The Fussy McFuss Pocket

[augusthog]

I was a "Rockhound" long before I picked up a metal detector. Still cant figure out which one is more fun?
Here is the story of the Fussy McFuss:
My friend Mike has 3 mining claims in the Floressant/Lake George area of Colorado and invited me to help him prospect his most remote site. I was happy to go! It's a good 1/2 hour 4X4 ride into the mountians followed by a 45 minute climb along a VERY steep slope. Judging by the kickout piles from all the holes he had dug I could tell this was a good spot. So I'm following a small vane of smokeys in some pretty hard rock, Mikes in a hole about 15 ft. away.
The rock is hard and its coming out in small chunks. Kinda like a jig saw puzzle, you gotta take this chunk out to get that one out. The vain I'm following starts getting smaller and smaller till I get this one chunk out and see its loaded with Smokey Quartz! Good size ones too! I yell out to Mike that I think I got something here. He yells out "Keep diggin". I have bucket size hole between my feet and the pocket hole is open at the bottom side. Not much room so I have to brake more rock to get better access. This took awhile. Got to the point where I could lay on my back (with my feet above my head) and start reaching into the darkness of the hole. (Keep in mind I'm still new at this and have never found a Pocket before)
I'm pulling out Smokey after Smokey, Microcline, Amazonite, Flourite, and more Smokeys, all the while I'm yelling to Mike to get on over here! He fineally come over and his mouth is just hanging open. Says its the biggest pocket he's ever seen opened on any of his claims! I tell him to "Take over for me, I'm cramping up".
He starts pulling out more of the same.
All in all I would say the pocket was as long as my arm, about 3 foot side to side and about 3 foot top to bottom. It took 3 more trips to bring all the "booty" off that hill. When we got home Mike said it's about a $30,000 hole. We start dividing it up. You pick one, I pick one, till it was all gone. Mike says seeing I found the pocket I get to name it. I name it after my friend Fussy Mcfuss who is on a chat board I frequent.
The vid I made is just about 5 yrs old and less than 1/4th of what came out of the pocket. The e-mail address is no longer right but the phone # is still current if anyone is interested.

[claymation]

Man, you've really hit that one ! It's incredible, the smokies are fantastic and so is the amazonite. Fantastic pieces.

[augusthog]

Thanks Clay! I've added a lot more since then. A lot of people mistake Amazonite for the turquoise around here. Now I have to find a pocket of turquoise and GOLD!

[marinedad]

congrats, nice to have a friend with claims that shares finds with you.