GEMS... A gold miner's side job.

[goldhog]

Threw this together over coffee this morning.
Just some cool pics if nothing else.
Gem Hunting, My Side Job as a Gold Miner

Doc

 

[63bkpkr]

Ma Nature sure does have a nice jewellery collection! Thanks Doc................63bkpkr

 

[burtonridr]

Cool finds in that article!


We really like searching for gems, almost more than gold panning. Last year we hit a spot know for smoky quartz and topaz. This year we expanded our research and located a hard to get to spot with aquamarine, cassiterite, limonite, fluorite, and scheelite. I cant wait for some of the snow to melt off the high elevations!!!

 

[nh.nugget]

Curse you Doc!! You just made my gold fever, er' cabin fever worst! Nice specimens most of the minerals we find are garnets and quartz.

 

[cyberdan]

Wow, that is neat. I too started as a rockhound. When I was in my very early teens I used to visit a local rock store (they had those back in the 60's) all the time. I used to do chores for the old lady that owned it and she would give me rocks and fossils. I had a pretty good collection too. Then I joined the Navy and left everything to my brother to WATCH for me (including a 57 chevy, two door, convertible in car show condition) when I got back everything was gone. All I was able to find was a small box of tourmaline.

is there a market for these? where would I go to sell?

 

[burtonridr]

Tourmaline are very cool, I wish we had a good area to prospect gem quality ones near where I live... I saw a report of black tourmaline not far from here, but someone has a claim on it for molybdenum if I remember right.

I wish I knew a good way to market these myself.... From what I have gathered, it doesn't hurt to start dialing rock shops. If they aren't interested, they might know someone that is.