iwannarock
starting to shine!
Member since April 2015
Posts: 35
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Post by iwannarock on May 12, 2024 10:04:03 GMT -5
Looking for suggestions on where to base camp in Oregon, looking through this forum and the net without the rock hound map is getting a little overwhelming. Would like to find spots for a base camp with collecting areas up to an hour away as we may or may not have the dogs with us. Interested in finding sunstones, obsidian and jaspers. Is the BLM area for sunstones worth it? Is it a lot of heavy digging? Not sure how much hard rock we are able to do and then still enjoy our trip lol. From what I’ve been able to figure out is to find a spot around Prineville, Plush and then explore and enjoy the coast? Sunstones better to go to a mine or? Which one would be the better value if we decide to go to that expensive root? Appreciate any and all suggestions 😃
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realrockhound
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Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
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Post by realrockhound on May 12, 2024 12:24:21 GMT -5
It’s all dependent on “exactly” what variety of material you’re looking for. For sunstones, just go to the mines and pay. I’m in prineville. Where are you located out of?
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iwannarock
starting to shine!
Member since April 2015
Posts: 35
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Post by iwannarock on May 12, 2024 14:23:50 GMT -5
Regina,Saskatchewan,Canada been proud members of Prairie Rock and Gem Society for 14+years
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realrockhound
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Chucking leaverite at tweekers
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Post by realrockhound on May 12, 2024 15:00:32 GMT -5
Regina,Saskatchewan,Canada been proud members of Prairie Rock and Gem Society for 14+years When looking for jasper, agates, obsidian. Its best to have an Idea of what kinds you're looking for. I dont say this in a snarky way, but more for a clarification to try to assist you. Saying you want to look for jaspers/obsidian encompasses a large area. Glass buttes has obsidian, but there are different beds out there if you're looking for specific types. If you wanted agate limb casts then youd want to go to congelton hollow out in paulina. If you wanted moss agate, then try the maury moss beds. If you want to find various agates, crystals, woods, jaspers with no distinct deposit, then bear creek is a good place. If you want green jasper petrified wood, then youd want to go look for hampton butte wood. Hope that clears some things up. I know places but knowing the distinct materials you're wanting to obtain would help me better guide you.
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iwannarock
starting to shine!
Member since April 2015
Posts: 35
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Post by iwannarock on May 13, 2024 9:42:56 GMT -5
Thanks Cave Dweller, no snarkiness taken lol, Ideally fire, rainbow, gold sheen obsidian, jasper's mainly any type of picture type, opal fire. Basically looking to find gem quality, which I know now a days is extremely difficult without having access to a good claim. We have been very fortunate to have acquired a number of rockhounds estate's rocks over the years and are looking for high quality material for cabochons for us to make jewelry out of (personal). We have thunder eggs but we are still trying to figure out what to do with them lol and we are not really specimen hunters, looking for unique rocks to cut slab and cabochon, and facet once I get off my lazy horse and start learning lol. The trip is also about the scenery as we love taking pictures, hoping to find some quite waters to dip our kayaks in, get lucky finding great material, and going to rock shops to purchase what we can't find. Also trying to work in the Prineville Pow Wow if we have the right timing in our trip, plus joining a club or two to meet and rockhound with other like minded people.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 13, 2024 10:09:12 GMT -5
Best base camp would be in the realrockhound driveway, from what I hear. For sunstones there are like 3 claims that offer a good pay to dig experience. You will likely find some small clear stones in the public area, but not so easy to find color. I think if I were to have the time and do a loop, maybe start by dropping through WA and visiting Saddle Mt for Pet Wood, then south into Oregon, through Rufus to Madras, with a stop at the Polkadot Agate mine and Richardsons Rock Ranch for sure. There will be a show with field trips in Prineville starting June 13 if that fits your schedule, also one in Madras the following weekend. From Prineville you could go through Redmond and Bend to the sunstones, with the all important stop at the peterson rock garden, and see Crater Lake if that's of interest. After Sunstones would probably be Hart Mt for jasper if you can find it, and you could go on to McDermitt for a number of things, then north up US95 with tons of spots to look. At I84 you could head east to Tony's but you want to message him your itinerary ahead of time. Chris can host visitors if he is out getting another estate.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 13, 2024 10:13:19 GMT -5
If you make it to Prineville be sure to say hi, we will be the vendors right across from the food by the building.
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realrockhound
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Chucking leaverite at tweekers
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Post by realrockhound on May 13, 2024 11:45:49 GMT -5
Rockoonz gave you some good advice. As far as base camp, if you want to stay in a hotel, prineville. If you’re camping, Hampton butte is a good central point. Then you’re 30 min to an 1hr in any direction around you to find material in the are. There isn’t much for picture jasper in central Oregon. Vistaite is the only picture jasper close to prineville and it’s basically mined out of existence. It can still be found, but scarce and requires lots of knowledge on the area of where and how to dig. The fire obsidian is on a claim.
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iwannarock
starting to shine!
Member since April 2015
Posts: 35
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Post by iwannarock on May 24, 2024 9:47:52 GMT -5
thanks everyone for the suggestions, we thought this was going to be easy, but we also forgot about all of the wonderful sites areas and activities to do including paddling with our kayaks, hard to believe we will be on our way in a little more than a week, hope to run into some of you during our adventurers
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on May 24, 2024 11:15:36 GMT -5
You can reserve a spot at the ochoco reservoir in prineville. You can kayak there. Across the road up in the rim rocks is the batcaves where jasper can still be found. About a 20 minute hike from your spot at the reservoir
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iwannarock
starting to shine!
Member since April 2015
Posts: 35
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Post by iwannarock on Jun 9, 2024 18:48:24 GMT -5
Tomorrow I will be phoning all over for a campsite closest to Prineville, hoping it will be closer than Bend but that’s what happens when you’re not sure of your timing and whereabouts 😂😅 looking forward to be able to hound with others at the PolkaDot Mine and picking up a few goodies at the show. Hope to meet some of you on the weekend 😃
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