| Field trip to the HOGG MINE - MARCH 29, 2008 Troup County, Lagrange, Georgia |
We had a trip to the Hogg Mine Saturday, March 29, 2008. The weather forecast called for rain and
thunderstorms all day. True to form, it was a day of sunshine and a high temperature of around 80
degrees.
Rodney had been out the week before with a 36,000 trackhoe and had brought up a large quantity of
fresh material in both the main pit and the old tailings (click here for report). The hope was that finding
beryl would be as easy as shooting puppies in a barrel. The intervening week, however, was bereft of
rain. It turns out that rain is really a necessary ingredient in turning fresh tailings into a field of easy to
find specimens as it washes off the surface material and, more importantly, compact the soil and
separates the dirt from the underlying pieces. This had not happened as of yet, so it was another day
of having to work for it.
And work for it we did. Many nice specimens were found, some pictures of which follow. Tommy, in
particular, found a piece which I am sure he is still smiling about (see below).
There are plenty of rocks, both exposed and in the fill, in the tourmaline area as well. Those who
wandered over in that direction collected some nice specimens for their efforts. Hardly a dent has been
made in this material and now is the ideal time to search in this area.
The next trip is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2008. For details and directions see Rodney's field
trip page at www.dixieeuhedrals.com. I know that I will be watching the radar for rain in the
meantime.
thunderstorms all day. True to form, it was a day of sunshine and a high temperature of around 80
degrees.
Rodney had been out the week before with a 36,000 trackhoe and had brought up a large quantity of
fresh material in both the main pit and the old tailings (click here for report). The hope was that finding
beryl would be as easy as shooting puppies in a barrel. The intervening week, however, was bereft of
rain. It turns out that rain is really a necessary ingredient in turning fresh tailings into a field of easy to
find specimens as it washes off the surface material and, more importantly, compact the soil and
separates the dirt from the underlying pieces. This had not happened as of yet, so it was another day
of having to work for it.
And work for it we did. Many nice specimens were found, some pictures of which follow. Tommy, in
particular, found a piece which I am sure he is still smiling about (see below).
There are plenty of rocks, both exposed and in the fill, in the tourmaline area as well. Those who
wandered over in that direction collected some nice specimens for their efforts. Hardly a dent has been
made in this material and now is the ideal time to search in this area.
The next trip is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2008. For details and directions see Rodney's field
trip page at www.dixieeuhedrals.com. I know that I will be watching the radar for rain in the
meantime.
This was his first time. A nice rod found by breaking rock.
I hit a couple of rocks as well.
Marcy finds a nice crystal.
And another.
One for me.
Lori Found a nice gemmy chunk.
Tommy found a fragment of a crystal. The fragment had two faces of the
original which showed that it had originally been a very large crystal.
Rinsing the piece with water revealed several large areas of water clear
facet grade aquamarine. This stone should yield several top grade faceted
gems. Tommy intends to have it cut and I have to say I am at least a little
envious. . .
original which showed that it had originally been a very large crystal.
Rinsing the piece with water revealed several large areas of water clear
facet grade aquamarine. This stone should yield several top grade faceted
gems. Tommy intends to have it cut and I have to say I am at least a little
envious. . .