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Post by Bluesky78987 on Sept 13, 2013 10:13:05 GMT -5
So I was looking at the website for the Trona show. Those folks are organized. It looks like they have three different field trips planned, as well as the dealers and tours of the borax plants. Looks like a lot of fun. Was wondering if anybody has gone before, and whether you found good specimens? While I'm not really into crystals and specimens that much, if I found them "myself", then they would make excellent desk objects! Particularly the pink halite specimens look lovely. All the collecting looks relatively easy. Might be a fun get together? Here's the website: www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/GEM-O-RAMA.htm
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Dr DG
fully equipped rock polisher
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,848
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Post by Dr DG on Sept 13, 2013 23:39:51 GMT -5
I am going,.also we going to collect other material.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 23:57:13 GMT -5
Do they go to rainbow ledge?
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 14, 2013 7:32:31 GMT -5
No they collect the minerals in the lake. It is fun but messy. We went for years but after a few times in the brine opted to drive north and collect at the Aquarious Mine and Balarat. The show is nice (or was when we went).
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Sept 14, 2013 9:59:55 GMT -5
Yeah I want to hound a blob (cluster?) of pink halite crystals for my desk at work. Other than that, just going to see the dealers and the plant tour might be cool.
They've got 3 field trips this year (same as other years I think) - the pink halite crystals in the brine lake, the "mud crystals" which look mainly like large dark green crystals from their pics (they list what they are but all the names sound the same to me), and there's another one where they drill holes and use air pressure to blow a bunch of underground crud (which contains crystals) up onto the surface.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2013 10:50:16 GMT -5
Yeah I want to hound a blob (cluster?) of pink halite crystals for my desk at work. Other than that, just going to see the dealers and the plant tour might be cool. I too like those images of pink Halite. Susan, bring home two and I'll help out with gas money so I can have the second!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Sept 14, 2013 11:32:02 GMT -5
Sure thing! If they're as easy to find as it looks like, I can bring. I'm not cleaning it for you though, that looks like a PITA, using the brine water. I'll get you a thing of brine water too!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2013 14:47:54 GMT -5
Thank you Susan!
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halitedigger
starting to spend too much on rocks
Lost in the Mojave, Sierras or Itoigawa
Member since September 2013
Posts: 104
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Post by halitedigger on Sept 26, 2013 19:52:21 GMT -5
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Sept 29, 2013 14:25:26 GMT -5
Halitedigger, they say they have those long bars for rent. I bet people rent them all up and they run out by Sunday morning when I"ll be arriving. Any thoughts on that? I'd rather not go buy a crow bar.
That blue is pretty!
Here's another question. Say for a specimen that size -- how many 2 liter bottles of brine should I get for at-home cleanup? Or, how many specimens can one clean up with one bottle of brine?
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Sept 29, 2013 14:30:17 GMT -5
Oh, and how necessary are rubber boots?
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Post by christopherl1234 on Sept 30, 2013 12:56:22 GMT -5
I have been going for about 5 or 6 years running. I am not a specimen guy so I have never went on the field trips but it looks like they have fun getting muddy and wet. For me it is more a social thing. I get to touch bases with some of my vendor and mining friends and look around for good deals and pick-up any supplies I may need. We have family in Ridgecrest so it also gives me an excuse to spend the weekend with the family.
Shotgunner, the Indian Wells club sponsors a show in November. They are the owners of the Rainbow Ledge/Ridge claim. They open it up the Sunday, (10/03), for a fee dig.
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halitedigger
starting to spend too much on rocks
Lost in the Mojave, Sierras or Itoigawa
Member since September 2013
Posts: 104
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Post by halitedigger on Sept 30, 2013 22:15:17 GMT -5
Blue,
Honestly, you don't need rubber boots. Most of the area was dry last year, but the area I was digging was a large trough beside the road. That was about 2-3' deep and I was in it over knee high. Not a big deal, just salty water. Of course I had to clean my clothes as they were crusty. The organizers had a large truck where you could shower off though. The halite dig is not dirty like the hanksite digs. Those, you get messy.
You do not need the brine water for halite as it comes out clean. You only need the brine to clean off hanksite.
As for the bar, a 24" for $9.99 at Harbor Freight. If you bring a rock hammer and rock chisel you should be fine. I need a bar because I know I am going for some bigger, harder specimens.
Keep in mind, the earlier you get there the better because you need to park your car in a line. Those lines fill up fast and determine who will get the first pick out on the playa.
Christopher, Which area are you referring to?
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 2, 2013 18:41:02 GMT -5
Thanks Erik! Very helpful. I'll be sure to get there nice and early! We don't have a Harbor Freight anywhere near here. Grr. But I have a chisel and crack hammer, that should work ok, and if they have bars left at the bar rental place, I'll rent one.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2013 14:27:58 GMT -5
susan, there is a harbor freight just off I-10 on the way out.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 4, 2013 15:53:53 GMT -5
Wish it were that simple.
1) The route to Trona from West LA doesn't include the 10. 2) Even if it was on the way (probably is one in Lancaster), Harbor Freight isn't open at 4-5am in the morning.
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Post by johnjsgems on Oct 4, 2013 17:44:30 GMT -5
The halite grows upside down in the brine. You have to break through the crust and feel underneath for cystals. Then break out the pieces. Depends on rainfall if you walk on dry crust or wade in water. Our worse year there was after rains and the lake had maybe two feet deep water covering it. The rain water wiped out the crystals and they were just starting to regrow. Wear old clothes and be prepared to wallow in stinky brine. The hanksite trips you dig through stinky mud for crystals. It is worth experiencing once at least. There are some nice rock collecting areas just north of Trona and the show is pretty decent. The whole small town is centered around the chemical plant and with the biggest crowd of the year every group in town has it's fund raisers going. Pancake brreakfast, steak dinners, etc. The plant tour is interesting too. Last time we went they allowed dry camping 5 miles north of town at a park for the plant employees.
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