UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Jan 12, 2009 23:13:01 GMT -5
Is it to early in the year to think about a Rockhounding Trip. Nope. ;D I am thinking April 11, or 25, of 2009. The wife and I both have these days off. The weather by then should be a light jacket, or T-Shirt. It is still possible to get a snow storm even then, but rare. Each of the ares mentioned are no more then 50 yards from the road. No four-wheel drive is necessary. No hiking is necessary. The Thunder Eggs can be collected by opening your door, and reaching down. If you want the better ones, you have to use a hammer and screwdriver and carefully pry them out. ;D The entire canyon is full of geodes, but 99% are mud balls. The Thunder Eggs if collected in the right spot, all have quartz in them. This is where I will be taking you. The biggest part of them are filled, and a few have hollow spots in them. Still they make some nice cuts and or cabs. If you find one with a lavender color on the outside, chances are good it has lavender inside.  With and early start, it is easy to make the thunder eggs. This leaves time to investigate other areas. Here are a couple of suggestions. Honey Onyx. This is a Calcite based Onyx. Not suitable for making bowls, but great for Eggs or Spheres. This site is 40 miles north of the Thunder Eggs, but only 8 miles from where we will start.  There is a stop along the way where you can pick up samples of a Obsidian, and Calcite based Zebra Rock. It is not suitable for tumbling, but will cut and make great cabs.  If you wish to break off from the group, and take in other sites like old Gold Mills, Fremont Indian State Park, Paved Peddle Bike Trail, or great Four wheeler trails, I can point you in the right direction. I can pin point areas of interest on Google Earth prior to your visit. No hard feelings for breaking off. It is more important to entertain, then burden you with something that does not appeal to you or your guest. Plenty of local accommodations. Any price range. We have a Local WalMart, and Home Depot. |
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Jan 15, 2009 11:08:57 GMT -5
Sounds like my kind of trip
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MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
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Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Jan 15, 2009 12:41:00 GMT -5
Hooopyea! Now that's a great trip! Great pics too..
*smiles*
Roxy
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Jan 15, 2009 23:41:25 GMT -5
Put me down...
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Jan 16, 2009 1:30:56 GMT -5
April is stacking up to be a great month. :-)
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rbush
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 116
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Post by rbush on Jan 18, 2009 20:31:58 GMT -5
If you're going for the 11th that will be great. The wife and I will be at the Delta trip Rockwizz is planning and we won't have to make 2 trips hauling the trailer.  I know she'll love the thunder eggs and I would love to get some of the Onyx. |
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Post by Michael John on Jan 18, 2009 20:37:23 GMT -5
Are you going to do the blue quartz, too?
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Jan 19, 2009 0:45:28 GMT -5
Are you going to do the blue quartz, too? The blue quartz would require a Four wheel drive with fair clearance. It is around 20 miles out of the way. This area would be a trip by it's self. Come spring, when I can get back in again, I can pick you up some, and we can do some trading. Back in October, I made a trip to Cedar city, and picked up some translucent/blue quartz. I am going to be cutting some soon, and want to compare it with the local blue quartz. They look a lot alike, but come from two different locations 80 miles apart, and a mountain away. We can set the date to the 11th, I am flexable this way. The wife and I were taling, and I may pull my camper over to Delta for that one as well. |
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Feb 23, 2009 0:28:00 GMT -5
Made it out to the Honey Calcite location yesterday. The road was a little muddy just before you get there, but other then that, it is fully accessible. Having a mild winter this year. I have not made it to the Thunder Egg location, but it is around the same elevation, so it stands to reason it will be the same. I did not take my camera as I had not planned on going there. We just ended up heading in that direction, and one thing led to another. I did get you some pictures of what I picked up. Leave it to the wife to spot the best finds. There is a wash just below the mine, and when we were crossing, she spotted some flint. Unusual for this area. We walked up the wash for a short distance and picked up a few. When we take the group out, we can add these to the list.    I sliced up some flint. Can't wait to polish it. I found one Honey Calcite that had a good crystal cluster on it. Will make a great display piece  |
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Feb 23, 2009 19:55:02 GMT -5
Sounds like a great place to explore
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Mar 11, 2009 17:12:32 GMT -5
Only a couple weeks out now, Row Call time. If you plan on making it, Let me know. I will send you instructions and meeting place ahead of time.
If you need accomidations, let me know and I will get it for you.
Were on for Saturday April 11.
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rbush
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 116
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Post by rbush on Mar 11, 2009 19:09:53 GMT -5
My wife and I will be at Topaz Mt. with rockwizz that week so count us in. I am answering in his thread with our trip details so check there too.
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Mar 29, 2009 1:44:02 GMT -5
We are two weeks out now. ;D
If anyone is interested in taking in the Onyx, and Thunder Eggs, I need you to send me a message so I can send you the information for meeting up, and how to get to the locations.
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rbush
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 116
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Post by rbush on Mar 29, 2009 10:21:47 GMT -5
UtahRockHound, my wife and I had planned to make the trip to Delta and join you on the Onyx and Thunder egg trip, but circumstances are just not going to allow it this time. We do look forward to meeting you on another rock hunting adventure in the future. Hope you have a great time at Delta!
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Apr 1, 2009 2:50:31 GMT -5
I hate to say it, but I am going to have to back out here. The wife come home tonight, and her days off have been changed due to other employee's quiting. She is my rockhounding partner, and I don't go without her.
My work has changed as well. the company canceled my vacation due to I have to cover a watchman shift as the plant will be shut down for the weekend. It amounts to the watchman is mandatory, and a reason for dismissal if I do not do it. This affectively cancels the trip to Topaz next week for me as well where they canceled my vacation.
I do not want to disappoint anyone, so give me a day or so, and I will post very easy to follow maps to the areas. I already posted the one for the Honey Onyx in the Location section of the forums. The Thunder eggs are just as easy to get to, and a simple map will take you to the exact spot.
Sorry everyone, I hope you enjoy anyway.
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I know she'll love the thunder eggs and I would love to get some of the Onyx.
