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Post by rocklicker on Jan 5, 2013 0:28:59 GMT -5
Hope to see some pictures. Have great time everyone.
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Post by Tonyterner on Jan 5, 2013 8:08:15 GMT -5
I could make it on the 24, 25 or 26th.
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jimdl53
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2012
Posts: 7
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Post by jimdl53 on Jan 9, 2013 19:56:09 GMT -5
Drocknut, thanks for the info. Yes we have went into Fourth of July Butte looking for some rocks but never had much luck. We drove in a little farther than the chimney bed area and searched along the edges of road. But as we did not know exactly where to look we came out with very little stuff. I guess we needed to hike back farther from the road. We would love to go out with a group if there is one going out sometime this winter. Jim & Diane
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cherok
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2012
Posts: 66
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Post by cherok on Jan 9, 2013 22:33:35 GMT -5
This sounds great. This will be our first trip with a group. Cherdarock and his purebred rockhounds would love to meet up.
My only issue is I GET SO CONFUSED trying to navigate this site. So much to view< i can never remember where I went and what I have read. Oh my goodness grief. Guess I will tell my hubby.I shall ask him to navigate , and i will pm somebody,,,,,,OH dear, who should i pm?
Cheri and Dale
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Post by drocknut on Jan 10, 2013 13:06:16 GMT -5
PM everyone Cheri...LOL. I got your pm today so no worries there...lol. If we can get organized I see more rockhounding trips in the near future. I'd love to go out again but definitely won't take my truck down in to the site since it is only twd and I'm not as brave as Christopher. I need a 4x4 too, it's on the wish list. Jim and Diane we definitely have to plan something. You do need to go farther back in to get to most of the material since it's been picked over pretty good where it's easier access.
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Post by Rockhobbit on Jan 10, 2013 14:03:22 GMT -5
Jim, the agate around Chimney Beds is to the West and North. Quite a walk in, can drive to a certain spot, park and walk. Not as much agate as Dixie Peak but ok agate. Not very big pieces either. Maybe tumble and 1 cab wonders mostly. Might find some larger but they are a little more scarse.
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cherdarock
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since December 2012
Posts: 140
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Post by cherdarock on Jan 11, 2013 1:58:51 GMT -5
I am thinking of suprising the wife ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) wonder if she will read this... lol SO! A 4x4 is the vehicle of choice for Quartzsite rock hunting? Get that LDW! Tell ya what, drop it off, sign zee papers, head home. Rentals and quads are very nice to have. Quads were invented by rockhounds! (Thats my trivia and I'm sticking to it) Anyone got some lat/long for google maps concerning the areas of interest? The easiest way to pull up LAT/LONG numbers on google: 1) pull up google maps and upper right corner, click "Satellite view" 2) Locate the general area of interest, or the exact spot. Right click that spot, and a box will appear, put the mouse over "WHAT IS HERE?" and left click. (The cursor won't point a finger, just click anyway) 3) Up in the google map search bar you will NOW see the LAT/LONG for where you clicked. Copy it and paste like so: 33.729783,-114.262383 All thats needed is to reverse the copy and paste back to google maps, and it will bring up that location. The one above should show you a spot just south of "BOYER GAP" northwest of Quartzsite. Another little jewel for this trick (those of you who were unaware of it) is that you can waypoint with it, and you can jump around various seperate sites or areas. if you want to go back and play with the waypoints, take the cursor back up to the upper right, hover over the map types, and that should expand your list of waypoints and searches. It is VERY useful for putting everyone on the same page with respect to groups going to meet at particular sites that are ambiguously located, and it reduces the "HUNTING CAIRNS" which can be a chore when it is after dark, and there are 6-7 cairns within 50 yards and ... you are so... TIRED... "Wha- huh? oh, crud. we're stuck." "You fell asleep" "WHAT? No, I was trying to remember..." ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) AnYwAy... What would be the location for Quartzsite's treasures...? BTW If you read "They Call It Rockhounding" The location where the bees brought out the welcome wagon, (Well... Where they showed up like a gang of rowdy frat boys anyway) it was right here: 33.375588,-114.988918 At full zoom you can see all the digs!
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rockpickerforever
Cave Dweller
RIP Jean Bradley, you are forever loved
Member since July 2011
Posts: 12,069
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 11, 2013 10:44:06 GMT -5
One I like better than Google maps is Acme Mapper mapper.acme.com/You can enter coordinates, hit enter, and it will take you there. You can view as map, satellite, hybrid, terrain, TOPO, DOQ, NEXRAD and Mapnik. If you view it as hybrid (satellite and map), you can actually see dirt roads, etc., and mark some waypoints along the way. I did this the other day for a trip in one of the rockhounding books - you know, the ones with maps and directions that will get you lost faster than if you just winged it? Anyway, I saved it as a PDF (by sending it to PDF printer), which I then opened with Photoshop. Then I was able to save it as a PDF, marked the dirt roads in red, added coordinates for the waypoints, and printed it out. I know it sounds complicated, and maybe there's an easier way, but it works for me. I've been to this location once, but it was a few years ago, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to find it again. Those satellite images are the best, you can see individual bushes even! You can set your preferences (miles/feet or meters/kilometers), and there's a half dozen different ways to set your coordinates (hours:minutes:seconds or decimal, etc). It will also tell you the distance (as the crow flies) between your markers. I've also used ACME Mapper or Google maps to view satellite images of areas we go in the desert, searching for new areas to pick up rocks. Just find an area that looks similar to an area you know has good stuff. Jean
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Post by Rockhobbit on Jan 11, 2013 10:47:05 GMT -5
Wow! Lots of great info. I will lead a pack back into the area of the Brenda agates, then you are free to hunt on your own. Go where ever you want. There is lots of agate back in there! I will scan a couple of topo maps and post them here! I bought a book from a gentleman in Brenda. It has a bunch of topo maps with some hunting locations. The books are available at Black Rock RV Park, at the office. Each book is $15.95 I think it will come in handy for the hunt!
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rockpickerforever
Cave Dweller
RIP Jean Bradley, you are forever loved
Member since July 2011
Posts: 12,069
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 11, 2013 11:09:18 GMT -5
Sheri, glad to hear that you've picked up a copy already, as he does tend to sell out. (He had to mail me a copy after Quartzsite last year.) Did you also speak with him directly, and get other info (that Diane had told me about)? Yes, it is a really cool book, especially if you have a quad and are just looking for places to ride. But very useful for rockhounders as well. Jean
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Post by drocknut on Jan 11, 2013 11:27:38 GMT -5
Hey, what ya doing ratting me out....LOL. Oh well. I need to pick up a copy as well but looks like he may sell out early this year what with the whole forum going there...LOL.
Cherdarock, I may have to borrow you to get a quick lesson in all of that, I thought I was tech savvy but you blew me away and I can't seem to wrap my mind around all that.
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cherok
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2012
Posts: 66
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Post by cherok on Jan 11, 2013 11:54:05 GMT -5
Sheri, Dale and I will be there. We will have a 4x4 rental! That is the best way to go, making sure we have the LDW. You just pick up a nice clean 4x4, drive the h?ll out of it, return it dirty and smile as you get into your nice clean personal vehicle. What a great day!
I am so excited, just like a little kid going to Disneyland for the first time. I got your #, so I will be in touch sometime around the 20th.
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rockpickerforever
Cave Dweller
RIP Jean Bradley, you are forever loved
Member since July 2011
Posts: 12,069
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 11, 2013 12:06:25 GMT -5
Well, I wasn't going to put the Black Rock info on here publicly, but Sheri did. Now that everyone knows, it's a sure bet that he'll sell out - LOL!
Diane, I hope you are feeling better. Jean
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Post by drocknut on Jan 11, 2013 12:21:39 GMT -5
Thanks Jean, yes, I'm feeling better now that I've had a day of rest to recuperate from the rock hunt. Word to the wise, Sheri is an energizer bunny on a rock hunt, she keeps going and going and going. Wore me out just watching her off in the distance...lol. No worries on the Black Rock book, no doubt he would sell out anyway since it is such a good book.
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Post by Rockhobbit on Jan 11, 2013 13:20:01 GMT -5
I am so sorry, I thought it would help him out if he sold a lot of books. I really didn't mean to give anything out that I wasn't supposed to. Again, I am so sorry!!
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rockpickerforever
Cave Dweller
RIP Jean Bradley, you are forever loved
Member since July 2011
Posts: 12,069
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 11, 2013 13:34:55 GMT -5
No worries, Sheri. I just wanted to make sure that you and Diane got yours before they were all gone. I hope the guy sells a bunch! The more success he has, the more inclined he will be to add on, and keep it going. This is going to be fun! Jean
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Post by Rockhobbit on Jan 11, 2013 13:38:36 GMT -5
Ok, here we go......................
Brenda Area Rock Hunting Friday, January 25th Meet at Black Rock Cafe 8:30am for Breakfast. I have reservation under RTH Board We will depart after breakfast. Hunt will start from Black Rock Cafe on Hwy 60 in Brenda. We will then go west on Hwy 60 to Perry Lane in Brenda. Take a right and go north on Perry Lane. Perry Lane asphalt ends at a 3 way dirt road (33deg41'47"N 113deg57'28"W). Stay to the dirt road in the middle and go north towards the mountains. If quads are used, we will stop at the 3way and unload. Then head out. Agate, Jasper and Chrysocolla can be found at various loacations in those mountains!
Dixie Peak (approx 1 hour east of Quartzite to Travel America) Saturday, January 25th 4 wheel drive through the pass There is an area right before the pass to park 2 wheel drive then we can pile in the 4 wheel drives pack to the collecting area! Meet at the Travel America Truck stop at 339th Ave and I-10 at 10:00am. We will caravan back to the Peak from there.
If weather is a problem, Brenda trip will be moved to Saturday and Dixie Peak to Sunday!! Hopefully the weather will be nice to us!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jan 11, 2013 13:46:48 GMT -5
Chrysocolla!!! Yowza!!! I plan on going both Friday and Saturday and have 4wd and room for a couple riders probably.
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
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Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Jan 11, 2013 17:16:11 GMT -5
Sherri,
I'm staying at the Black Rock RV Park. Is the cafe at the same place or close by? It's such a small place I'm sure I can ask at the RV park and find out. The five of us will be joing you both days. If you have any others planned or want to do after that, I'd also be interested.
Denny
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Post by Rockhobbit on Jan 11, 2013 21:36:38 GMT -5
There are some old mines in the hills and I have heard there is chrysocolla there. We will have to check it out!
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