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Post by Toad on Aug 3, 2005 7:36:26 GMT -5
Anyone know of a good collecting site within driving distance of Chicago?
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Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on Aug 3, 2005 8:24:20 GMT -5
If you find any good sites, let me know  |
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carolelgin
starting to spend too much on rocks
BlueBelle
Member since October 2005
Posts: 161
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Post by carolelgin on Oct 2, 2005 22:12:16 GMT -5
Hi Toad.. Hi Tonya.
I am a newbie to the max but if I get any information from a book I just ordered, I will post it.
Rock on.
Carol
49 miles NW of Chicago. You?
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Post by rockds on Oct 2, 2005 23:59:44 GMT -5
I guess the lack doesn't have anything to offer?
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Post by Toad on Oct 3, 2005 4:54:51 GMT -5
Hi Carol,
You're not too far from me. I grew up in Schaumburg, but now live in Montgomery - just a little south of Aurora.
I hear there is fluourite in IL, but I don't know where. Please let us all know if you find something.
Todd
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carolelgin
starting to spend too much on rocks
BlueBelle
Member since October 2005
Posts: 161
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Post by carolelgin on Oct 7, 2005 17:34:15 GMT -5
Well, Todd, we need to move. The Gem Trails book arrived. I eagerly read our area. Again, we need to move. Bah.
So, who can take in an old lady with 3 dogs? Elgin is boring for rocks.
Carol
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earthdog
Cave Dweller 
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Nov 3, 2005 9:38:36 GMT -5
Elgin is boring any way you look at it. My dad grew up there. Funny how when I drive down highway 31, I see alot of the bilboards are written in spanish.
I now live in Kenosha Wi. and I found a place 52 miles from me where I can pick up all kinds of beautiful rocks.
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Post by Toad on Nov 5, 2005 10:34:39 GMT -5
I am not averse to driving to the Kenosha area. You willing to give up the location of your collecting sites?
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Nov 12, 2005 14:43:11 GMT -5
Ok, toad, you forced me to give it up.. It's called the Gem Shop. in Cedarburg Wi. just 10 miles or so north of Milwaukee. Thats my main collecting site. It would be about 2.5 hors for you.
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Post by Toad on Nov 14, 2005 21:27:09 GMT -5
I was thinking of just walking around and picking up rocks off the ground, out of streambeds, and etc... But I already have their website bookmarked. I'll probably give them a visit after Christmas.
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Nov 16, 2005 13:14:32 GMT -5
Let me know when, I'll go up there with ya. I'm always looking for a reason to go up there and spend some cash. I'm in Kenosha, so it'll be on your way..... ;D
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Post by Alice on Dec 12, 2005 17:43:17 GMT -5
Toad, thanks for posting up this question.
I plan on passing right by there this summer, and I was going to ask if there were any worth while stops I should make.
Looks like we'll be driving on through the state, and not make any rock hounding trips.
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Dec 13, 2005 22:38:49 GMT -5
This part of the midwest doesn't have much for picking for polishing. The website I have says there is alot of quartz, calcite, pyrite, and marcasite, quartz being the only thing you could possibly tumble. I would try some train tracks first, they use alot of quartz around the tracks.
I have gotten handfuls of rocks from where I work and tried to tumble them, some turn out ok, but most don't have much color.
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Slydog
has rocks in the head
Member since February 2006
Posts: 555
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Post by Slydog on Feb 14, 2006 23:17:24 GMT -5
Hi--I'm new here, and new to the hobby as well. I bought a used Lortone, and life hasn't been the same since!!!
Anyway, Carol--I love your coonhound!!!!
I'm in Green Bay, WI. Quartz, that's about all that I've found that is interesting. And it's not that interesting. But--I get to Wyoming in the spring/summer, and to South Dakota (bike rally in Sturgis) in August.
WY is awesome for rocks. I usually go to a place called Agate Flats--tons of agates. Dry streambeds--arrowheads and more agates, jasper. My rock identification sucks at this point, to be honest if it looks interesting or has color, I pick it up and bring it home.
SD, just found a ton of places to look for rock on the 'net. The Black Hills area is terrific for rocks.
The Trails book that was mentioned--let us know what you think of it. I read that the 'directions' in it, to good rock hunting sites, are pretty bad, real vague.
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spacemanspliff
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 171
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Post by spacemanspliff on Feb 19, 2006 4:25:18 GMT -5
I will be going to Chicago this summer too, I was hopeing there would be some good stuff near the lake. The only place I know of near the lake is Navy Peir though. My In-Laws live in Schaumburg . We sometimes go to the Wisconsin Dells when we are out there too. Peace, SSSSpaceman SSSpliff |
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Feb 20, 2006 11:26:27 GMT -5
The dells are cool for kids, with all the water parks. When I go up there I have to stop and eat at Paul Bunyans.. let me know when you make it out here, we can hook up for an afternoon.
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Showtime
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2005
Posts: 284
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Post by Showtime on Feb 21, 2006 19:01:55 GMT -5
try the railroad tracks ours up here are filled with Baraboo Quartzite nice red and white banding if ya manage to smooth out the vugs...
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KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
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Post by KG1960 on Feb 21, 2006 21:19:00 GMT -5
Here are some examples of the Baraboo quartzite. The former Chicago and North Western RR (now part of Union Pacific) used these rocks for their track ballast. So if you find C&NW tracks chances are that there will be these rocks. Many, many years ago they were mined near Baraboo, WI, and presently are still mined near Reedsburg, WI. The photo may not be the best example but will give an idea. I have other samples but have not tumbled them yet. I found these in Des Plaines, IL. Of course, most are solid color but some have a quartz vein. The railroad people call this rock Pink Lady. BTW, not all railroads used this kind of rock, just the C&NW. (I am not advocating tresspass on private railroad property...)  Not only a rock nut, but a train nut, too. |
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Showtime
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2005
Posts: 284
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Post by Showtime on Feb 22, 2006 1:04:56 GMT -5
more baraboo quartzite  |
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KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
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Post by KG1960 on Feb 22, 2006 8:10:24 GMT -5
Good ones there, Showtime!
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