rbush
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 116
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Post by rbush on Mar 5, 2009 13:58:23 GMT -5
Yesterday Sharri and I went out in the desert toward the Dugway geode beds so she could practice riding her quad on some open ground. She's only been able to putt around in the back yard so far, and out in the desert there's not alot of trees to run into. Unfortunately, by the time we got to some open ground the weather turned nasty on us, the wind was really blowing hard and it got quite dusty. So we never got around to taking any pictures there. We still rode for a little bit, then while I was loading up the quads she found a treasure trove. Someone had dumped a load of rocks into the gully next to where we parked. I don't know what the guy had in his head at the time, but there were tumble polished ones, slabs (some were even scribed for cabs), geodes, fossil shells, rough agate, some pet wood , and even some pyrite samples. I picked up 2 buckets full and left the rest for another trip if they're still there when I go back. I told Sharri the guy might have gotten frustrated and returned them all to the wild. ;D Anyway, here are a few samples of what he left. Slabs & tumbles a few shells and some pyrite. Some of the rough. I have no idea what this blue-green stuff is, but I like it. I wish I knew where this stuff came from, some of it is really nice. I did a little hunting around the area and all I found was some limestone and a little quartz, so this really made the trip.
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Post by Bejewelme on Mar 5, 2009 16:02:54 GMT -5
Man that is the kind of trip I would like, just park and find buckets of nice stuff someone threw away! How odd, well they did the right thing, taking it back to nature for another rock hound to find! Amber
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Mar 5, 2009 17:09:00 GMT -5
SCORE! I had a co-worker a few years ago that bought a new-to-him-house. The back yard had been used at some point in the past by a rockhound as a dumping ground. We found a lot of broken geodes, pet wood, and a HUGE seam-fluorite boulder.
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Post by frane on Mar 5, 2009 22:06:56 GMT -5
Well, I am glad someone that could appreciate it found it. Makes me wonder if it was one of those rock hunt items...Who knows. I am glad you found it. Fran
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Post by sitnwrap on Mar 5, 2009 22:15:40 GMT -5
That's a great find. Maybe someone was driving and the box was in the back seat with their three year old with the window down and the little tyke threw it out the window with out the driver knowing. Or someone was upset about their other half's addiction to rocks.
There is definitely a story to it.
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lapidopterix
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 216
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Post by lapidopterix on Mar 6, 2009 2:27:07 GMT -5
The big striped chunk looks like calcite onyx from Nephi.
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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 6, 2009 12:34:05 GMT -5
sitnwrap - There is definitely a story there, wish I knew. The spot where they were dumped was at least 200 feet from the road, so it wasn't accidental. And we were at least 30 miles from the nearest town, half of that on a dirt road, so if it was an upset partner they had to be REALLY peeved! And if it was just someone who was getting out of hounding, you'd think he could have left his equipment, too. I could use a nice slab saw or cabber! ;D
lapidopterix - That could very well be what it is. There were some Dugway geodes and some stuff that looked like what I've found at Eureka and near Topaz Mountain, so some obviously came from Utah. But some of this stuff I have no idea, it doesn't look familiar at all. But I am a total newbie, so that should not surprise anyone! ;D
I brought home 50-60 lbs. of this pile, but I left more than I took, so if anyone gets out toward Dugway, look in the gullies just west of the Lookout Pass Pony Express Station, there's still some left.
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Mar 6, 2009 14:34:16 GMT -5
Roger -- great finds. I'm glad the trip turned out ok for you. Wednesday was really windy, I was in SLC thinking about the Delta Utah trip planned for April...when I saw the cloud of dust on the west end of SLC I just can't believe someone just left this stuff lying around. It makes it worthwhile don't it ;D ;D ;D Remember last year, when we stopped at the pony express marker and I picked up that 1/4inch piece of topaz, felt good ;D ;D Glad you guys are prepping for April. I might have to go over there sooner, just can't wait :drool: :drool: :drool: Ozzy
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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 6, 2009 15:09:29 GMT -5
Go for it Ozzy! You're at least 60 miles closer than I am, and I've done it as a day trip. You'll save at least an hour each way on my drive time. I'll even bet you'll have dry ground out there, I only saw snow on the pass at 6000 feet +. If you do go, have a great time and we'll see you in April.
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rockwizz
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2007
Posts: 971
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Post by rockwizz on Mar 6, 2009 15:50:04 GMT -5
If you decide to come down again, let me know. I might meet you up there. Did you take the pony express trail by vernon?
Ozzy
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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 6, 2009 16:04:34 GMT -5
Yes, we went down through Tooele and turned west just north of Vernon. I haven't gone this way since last spring, so I was kind of surprised to see that they have ripped up all the pavement from where you turn off of 36 to where the dirt road started just below Lookout Pass. It's all dirt now, but it actually made the road better! ;D
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Post by gaetzchamp on Apr 5, 2009 11:30:27 GMT -5
rbush- This is Gaetz from SLC. I have a similar story about finding a ton of rocks at a "dump" site near Green River. There were slabbed rocks and stuff all over the place. Now that I'm not into rock hounding too much anymore, I have cabinets full of stuff that I'm tempted to take back where I found it. I don't think it's an attempt to get back at a significant other rather a desire to declutter a garage or basement. Here's a couple of pictures of that day back in 2006 It was quite shocking to find this site literally in the middle of nowhere, way off the beaten path and 100 yards from the "road". I'm heading back down there this weekend and will be taking much of this back. Gaetz
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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 Apr 5, 2009 19:16:27 GMT -5
Cool stuff, I'm still new enough at this that I'm amazed that anyone would want to get rid of it. I really have a hard time making myself quit picking up stuff when it's time to leave. I hope the trip to return those rocks to the wild is as fun as it sounds, I'm anxious to get out again as soon as I can. We'll be heading for the Henry Mts with the our rock club at the end of the month. This will be our first trip with them, and our first trip to the Henry Mts. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas!
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