zsark72
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2021
Posts: 80
|
Post by zsark72 on Oct 9, 2022 22:50:45 GMT -5
Hello, I live in Kern county and was wondering where I could find garnets in California. I've heard of many spots and I know the San Diego area is littered with them. I have also heard of a certain kind of etched spessartine garnet that comes out of the little 3 mines in Ramona area and i'm wondering if anybody knows the status on that as well. Thank you!
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,455
|
Post by Sabre52 on Oct 11, 2022 15:51:51 GMT -5
If you go to your local library, you can look for the most recent version of Bulletin 173, Minerals of California from the Division of mines. it will list garnet locations from all over the state. You can also check out Sinkankas' volume 1+2 Gemstones of North America which lists locations for garnet state by state. To determine access, I'd either check with the Division of mines or BLM, if the mine you see is on public land. BLM has great maps showing mines for every district as does the Division of mines.
|
|
quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,208
|
Post by quartzilla on Oct 11, 2022 17:12:55 GMT -5
Pretty sure the Little Three is completely off limits still being claimed. There are nice specimen quality garnets in the general area of the Southern Pacific Silica Quarry in the Lakeview Mountains near Nuevo but getting access to these areas is getting more and more difficult. The Bishop area also has excellent garnets but I’ve never been to any of the locations, only seen them at shows and online. Fort Tejon ranch was also a garnet location but I believe no collecting is allowed there anymore. There is also a location for garnets in granite that is in the Gem Trails Of California books that is off Nadeau (spelling?) Rd near Trona that also has onyx nearby. Sometimes even though a location is not accessible nearby areas with the same mineralogy and formations are nearly as good.
|
|
zsark72
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2021
Posts: 80
|
Post by zsark72 on Dec 6, 2022 1:02:01 GMT -5
Pretty sure the Little Three is completely off limits still being claimed. There are nice specimen quality garnets in the general area of the Southern Pacific Silica Quarry in the Lakeview Mountains near Nuevo but getting access to these areas is getting more and more difficult. The Bishop area also has excellent garnets but I’ve never been to any of the locations, only seen them at shows and online. Fort Tejon ranch was also a garnet location but I believe no collecting is allowed there anymore. There is also a location for garnets in granite that is in the Gem Trails Of California books that is off Nadeau (spelling?) Rd near Trona that also has onyx nearby. Sometimes even though a location is not accessible nearby areas with the same mineralogy and formations are nearly as good. Thank you! I don't know how I missed this response. I'll have to look into these areas, especially trona since I'm relatively close to that. Also so sad that the little 3 is claimed. I wonder if it'd even produce anything anymore
|
|