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Post by paulshiroma on Nov 18, 2011 23:50:39 GMT -5
Hey Folks:
I'm looking for some more recent intel on the old Vulcan Mine in the Providence Mountains off of Kel-baker Road, north of Highway 40 in the Mojave Desert.
Some of the websites that I've run across, along with Desert Gem Trails, mention that you can pick up serpentine, pyrite, calcite, and epidote in the tailing piles but the most recent information is 2008-09.
Anyone been up there lately? Are the tailing piles still accessible? Road condition? It looks like the BLM has fenced off the actual pit itself but the aerials seems to show that the dumps are outside the fenced area.
Thanks!
Paul
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 19, 2011 0:06:09 GMT -5
The Vulcan Mine is inside of the Mojave National Preserve, and I doubt if collecting is allowed there anymore.
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LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
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Post by LarryS on Nov 19, 2011 10:21:05 GMT -5
Hi Paul, The preserve's website is down, server issues but keep trying: www.nps.gov/moja/Even though we visit the area currently and often, I was only at the Vulcan Mine one time back in the early 70's. The WWII era Vulcan Mine Road was decomposed asphalt and very rough. There is a short cut by driving on the gas line road over Foshay Pass, which is a maintained graded utility road and then you'd have to hike into the mine. You can phone or e-mail the preserve and ask for details. My old high school buddy just converted a bunch of old super 8 movie films to DVD months ago and I was just watching our trip to the Vulcan Mine. Ah....the good old days! Here's a picture of my first "all terrain vehicle," a 1968 Dodge Dart that I drove like a tank. This picture was taken in 1971 while in the Providence Mountains driving up into Macedonia Canyon. Road has long been closed down.  One cool thing about the East Mojave Preserve, many of the dirt roads are still open to motor vehicle travel. Too bad they couldn't do that with the rest of the desert. There is a total of over 85 wilderness areas out there and growing as we speak. If you decide on spending some time out there, suggest you camp at "Hole In The Wall" BLM campground. Great place for a base camp if you don't feel like roughing it. About 35 camp sites, all spaced far apart, has water, picnic tables, fire pits & pit toilets. Plus there's a great park information center close by that sells books, maps, etc.  LarryS |
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Post by paulshiroma on Nov 20, 2011 18:00:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads-up on the preserve-issue, guys. I should have noticed that on the map, duh. Also, thanks for the additional info, Larry, great stuff!
Paul
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