lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Oct 24, 2017 13:55:45 GMT -5
Hi folks, I haven't been on here for a while, but yesterday we (my mother and I) decided that we would head out to West Virginia next week. It is Quite Far Away From Here and we don't have a lot of time to spend, but I simply MUST get some rock collecting in while I am there. I know we will be going to historic sites in Huntington and probably Parkersburg. We don't have time for extreme southern WV.
What I am looking for, rock-wise, is primarily petrified wood and/or small/medium geodes. (I love fossilized shark teeth, too, but methinks they be scarce in that area.) We could venture across into Kentucky or Ohio also. These don't have to be spectacular specimens (though interesting would be good), we don't need heaping buckets of them - more important is easy access, as my mother has some mobility issues and can't hike long distances, climb steep hills, cross deep water, etc. I don't have an off-road vehicle but I am not afraid of unpaved roads as long as they are reasonably maintained. My old book tells me there used to be sites for geodes and petrified wood in Kanawha county, but I have no idea if they are still there or if there is any access.
Any ideas, folks?
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Post by Garage Rocker on Oct 24, 2017 14:07:03 GMT -5
That's pretty near where I grew up, around Ashland, KY, about 30 minutes from Huntington. I know of a lot of Indian artifacts and arrowheads found along the Ohio River and smaller streams. Wasn't into rock hounding when I lived there, but don't believe there is much good material to be found on that side of the river. You may have better luck in West Virginia, the decent geodes in KY are well into the south central part of the state.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Oct 24, 2017 15:02:57 GMT -5
Relics are good too...
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Oct 25, 2017 12:11:12 GMT -5
Wondering if I should I have put this in another area or called it something else.... like HELP I need rocks/fossils in Kentucky/West Virginia/Ohio and don't know where to go.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Oct 25, 2017 15:02:36 GMT -5
Wondering if I should I have put this in another area or called it something else.... like HELP I need rocks/fossils in Kentucky/West Virginia/Ohio and don't know where to go. I just don't believe there are any members here on the forum from that area. I think I'm as close as it gets. It's a pretty lackluster area for lapidary material. Here's the best I can offer:
Rockhounding West Virginia
Rockhounding Ohio
Rockhounding Kentucky
Unfortunately, the area in Kentucky you will be closest to is far away from the areas with decent rock hounding. Northeastern KY and most of West Virginia has coal deposits and fossils can be found in the shale there, but I don't have any specific locations to offer. I haven't bothered to try rock/fossil collecting in that region. Wish I could offer more help.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Oct 25, 2017 15:21:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. I'm hoping to come back with a little something; a Ground Sloth or two would be nice...
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Post by Garage Rocker on Oct 25, 2017 15:25:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. I'm hoping to come back with a little something; a Ground Sloth or two would be nice... Haha! Better have a lot of head room in your car. Suckers were 8' tall.
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Jan 17, 2018 22:36:53 GMT -5
I am late to this thread, since I just joined the board a couple of days ago. Although I live in N.C. now, I was born and raised in southern W.Va. When I was growing up there, I wasn't in to rockhounding. Now, I too am looking for info for rockhounding opportunities up there. I still have family up there and go back to visit from time to time. You mentioned Kanawha county. I grew up in boone county, which borders it to the south, and is full of old coal mines, but I don't know if there is anything there worth looking for. If I don't get any solid leads I guess I'll try to hit some spots later this year and see what turns up. I'm just looking for something interesting to toss in the tumbler. If you go (or have already went), hope you find/found something good.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Jan 18, 2018 11:21:25 GMT -5
Thanks, nchillbilly. Unfortunately, events conspired against me, between a migraine that showed up at just the wrong time, a fall down some stairs, and lots of cold rain, (I can take some rain, but not so keen on it when it's 40 degrees and pouring) I got to do very little collecting. I did pick up a few pieces of chert by "collecting" on the lawn next to some piles of fill that had been dumped at the hotel. (I'm sure whoever mows the lawn won't mind me removing them.) Not super colorful, mostly grey with some red, brown and yellow, but I think some of them will tumble well.
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nchillbilly
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2018
Posts: 212
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Post by nchillbilly on Jan 18, 2018 22:23:13 GMT -5
Thanks, nchillbilly. Unfortunately, events conspired against me, between a migraine that showed up at just the wrong time, a fall down some stairs, and lots of cold rain, (I can take some rain, but not so keen on it when it's 40 degrees and pouring) I got to do very little collecting. I did pick up a few pieces of chert by "collecting" on the lawn next to some piles of fill that had been dumped at the hotel. (I'm sure whoever mows the lawn won't mind me removing them.) Not super colorful, mostly grey with some red, brown and yellow, but I think some of them will tumble well. Sorry to hear that. I spent way too much time on google earth last night trying to get a different perspective on the mountains where I grew up. Looking for exposed seams or dump piles from the old mines. I'm hoping to get up that way later this year. If I find anything interesting I'll let you know about it.
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