|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 28, 2016 12:24:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Pat on Apr 28, 2016 12:29:53 GMT -5
Maybe you didn't find the perfect one for the pendant, but you did find some neat rocks! Lightening stones are interesting.
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 28, 2016 15:19:28 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Apr 28, 2016 16:27:30 GMT -5
I think you're way too far south there to expect to find many Petoskey stones. They are much more common in the northern half of the lower peninsula.
My sister lives near Hibbing. Are you in that area? I've only been up there a couple of times, but I'm probably due for a visit. Are there any good rocks in that area? I think it's too far north for agates, but maybe Maryellen Jasper?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2016 16:33:01 GMT -5
Imlike that red and yellow one under water. Super cool
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 28, 2016 18:02:58 GMT -5
I always wondered when I see folks on here hounding gravel pits, how does one gain access to a gravel pit? Who would I ask if I wanted to look in the pit in, for example, the one that was mentioned in Pullman Mi. What about gravel pits in general? I see them all over on google maps. I'm not afraid to ask the owner. I just wouldn't know where to start. Gravel pits used to be easy to gain access to. Now adays they are all under federal regulation and Msha (mining version of OSHA) There is also the issue of most of the pits are being bought up by big companies and there are lots of rules and regs that go with it. I am MSHA certified every year and my paying job almost always happens in a pit. So knowing someone who works in a pit or owns a pit can go along way if they like you. The owners of the pit I am working in now are opening a new pit I think in Melton MI. They are just stripping now but should be mining next week If I am here I will run over there.
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 28, 2016 18:10:27 GMT -5
I think you're way too far south there to expect to find many Petoskey stones. They are much more common in the northern half of the lower peninsula. My sister lives near Hibbing. Are you in that area? I've only been up there a couple of times, but I'm probably due for a visit. Are there any good rocks in that area? I think it's too far north for agates, but maybe Maryellen Jasper? I live right south of Hibbing. A few agates around but an hour or so south of hibbing agates can be found. There is Mary ellen around in the pits along with other jaspers. Lots of cool stuff but very little for fossils. West of Hibbing on the Cayuna range silk stone and bingamite can be found if you sneak on the mining dumps (again can be federal offense) I have only bought them. Mary ellen in the pits is different than Mary ellen out of the mines. It has different colors and can be very cool. Give me a shout when you come through and see if I am home. I live in the little town of Toivola.
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 28, 2016 18:11:45 GMT -5
I think you're way too far south there to expect to find many Petoskey stones. They are much more common in the northern half of the lower peninsula. My sister lives near Hibbing. Are you in that area? I've only been up there a couple of times, but I'm probably due for a visit. Are there any good rocks in that area? I think it's too far north for agates, but maybe Maryellen Jasper? And by the way one of my best friends in New Mexico is married to a woman from Apena
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Apr 28, 2016 18:26:40 GMT -5
I think you're way too far south there to expect to find many Petoskey stones. They are much more common in the northern half of the lower peninsula. My sister lives near Hibbing. Are you in that area? I've only been up there a couple of times, but I'm probably due for a visit. Are there any good rocks in that area? I think it's too far north for agates, but maybe Maryellen Jasper? And by the way one of my best friends in New Mexico is married to a woman from Apena Cool, what's her name? As they say here, "who is she from home?" (What's her maiden name?) I just looked up Toivola. Looks like my sister is about 55 minutes NW of you. Her address says Nashwauk, but it looks like she's actually about 15 miles north of town. If I go visit her sometime, I'll definitely look you up. My brother in law has a small gravel pit, I think. Would there be anything in that area?
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 28, 2016 18:44:57 GMT -5
I don't remember her maiden name, I do know her best friend married his cousin last year. My friend got married about 5 years ago. Yes there might be things in his pit haven't hounded the naswaulk area though, I am originally from 70 miles south of where I live now in agate country. There are jaspers, feldspar, greenish stones that are hard enough to polish. I think Nashwauk, Keewatin has a rock club. I tried to look it up but didn't find it. Most of the gravels are aluvial and there can be just about anything.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Apr 28, 2016 19:03:24 GMT -5
petrified peyote button pendant most excellent!
|
|
|
Post by MrP on Apr 28, 2016 19:19:32 GMT -5
I think you're way too far south there to expect to find many Petoskey stones. They are much more common in the northern half of the lower peninsula. My sister lives near Hibbing. Are you in that area? I've only been up there a couple of times, but I'm probably due for a visit. Are there any good rocks in that area? I think it's too far north for agates, but maybe Maryellen Jasper? I live right south of Hibbing. A few agates around but an hour or so south of hibbing agates can be found. There is Mary ellen around in the pits along with other jaspers. Lots of cool stuff but very little for fossils. West of Hibbing on the Cayuna range silk stone and bingamite can be found if you sneak on the mining dumps (again can be federal offense) I have only bought them. Mary ellen in the pits is different than Mary ellen out of the mines. It has different colors and can be very cool. Give me a shout when you come through and see if I am home. I live in the little town of Toivola. toiv0 I lived in Grand Rapids for years. When I was there I built a split rock fireplace. No problem getting into any pit back then. Very different story now. I live in Elk River now and there is basically no way to get into a pit. The last straw was when the copper price was high a lot of power cable was stolen. Most every pit has an alarm system and cameras in them now. I know of people walking on the edge of the property being talked to by the cops. Thieves and lawyers are a large part of the reason we can't search pits..................................................MrP
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 28, 2016 20:17:16 GMT -5
I used to know the plaisteds in Elk River, I believe they own a sand and gravel operation. I am not sure of the rocks in the area. My son lives in Benson I believe and he has found agates and even a piece of amythest in and around St. Cloud. Small world when you start talking to people.
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 28, 2016 20:27:22 GMT -5
Gravel pits used to be easy to gain access to. Now adays they are all under federal regulation and Msha (mining version of OSHA) There is also the issue of most of the pits are being bought up by big companies and there are lots of rules and regs that go with it. I am MSHA certified every year and my paying job almost always happens in a pit. So knowing someone who works in a pit or owns a pit can go along way if they like you. The owners of the pit I am working in now are opening a new pit I think in Melton MI. They are just stripping now but should be mining next week If I am here I will run over there. So I guess I'm SOL when it comes to gravel pits, especially since I don't possess any certificates, don't know any pit owners, and the only person I've ever spoken to that works in a pit would be yourself Thanks for the info though. If you have a gazzateer they always have all the pits and old mining areas marked with a cross pick. In Wisconsin I found an old soapstone mine and if they are closed they are fair game unless on private property. The real small pit owners can be a source, When I was in Mississippi working the owner had a concrete plant, landscape yard which he had his material in which is always another source. People are always finding agates back home in fill material, just have to be creative. I cant go into a hotel, restaurants, or any place with landscape rocks with out looking.
|
|
|
Post by MrP on Apr 29, 2016 4:42:55 GMT -5
I used to know the plaisteds in Elk River, I believe they own a sand and gravel operation. I am not sure of the rocks in the area. My son lives in Benson I believe and he has found agates and even a piece of amythest in and around St. Cloud. Small world when you start talking to people. toiv0 They still have a pit and now Todd is in on building ERX, an off road race park, snowmobile, motorcycle, beater cars. I found a very nice 10lb maryellen jasper. I get into the pits to check and read meters but can't really get in to hound. There was one pit that had a lot of LSA but that has run out. Talked to a worker at that pit who said he would find 2-3 nice LSA every day a few years back but not anymore. The best pit in Minnesota was supposed to be a pit in Maple Grove, but is mined out now. Just got into this hobby too late.............................................MrP
|
|