jerryb
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 408
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Post by jerryb on May 23, 2006 6:08:10 GMT -5
i am going to NM for a few days to visit my grandma and am planning to spend a day rockhounding in and around deming.
anyone have any ideas on spots to hound?
i did a search and got a couple of ideas.
thanks
jerry
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Post by HARDROCKMINER on May 23, 2006 20:28:21 GMT -5
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Post by NM Stone Supply on May 24, 2006 7:06:02 GMT -5
What part of NM is your main travel to. I would not waste time going to rockhound park. It has been open for years and every inch has been picked through. If we would have had some recent rains to wash up fresh stone I might say I would go, but we have not had any good rain in a long time.
In the Deming area there is Lake Valley, cooks peak, fluorite ridge, Kingston, Hillsboro, Hermanas, Blanchard mine and rock shop and 100's more.
I don't want to spoil your rockhound trip. It is a nice clean park and great hiking, but if you are coming from out of town and only have a day to get rocks I would try elsewhere. It will be hot where ever you end up.
Try to find this book.... ( Gem Trails Of New Mexico ) by James R. Mitchell This book lists about 200+ locations of Rocks, Fossils and Minerals in NM. The best book I ever bought. Great maps.
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Post by NM Stone Supply on May 24, 2006 7:17:45 GMT -5
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jerryb
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 408
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Post by jerryb on May 24, 2006 7:25:02 GMT -5
thanks hardrockminer,
that link pointed me to one useful reference
i have a couple of spots identified.
cheers
jerry
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jerryb
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 408
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Post by jerryb on May 24, 2006 17:49:30 GMT -5
NMOnyx,
i am going to alamagordo friday to my folks, the las cruces on saturday to my grandma's then on to deming for the day and back to el paso for the flight home on monday morning.
i am open to suggestions, i did get an email from "The Geode Kid" who is the owner of the baker claim and he offered to send me to some spots if i stopped by his store that day. i don't expect to go too wild due to the weather, but would be delighted to find some materials to take home.
i did buy that book on amazon along with a rock field guide, free shipping!
thanks
jerry
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Post by NM Stone Supply on May 24, 2006 21:04:47 GMT -5
Well I would love to help you more but you will find every place to collect stone in NM in that book. I am in Belen. Have fun and be carefull.
Jason
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jerryb
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 408
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Post by jerryb on May 25, 2006 6:00:37 GMT -5
thanks jason,
the book will serve two purposes: i have two three hour layovers on the flight down so it will help fill that time. and i can find some collecting sites.
as far as being careful: water will definately be the order of the day! and since i will be alone no scrambling on steep areas either. i am using my dad's car so i can't go far from a maintained dirt road, nothing off-road for sure so it should mostly be tame.
Belen, eh? i guess you won't be joining me for the afternoon then?? LOL
i am planning to go again next march for the deming show, which hits my spring break, i will probably find a 4x4 to rent and get a little serious about doing some collecting on the various mine dumps around that area. also want to the the geode dig at the baker claim with the rock show group if i can.
cheers
jerry
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rockcandy
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2006
Posts: 12
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Post by rockcandy on Jun 11, 2006 13:12:10 GMT -5
My first post!  We were in the Deming area a couple months ago, and stayed at Rockhound State Park, which is a nice campground with a nice view, but I had no luck finding rocks there... We decided to try our luck in the area of Flourite ridge. I found a few nice rocks and would have found more, except that I was driven away by Africanized bees. Somebody set up beehives about every mile or so, along the road leading to the ridge, and the bees followed our van, and circled us when we got out. At fluorite ridge I thought I had lost them, but when I started digging, they showed up again. this time they were even more aggressive and were "bumping" against me. I decided it was time to leave. As I stood up I saw hundreds of bees nearby, buzzing around a mine shaft opening. They must have established a hive in there. |
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