rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Feb 19, 2007 23:56:05 GMT -5
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Feb 20, 2007 0:19:24 GMT -5
I think Biggs is a real pretty picture jasper. It can get a little pricey if it has a good scene on it. (When I first joined here, I bought a flat rater from "he who will remain nameless" of the Georgia Queen Jasper & it slightly reminds me of Biggs.)
Am I right in thinking that the dig site for the Biggs is on private property? Man...would love to find some.
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Post by rhodescabbin on Feb 20, 2007 0:39:26 GMT -5
Good Pictures!!! Biggs Jasper cab be found from Rufus West to just past the Deschutes River on both the Oregon side and Washington sides of the Columbia River...Mostly Private land BUT one can get a permit from the Oregon Department of Transportation to either pick Biggs from their crushing pit or on the shoulders of the roads as after heavy rains Biggs will tummble down and some mighty nice chunks have been found doing that. One of The Late Great Howard Dolphs best Blue Biggs chunks in his museum was found on the shoulder of HWY 97!!! Also Isami Sabota has several mines still running, one is on the outskirts of Biggs Jct and it DOES have some good Biggs in it despite one biggs miners fruitless attempts at discrediting the facts as he would want everyone to believe the only good Biggs left is in his mine lol but yes theres plenty of places to get Biggs. Isami's son, his name:(Eugene) Goldendale Washington acrossed the river from Biggs... I do believe is taking care of the fee diggings also Isami has always sold is Biggs at a Buck a Lb (IF) you dig too which is only $10.00 then you have access to his pile at $1 a Lb... I will know more about their plans here in a few days...
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Feb 20, 2007 10:38:22 GMT -5
DOT has a crushing pit full of Biggs?
That would give spacegold a cardiac!
Talk about government abuses!
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Post by rhodescabbin on Feb 20, 2007 14:21:26 GMT -5
Ya just go to Google Earth and type in Biggs Jct Oregon drop down to about 5,000 Feet and make sure you click (show roads) and where Fulton Canyon is, on the East slope is Isamis Big Mine and on the west side of Fulton Canyon Rd is the State pit and its gigantic!!! Thing is the fellas that work there most know the better grade Biggs...Now I don't know if one can still get in that pit with a permit but as far as the roads alot of people don't even buy the permit because they make you sign a contract that this is for hobby only and the Biggs is not for re-sale... But ya I recommend Google Earth to research the pit one can even see the two pits in Biggs and the pits in Rufus...-Dale Rhode
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Post by freeform on Feb 20, 2007 16:48:25 GMT -5
Google earth is great for eye balling rock hounding spots. IN my topo program, though i get better detail. These maps are not as uptodate as one would like. But with google earth, or any satillite mapping program. YOu can see recent changes to the roads or other access points. Maybe even similar geologic features that match your rockhounding site, maybe theres more over there!
Dale, i wonder about that law. Here in Arizona the state as a law which allows a rockhound to collect upto 250pounds, +1piece, per year, per person. However it clearly stated you can not use it for commical resale. However ive talked to a couple State BLM guys and they siad that is very true, in rough form. But if you cut and polish and/or set it into jewelry, You can resale it.
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Post by larrywyland3 on Feb 22, 2007 19:42:57 GMT -5
That is some nice Biggs. Thanks for posting it. And might I add what a great site this is. So many nice people willing to shart info. I went to Oregon over a year ago to visit my sister I wish I new then what I know now. When I fly back to see her it will be one way; as I will be driving an 18 wheeler back full of great rocks LOL. What kind of licence do you need to drive and 18 wheeler;D
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tehpenguin
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2007
Posts: 5
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Post by tehpenguin on Mar 13, 2007 16:02:24 GMT -5
Hello. I just called the Oregon Department of Transportation and the information that rhodescabbin gave is inaccurate. The Oregon Department of Transportation lady told me that they do not give out permits for anyone to remove anything from their property (such as the crushing pit) and especially do not allow people to collect along highways.
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Post by rhodescabbin on Mar 29, 2007 16:25:19 GMT -5
Hello. I just called the Oregon Department of Transportation and the information that rhodescabbin gave is inaccurate. The Oregon Department of Transportation lady told me that they do not give out permits for anyone to remove anything from their property (such as the crushing pit) and especially do not allow people to collect along highways. =/ Have you ever been to highway 97 in Biggs Jct??? If they don't allow it then why is there people always pulled off the road, and massive tunnels all up and down the highway road cut??? Maybe they don't enforce it. I recall one time about 6 years ago we pulled off as there were people all over digging and seen that a big seam was exposed. We watched as they dug and hammered and all be one of the chunks broke off, rolled down the slope and rolled under a traveling State Police car and it bounced up and down all over the underside of that car. He didn't even slow down...Must have been the end of the shift or he was on a call...I don't know the legalities. I do know I have never ever been bothered and like I said its a daily thing to see rockhounds walkinging either the Biggs or Rufus Highways. Also, for the pit I stated in the 2nd post: (((Now I don't know if one can still get in that pit with a permit but as far as the roads alot of people don't even buy the permit because they make you sign a contract that this is for hobby only and the Biggs is not for re-sale...))) Who did you talk to??? It was one of the supervisors, a man, that did all the Biggs permits. No lady was involved... Did you ask if there ever was a such a permit??? He worked for ODOT the permit was $10.00 Evidently he is retired or for other reasons they decided to stop issuing the permits...So my info (Might) be out-dated but not inaccurate..I will certainly find out the next time I go to the Dalles as someone has to still work there that knew the man who issued these permits...
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Mar 31, 2007 13:00:09 GMT -5
I have found...you can ask 20 people that work for the same gov. entity the same question...& you'll get 20 different answers. Never take the first persons word for anything...most of the time they don't know their @&% from a hole in the ground! Don't believe me? try dealing with the state of Oregons Lottery department...sheesh...
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Post by goldfinger on Apr 24, 2007 11:37:35 GMT -5
I have found...you can ask 20 people that work for the same gov. entity the same question...& you'll get 20 different answers. Never take the first persons word for anything...most of the time they don't know their @&% from a hole in the ground! Don't believe me? try dealing with the state of Oregons Lottery department...sheesh... Aint' kidding about this Ever try and get a straight answer from the IRS. Steve
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