cut rivers like the south Saskatchewan, not upland creeks that don't cut very far into past sediments. -Don gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/paleochron/33_e.php
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Dec 19, 2007 4:24:58 GMT -5
You found the page that got me started!! I was looking for info on Dominican amber. From what I found the Grassy/Ceder lake areas defiantly do sound like the best spots, but both are about a 10hr drive for me. What really got me interested was that map on pg247 of the book link. Its just a dot on a map showing amber locations, but its right on my home town of Estevan. The problem is my info starts and ends with that dot. I know the lignite around here is in the Ravenscrag Formation which is supposed to be Paleocene era so I guess the amber around here would be newer than the Grassy/Ceder lake areas maybe it would even be copal? . But as far as info on amber around my area goes I got a dot on a map. I was also thinking of looking at exposed banks for weathered out pieces. There are several spots by the local dam I had in mind. This is going to drive me crazy waiting for spring. Only 4 months to go that should fly by right???
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Dec 19, 2007 10:16:52 GMT -5
1) The geological survey of Canada publishes a series by Ann Sabina, entitled Rocks and Minerals for the Collector. Find and purchase the book that covers your area. One email and thirty bucks or less and I bet you'll find your answer.
2) Find a local club and join it, local knowledge beats all.
3) I can't for the life of me remember where I read it, but I know that the one prarie amber source I read about, I suspect Grassy Lake, the amber was found on the shores of the lake. Made me really want to drive out there, if it didn't require about three days on the road, lol.
4) I'd get topo maps and the best road maps you can find, and prospect the hell out of the area. I'd check the lake and river shores first, myself. Look in the drainages, wherever there is some erosion cutting the strata. The amber will be right in with the coal, I suspect, so if you find a black or ochre brownish (?) very distinctive strata, maybe with some fossil ferns and whatnot, excavate it and break it up looking for amber bits. Don't expect the amber to look all gemmy and shiny like you see in the jewelry; it should have a good lustrous fracture but probably won't look like much at all in the rough.
5) If you like Dominican amber insects, get The Amber Forest by Poinar; hundreds of incredible photos, simply an amazing book. Published by Princeton University Press, 1999.
SirRoxalot
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Dec 19, 2007 15:23:58 GMT -5
Well for your suggestions here is what we have happening. 1) ordered the book about 60 seconds ago. Thanks for the advice 2) Nearest club is 2.5 hrs away. I want a local club so bad but if wishes were pennies I'd be a millionare. 3) Grassy or Cedar lake would be it. They are the major spots, but 10hrs away. this link got me started looking gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/paleochron/33_e.php4) Got maps, thanks for the what to look for help. 5) I leave for Dominican Republic in about 8hrs. Thats what got me looking for amber info in the first place. Thanks for the help. Merry Christmas everyone
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Shelbeeray
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 688
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Post by Shelbeeray on Dec 19, 2007 18:33:21 GMT -5
OMG....My son gets married in May, which means I have to travel to Minneapolis...hmmm I'm gonna see if I can Google map myself right through that area for my trip down and back...heck, they take pictures of weddings right? ? (just kidding, wouldn't miss it for the life of me!) But, a serious thanks for the lead on the book, Sir Rox... hadn't found that yet and I'm getting myself one or 2... (Scott, I feel for ya - the closest one to me is 8 hours drive - through the range....ugh! I'll be teaching some rock & mineral courses this spring, might have to start one myself!)
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