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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 30, 2021 20:33:34 GMT -5
Just off the top of my head - Rainbow Ledge material from up by Ridgecrest. Claim owned by the Indian Wells Gem and Mineral Society. Pretty sure you need to be a member to partake in their not-so-often (so far as I am aware) field trips.
But for those interested, here is a link about the claim:
Rainbow Ledge Indian Wells Gem & Mineral
It is some gorgeous material, maybe a little fracturey, depending how aggressively the collector went after it. The claim is also located in the Mojave desert, so it has been going through heating and cooling cycles for many moons. It gets hot up there, and it gets cold there, from one extreme to the other.
Oops, wasn't done before that posted itself, lol.
I have a couple small chunks found in a mixed bucket from a local rock club's sale, but most that I have came from estate sales of older rock collectors. I can post a pic tomorrow when I next boot up my desktop.
In the meantime, decided to see what was available online, and grab a pic for now.
Wow, not much of anything worth posting. There was one sphere on Etsy that looked nice, but it was mislabeled. Looked like Stone Canyon, not Rainbow Ledge material.
Found a pic of a representative chunk on Worthpoint.
Let's see how long the pic stays up, lol.
ETA - I knew it would disappear on me, lol.
My apologies if someone else has already mentioned this.
Yes I did, I did quote my own post, lol. At least I don't click like on my own posts, ha ha.
Here's a few picks of the Rainbow Ledge picked up at an estate sale a few years back.
This is the color/pattern I think of when thinking of Rainbow Ledge. 
Some tend more towards reds. More breccia than tiger stripes.
And a mix of both
The first rock cut in half.
There ya go!
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Post by stephan on Jan 30, 2021 21:49:40 GMT -5
If this is ok to add to this thread... what are the differences between the similar ( to me), horse canyon or horse creek? Cripple creek, Owyhee, maybe other names? Similar jasper but different locations? Thanks ! Hoping to get more info on the various Owyhee claims. Not sure which are open, which are closed. To my understanding, Owyhee is a generic term for picture jaspers coming from the Owyhee Mountains on the Oregon/Idaho border. Bruneau, Wild Horse, Cripple Creek, Rocky Butte, Spring Mountain... are different claims in that area. Horse Canyon is in CA, and is a moss agate. |
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rockstock
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 472
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Post by rockstock on Jan 30, 2021 21:51:41 GMT -5
I have some that is called Horse Creek (sorry not canyon) is that like Wild Horse or different?
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Post by stephan on Jan 30, 2021 21:56:10 GMT -5
What a great idea and post stephan !   Thanks 1dave Just clarify — these location are open, not closed, correct? |
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Post by 1dave on Jan 30, 2021 22:17:29 GMT -5
What a great idea and post stephan ! Thanks 1dave Just clarify — these location are open, not closed, correct? I haven't been out in years - asked local rock clubs to chime in. |
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Post by stephan on Jan 30, 2021 22:20:08 GMT -5
I have some that is called Horse Creek (sorry not canyon) is that like Wild Horse or different? I can’t find my reference to it, but there are lots of claims. I know horse canyon and sheep creek. roy ? ETA — sheep creek... another one for the list. LOL. |
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rockhoundoz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 130 
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Post by rockhoundoz on Jan 30, 2021 23:42:34 GMT -5
So, so many closed locations in the eastern states, more closed than open 😅, & a lot collected out as well. I think the specimens don't really make it out west, or even midwest, to where most users on this forum seem to live, but are still bought/sold/ traded as old stock back east.
Just a few here...
Connecticut:
*southbury quarry for agate, amethyst etc. closed since 2000. It was well known to grant permission easily.
There were a bunch of places with great beryl crystals, think the ones I went to in late 90's are closed now... Cant remember names at the moment..
Kentucky:
*Excellent fluorite specimens from the fluorospar district, basically closed & high graded, very difficult to access even low grade material from mine dumps anymore. I believe this is true for Illinois as well.
Maryland:
*Various copper sites around Maryland, Howard, Carroll, Frederick counties. Vast msjority on private land, hard to get permission.
*Amber sites near Annapolis, private land, basically nobody giving permission anymore.
*Wire gold in quartz specimens & panning near Great Falls. Collecting was tolerated until recently.
*Smoky quartz & Amethyst around Howard, Montgomery counties, Owings Mills etc, all built over with shopping malls, housing developments, reservoirs, state land etc, all closed to collecting now.
Tennessee:
*Paint rock agate, it's 99% on private land which is now all posted & basically no more permission being granted to any of those sites.
Virginia:
*Amelia County area, through the 1990's & maybe later, possible to find permission &/or pay-sites for amethyst, amazonite, aquamarine & other beryl, tourmaline, the ultra rare, once upon a time turquoise crystals, & much more, now basically 100% closed to collectors.
*N.VA quarries with specimens of prehnite, copper & iron minerals etc, now closed or closed to all collecting, including Goose Creek, bull run & Centreville.
Washington:
*Lucas creek agate, carnelian, pet. wood, closed about 10 years ago or so after some guy apparently posted video of himself digging 😱🙄, which was a salmon no-no.
Surprised nobody had put lucas creek yet.
West Virginia:
*Smoke hole geodes. Think the site is still technically open, but it's completely collected out.
*petrified wood around South Charleston, under developments, on closed private land etc.
Those are places I've collected that come to mind. But truly, gotta be thousands of closed & depleted sites in the east & I'm sure I'll remember more. Collecting, fishing & land access in general has changed a lot in the east over my few decades, really became a completely different place & people less friendly & less prone to giving permission in general unless you already know one another.
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rockhoundoz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 130
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Post by rockhoundoz on Jan 30, 2021 23:55:29 GMT -5
Last post was already too long, haha, forgot to add about cave formations aka speleothems. Kind of a strange or sticky subject... I believe the 1988 federal cave protection laws basically drastically reduced the collection & sale of such specimens, so this probably generally applies to the whole U.S. in various shades.
In KY & WV, both with extensive karst/ cave formations, it's illegal to sell speleothems, of any origin, within either state, & illegal to transport them into or out of the state at all. Technically still legal to collect cave formations- with express written permission from the landowner- from caves on private land, but as one can imagine, the good stuff is all gone from any cave you have any chance of getting permission. So in other words, anything that's good, & legal, is old-stock.
I remember well into the mid-1990's, folks were still lining the roadways around mammoth cave N.P. selling tables full of beautiful cave formations.
One interesting exception: I know of several crushed stone quarries in the karst regions of KY & WV who regularly & consistently blast into caves, harvest large amounts of speleothems along with the limestone, & sell the crushed stone products containing said specimens. I know of several locations where the state & federal land managers buy the crushed gravel from these quarries & use it in construction &/or landscaping on state & federal lands- lol.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 31, 2021 1:41:24 GMT -5
Speaking of cave formations just reminded me of another - Kokoweef Cavern Cave Onyx. From a now closed location in the Mojave desert off of I-15. Cave popcorn - calcite and aragonite.  Kokoweef Cave Onyx, also known as “cave popcorn”, is a stalactite found in the Kokoweef cavern in Southern California. It can be made into some very beautiful cabochons, either in classic shapes or natural, free-form shapes. Some links to info: Rock & Gem magazine - what to cut kokoweef cave onyxPolished  This site also has some hints on cabbing hearts. This site has info about the Kokoweef Mine, treasure, the river of gold. www.in-the-desert.com/kokoweef.html |
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Post by amygdule on Jan 31, 2021 5:35:33 GMT -5
Canadian River Plume is from Texas.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 31, 2021 8:08:42 GMT -5
Speaking of cave formations just reminded me of another - Kokoweef Cavern Cave Onyx. From a now closed location in the Mojave desert off of I-15. Cave popcorn - calcite and aragonite. Kokoweef Cave Onyx, also known as “cave popcorn”, is a stalactite found in the Kokoweef cavern in Southern California. It can be made into some very beautiful cabochons, either in classic shapes or natural, free-form shapes. Some links to info: Rock & Gem magazine - what to cut kokoweef cave onyxPolished This site also has some hints on cabbing hearts. This site has info about the Kokoweef Mine, treasure, the river of gold. www.in-the-desert.com/kokoweef.html
Ha ha! Beat you to it. I already listed it. It's one of my favs.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 31, 2021 8:11:54 GMT -5
Must have missed it. I have a few pieces of it from the same estate sale I got the Rainbow Ledge from.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 31, 2021 8:13:07 GMT -5
Must have missed it. I have a few pieces of it from the same estate sale I got the Rainbow Ledge from. Yeah, the list is getting pretty big. |
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rockhoundoz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 130
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Post by rockhoundoz on Jan 31, 2021 10:32:33 GMT -5
Speaking of cave formations just reminded me of another - Kokoweef Cavern Cave Onyx. From a now closed location in the Mojave desert off of I-15. Cave popcorn - calcite and aragonite. Kokoweef Cave Onyx, also known as “cave popcorn”, is a stalactite found in the Kokoweef cavern in Southern California. It can be made into some very beautiful cabochons, either in classic shapes or natural, free-form shapes. Some links to info: Rock & Gem magazine - what to cut kokoweef cave onyxPolished This site also has some hints on cabbing hearts. This site has info about the Kokoweef Mine, treasure, the river of gold. www.in-the-desert.com/kokoweef.html
Ha ha! Beat you to it. I already listed it. It's one of my favs.
Cool material! & thanks for the pics, rockpickerforever  . The talk about travertine/onyx reminds me that I guess in states like KY/WV where it's illegal to sell all cave formations from anywhere- lotta people would be unknowing criminals 😅. I mean, I doubt the state troopers are gonna raid Pier 1 or whatever & take their carved Mexican travertine bowls, but it's an interesting thing,heh. The kokoweef cave onyx reminds me of this stuff I stumbled upon on the side of some road in eastern oregon. Guess maybe it's cave popcorn too.   Also, to Stephan (wish I knew how to tag, haha), since a lot of the sites I listed are vague and probably mostly unknown, here's the shorterned list of material that really deserves to make it Kentucky: *World class multi-colored fluorite specimens from the fluorospar district, closed & mined out, very difficult to access even low grade material from mine dumps anymore. Tennessee: *Paint rock agate, closed private & posted land Virginia: *Amelia Court House & Amelia County area, museum quality amethyst, amazonite, aquamarine & other beryl, tourmaline, turquoise crystals, & much more. Closed to all collectors starting in the 1990's. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 31, 2021 10:56:27 GMT -5
A whole lot of Australian material is off limits due to native lands. Does anyone have a good source for those? I know the nice Aussie rhodonite seems extinct. I managed to find a deal on a chunk that I'm not sure I'll even cut.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,591
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 31, 2021 11:21:00 GMT -5
If this is ok to add to this thread... what are the differences between the similar ( to me), horse canyon or horse creek? Cripple creek, Owyhee, maybe other names? Similar jasper but different locations? Thanks ! Hoping to get more info on the various Owyhee claims. Not sure which are open, which are closed. To my understanding, Owyhee is a generic term for picture jaspers coming from the Owyhee Mountains on the Oregon/Idaho border. Bruneau, Wild Horse, Cripple Creek, Rocky Butte, Spring Mountain... are different claims in that area. Horse Canyon is in CA, and is a moss agate. , Owyhee is basically a generic term for material from the area you mention but the bulk of the named "picture jaspers" including Owyhee actually come from Malheur County OR which is west of the Owyhees. (Side comment: the name Owyhee is actually a corruption of "Hawaii." A group of Hawaiians -- who were often conscpipted for early trapping and prospecting expeditions -- was temporarily lost in the area and that's how the name came about."Owyhee" was the pronunciation of the expedition leaders.) Hans Gamma has written a couple of very finely illustrated books on jaspers from that (and other) regions. They differentiate the types found in the region. Pay a visit to his excellent website: worldofjaspers.com/OwyheeEN.html |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 31, 2021 12:27:12 GMT -5
Ha ha! Beat you to it. I already listed it. It's one of my favs.
Cool material! & thanks for the pics, rockpickerforever . The talk about travertine/onyx reminds me that I guess in states like KY/WV where it's illegal to sell all cave formations from anywhere- lotta people would be unknowing criminals 😅. I mean, I doubt the state troopers are gonna raid Pier 1 or whatever & take their carved Mexican travertine bowls, but it's an interesting thing,heh. The kokoweef cave onyx reminds me of this stuff I stumbled upon on the side of some road in eastern oregon. Guess maybe it's cave popcorn too. Also, to Stephan (wish I knew how to tag, haha), since a lot of the sites I listed are vague and probably mostly unknown, here's the shorterned list of material that really deserves to make it Kentucky: *World class multi-colored fluorite specimens from the fluorospar district, closed & mined out, very difficult to access even low grade material from mine dumps anymore. Tennessee: *Paint rock agate, closed private & posted land Virginia: *Amelia Court House & Amelia County area, museum quality amethyst, amazonite, aquamarine & other beryl, tourmaline, turquoise crystals, & much more. Closed to all collectors starting in the 1990's.
I'm in Virginia. I don't see anything my way. I live at the beach, but there aren't local sellers with local material, either. Virginia Amazonite, I think, was/is the prettiest.
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rockhoundoz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 130
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Post by rockhoundoz on Jan 31, 2021 14:08:48 GMT -5
I'm in Virginia. I don't see anything my way. I live at the beach, but there aren't local sellers with local material, either. Virginia Amazonite, I think, was/is the prettiest.
Agreed, the Virginia amazonite is top notch, both in the green form & the sky-blue type which often looks very turquoise-esque. More unique & interesting patterns to the 'white parts' in VA stuff also- different from the more plain & predictable lines from other locations. My favorite VA amazonite is sky blue & has the black (manganese I guess?) inclusions along with the white. (Having trouble finding exact example of what I'm talking about, but here's a Morefield specimen from Wiki for a general idea)  Bummer that VA mined pieces are not available in your area! I have seen a fair deal of Amelia area material for sale around Roanoke at various craft-type shows- although mostly as finished jewelry, scales on knives etc, the sellers know the rarity & value of the stuff. The east coast minerals that are more widely available are more of the Northeast state origins. Up at N.E. shows, there's usually at least one person selling a range of self-collected local stuff, old-stock & new. Also a good amount of NC specimens available around western NC. As usual, the Southeastern materials are typically harder to find. Alabama is one state that had extensive records of old valuable gemstones that I've long sought more information, with basically 0 success. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 31, 2021 17:28:41 GMT -5
I'm in Virginia. I don't see anything my way. I live at the beach, but there aren't local sellers with local material, either. Virginia Amazonite, I think, was/is the prettiest.
Agreed, the Virginia amazonite is top notch, both in the green form & the sky-blue type which often looks very turquoise-esque. More unique & interesting patterns to the 'white parts' in VA stuff also- different from the more plain & predictable lines from other locations. My favorite VA amazonite is sky blue & has the black (manganese I guess?) inclusions along with the white. (Having trouble finding exact example of what I'm talking about, but here's a Morefield specimen from Wiki for a general idea) Bummer that VA mined pieces are not available in your area! I have seen a fair deal of Amelia area material for sale around Roanoke at various craft-type shows- although mostly as finished jewelry, scales on knives etc, the sellers know the rarity & value of the stuff. The east coast minerals that are more widely available are more of the Northeast state origins. Up at N.E. shows, there's usually at least one person selling a range of self-collected local stuff, old-stock & new. Also a good amount of NC specimens available around western NC. As usual, the Southeastern materials are typically harder to find. Alabama is one state that had extensive records of old valuable gemstones that I've long sought more information, with basically 0 success.
You know more about my area than I do. Yes, all that is true about VA Amazonite. I have a special fondness for it. One of the first cabs I ever bought from a guy at a gem show.
You didn't mention unakite, I think. Lots of that here.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,429
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 31, 2021 17:44:21 GMT -5
Yeah, Horse Csnyon agate from CA is a nodule and vein agate location famous for fancy moss, plume, sagenite and other types, even some pam root. Not to be confused with picture jasper sites like Wildhorse.
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X - Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's rocks
- O Henry
