Emerald Creek Star Garnets Near Clarkia Idaho

So we took a trip to see our son in Spokane last weekend and I finally got some rock hunting in.  We drove 1-1/2 hours into the Idaho panhandle to search out some star garnets in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.  We found some and had a good time.

The drive through the beautiful Palouse area of Idaho was really beautiful.  It had rained in the morning and cooled everything down.  It was a gorgeous day.

Fields in the Palouse of the Idaho Panhandle

When we got there we discovered it would be a 1 mile hike round trip. I managed to walk the 1/2 mile up and back with torn ligaments and torn meniscus.  Some things are just worth the pain. :-)

Trail to Emerald Creek Garnet Area

Determined to get there!

For those who aren't aware, there are only two places in the world these garnets can be found.  In Idaho and in India.  They are called star garnets, because when polished, some of them display a "star" reflection.

Idaho Polished Star Garnet

When we arrived, we each paid the $10.00 collecting fee.  All buckets and shovels needed on the site.  You may want to bring some waterproof gloves and rubber boots.  It can be pretty muddy. 

The Forest Service manages the site, and shows you what to look for and what to avoid.  At the beginning of the season, loads of gravels are brought to the site from Emerald Creek and from these piles, collectors shovel, screen and wash the gravels to find the stones.

Forest Service Collecting Fee Station 

You have your best chance to find large and many garnets early in the season, which starts on Memorial Day.  The pickings are pretty poor near the end of the season on Labor Day.  We were there a little late and there wasn't much left.  But it was fun anyway.

Running our dirt through the screens

Washing our gravels in the sluice box

My son showing what my hubby termed a "chicken pox rock" a rock with small garnets embedded"

We didn't come away with a huge haul, but we got about 1oz of garnets in a 2 hour period.  It was a really enjoyable day.

Pretty Rocks - Garnets on the left 

"Chicken pox rocks"

It was a really fun way to spend the day, and I highly recommend it for families and kids.

Since you are here, be sure to check out my new signs on my Etsy store.

All Night Laundry - Drop Your Drawers Here Barn Wood Sign

The Catch of the Day Vintage Barn Wood Sign

For more information about collecting the star garnets in Idaho, check out this link to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest Emerald Creek Garnet Area

Ellensburg Blue Agates and Where to Look

I know it has been a while, since I shared anything new, but today I am going to help you out a bit.  Included is a little information on Saddle Mountain also.

Ellensburg Blue Agates

Most every rockhound has heard of the Ellensburg blue agates.  These gems were first made famous by Tiffany and Co. a LONG time ago.  Any still out there are few and far between.  But it IS out there.  You just need to know where to look.  So I dug out a few old sources of information to share with you.  I do know that they are still finding them on Red Top Mt. when they are lucky.

The Rockhounds Guide to Washington Volume 1 - Pages 12-13

The Rockhounds Guide to Washington Volume 1 - Pages 14-15

The Rockhounds Guide to Washington Volume 2 - Pages 16-17

Red Top Mountain Blue Agates Map

Here is a good trip report about the agate beds and Red Top Mountain Trail from the Washington Trails Association: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2015-06-01.7609784684


Here is another link to a publication put out by the Washington Mineral Council about Red Top Mountain, scroll down to page 4 of the PDF: http://www.mineralcouncil.org/Wsmc0415.pdf


Pay a visit to my Etsy shop SouthPrairieHandmade and view some of my rocks for sale!

Large Druzy Quartz Crystalized Petrified Wood

Solving A Very Old Button Mystery

This is not my usual style post, but I really need some help here.  About 40 years ago my mother and I went out rockhunting in the San Pedro Mines area of New Mexico.  I had a brand new metal detector and decided to give it a try.  Anyway, I found this mysterious button in excellent condition.  For some reason at the time, I remember running into an old time miner up there who told me it might be a conductors button to the railway that ran in the area.  That's the only reason I can think that I would believe it is an old railroad artifact at all.

Fast forward to today, and I ran across it while cleaning out my piles of junk jewelry.  Anyway, modern searches are turning up nothing pertaining to a railroad by the name of M&M except the railroad mogul Thomas C. Durant and his Mississippi and Missouri Railroad (M&M).  I'm pretty sure he never made it to New Mexico, but who knows.  There could have been a Madrid and ? Railroad because I know there was a rail line serving the coal towns along NM Highway 14 - the present day Turquoise Trail.

M&M Railroad Button Front with Heraldic Eagle Symbol

The button is really nice and has an Eagle Seal image (heraldic symbol) and is surrounded by the letters M&M.  I'm not sure what it is made of.  Maybe brass?  the front did not tarnish, so maybe gold plated?  I just don't know.  I would appreciate any help I can get on this.  Let me know what you think or know.

San Pedro Mines Satellite Image

San Pedro Mines Satellite Image of Where Button Was Found

Back of M&M Button

One very interesting fact about our rock hunting experience was that this old time miner told us that San Pedro Mountain was literally riddled with tunnels and he was surprised it was still standing.  He also said that he had found a really old tunnel at the base of the mountain and when he went inside, he found a Conquistadore helmet.  Pretty neat huh?


Check out my newest New Mexico finds at my Etsy shop!

New Mexico Fluorite Collectors Specimen

Fluorite Prospects Near Grants NM

I know it's been a while since I posted anything and I'm sorry about that...

Winter is a hard time to find anything in the Northwest and I typically make it out to NM in June, so here is my first NM trip report of 2016.

Well, we went out towards Grants NM to search out some defunct copper and fluorite mines.  Once again, we didn't quite find the copper mines, but we did find some nice fluorite prospects, and I have a much better idea where the copper mines are now, so next time...

Fluorite Prospect near Grants, NM

Fluorite Prospect near Mirabel Mine NM

Fluorite Mine Dump

Nice Fluorite Crystals - Why didn't I notice the crystals in the rock they were sitting on?

Close up view of Fluorite Crystals

Here is a good report on the minerals in the Zuni Mountains mining district: https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/64/64_p0131_p0142.pdf

You can check out one of our listings for this nice fluorite available for sale on our SouthPrairieHandmade Etsy shop here https://www.etsy.com/listing/387328066/new-mexico-fluorite-collectors-specimen?ref=shop_home_active_1

New Mexico Fluorite Specimen Top

New Mexico Fluorite Specimen Back

Brown Creek Olympic National Forest Jasper

Sorry I have been remiss posting my rockhounding trips.  Alas and alack, I have not really been anywhere this winter :-(  As a matter of fact, we didn't even get out at all until last month and this is about our trip over to the Olympic National Forest looking for some jasper.

Skokomish River

I had read somewhere that there is some nice jasper found along Brown Creek in the Olympic National Forest, so we decided to head over there since we knew Greenwater would still be under snow.  Anyway, we had a wonderful day in beautiful 70º weather along the gorgeous Skokomish River.

A Little Gift

Brown Creek

Some Nice Pieces of Jasper? Rhyolite?

We didn't find a lot, but at least what we did find was different from our usual agates.  We did find one nice piece of jade also.  It was definitely worth the drive for the scenery alone.  It is a nice campground also!

Please check out our SouthPrairieHandmade Etsy shop.  We have some amazing mineral specimens for sale over there!

Crystalized Petrified Wood Mineral Specimen

Large Beautiful Black Tourmaline Mineral Specimen

Finding Pecos Diamonds in New Mexico - Millions!

Another great trip to New Mexico was in order this month.  Gotta get our green chiles for the coming year!  Anyway,  we took a little trip into Texas to visit family and ended up stopping and looking for the famed Pecos Diamonds.  Boy did we find them!  We actually found so many, we quit picking up anything but the largest ones.  It was a great trip!

Anyway, I would tell you where we found these, but I would rather restrict this information, so I will sell the information to those determined enough to want to find them. :-)

Here are some photos of what we found. The first photo takes you to a listing which sells the directions to this site.

Pecos Diamonds Glittering in the Mesa - Where is This?

The Gypsum Where the Pecos Diamonds Come From

These are for Sale!  Check Out My Etsy Listing

A Few of the Better Finds

Millions of Pecos Diamonds!

We Brought Back Just a Few!

Check out some of my other great New Mexico Etsy Minerals!

Large New Mexico Fluorite Crystal

Large Druzy Quartz Crystalized Petrified Wood Mineral Specimen

If you want to purchase the directions to this Pecos Diamonds collecting site, check out my Pecos Diamonds Location Etsy listing.

Went River Rock Shopping Again Today

Well, it's been a while since we got out shopping and rock crafting, but we got out again today.  It was a bit chilly out but a nice day to enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

Fall in Western Washington

We had a nice little walk down our secret trail along the Carbon River.  We ran into our favorite older gentleman driving along the river surveying his useless flood zone rated property.  We stopped to talk a while.  He sure is a nice guy.

Then we headed over to the riverbed and discovered that someone else had been rock shopping too.

Pretty Rocks Stacked on a Driftwood Log

We were only supposed to be looking for small bug sized rocks, but of course we ended up with a bunch of heavier tea candle sized rocks bulging in our aprons.  You would think we would learn to always take the backpack, but we keep hoping to leave some behind.  :-)

Well, looking at the riverbed, you can see why we view it as a giant candy store.  Even on a cloudy day, the many rock colors are screaming our names.

Our Rock Candy Store

You might ask, why were you looking for bug sized rocks.  Well, a week ago, for fun I decided to try to make bugs out of rocks.  These are what I came up with...

My Rock Bug Parade - Check them out on Etsy!

I was kind of thinking they would make good Halloween decorations or Rock Garden decorations.  Maybe even in a fairy garden.  The possibilities are endless. :-)

One of My Favorites - A River Rock Beetle!

They were actually fairly easy to make, once I got the hang of it.  Koala also re-discovered her artistic  abilities in spades by making a Rock owl wall hanging.  Gorgeous!

Painted Owl Rock Wall Hanging - Also on Etsy!

Now we have to get busy working on more tea lights.  They seem to be getting more and more in demand.  Hope we can keep up!

Petrified Wood Tea Light Candle Holder

Happy Fall!