The perils of digging crystals in Montana (pic heavy)

IAMZIM · Apr 9, 2017

When I got to the lake, it still had ice on it and it was kinda nice out, about 50 degrees, perfect for digging. I forgot about the winter storm warning lol! It started blizzarding, and I got out just in time! The pass was a nightmare, probably only 50ft visibility and it seemed to drop to 30ft visibility whenever a sheet of snow blew! If I could figure out how to upload a video on my phone I would do it, haha! Before it hit, I found a few interesting crystals and a bunch of moonstone, looks like some good cab material! The one clear crystal looks like it has a tiny spray of epidote on it maybe, and the smokey has some weird red sprays of something. I'm excited to go back, because I was starting to get into some red clay, indicating a pocket! But I'll have to wait until the weather gets better hahaha!

MartyRocks · Apr 10, 2017

Some nice finds there. I'd definitely go back too if I were you!

Good luck!

tamrock · Apr 10, 2017

I got a call from a fella up your way, who had a Montana Yogo Sapphire mine looking for a 1 yard LHD mucker like this one once. I found a really good used one and shot him a price. When I called to follow up with the guy, his wife answered the phone and asked who I was and I told her who and why I was calling and she said they weren't interested in a machine now. I guess they thought you could pick one up for a couple grand or so. :dontknow:

diggingthe1 · Apr 10, 2017

Montana has some great places to dig. The smokey quartz can get so dark. Nice finds. It would be hard to get anything done with all the rockhounding up there. I went digging for the catseye blue sapphires and smokey quartz. Sure is work, but some of the rocks are unbelievably worth it. You need Tamrocks machine

IAMZIM · Apr 10, 2017

tamrock said:
I got a call from a fella up your way, who had a Montana Yogo Sapphire mine looking for a 1 yard LHD mucker like this one once. I found a really good used one and shot him a price. When I called to follow up with the guy, his wife answered the phone and asked who I was and I told her who and why I was calling and she said they weren't interested in a machine now. I guess they thought you could pick one up for a couple grand or so.

LOL! I would KILL to be able to do ANY mining for Yogo sapphires, unfortunately, there are very few people who have claims to mine there, and they JEALOUSLY guard it! I kind of don't blame them, Yogo's can go for up to $3,000 a carat, and the price increases exponetially when they go passed a full carat! The main mine has changed hands constantly, and even though they are worth so much, it seems every time some one comes in to start the mine back up, they go bankrupt. If I had a mine and the need for a mucker, I'd contact you, but I am poor as well, HAHAHA!!!

IAMZIM · Apr 10, 2017

diggingthe1 said:
Montana has some great places to dig. The smokey quartz can get so dark. Nice finds. It would be hard to get anything done with all the rockhounding up there. I went digging for the catseye blue sapphires and smokey quartz. Sure is work, but some of the rocks are unbelievably worth it. You need Tamrocks machine

Your right, I have smokey's that are full on black, can't even shine a flashlight through them! My spring fever is killing me right now, but it's really tough to dig in the snow and ice!

tamrock · Apr 10, 2017

IAMZIM said:
LOL! I would KILL to be able to do ANY mining for Yogo sapphires, unfortunately, there are very few people who have claims to mine there, and they JEALOUSLY guard it! I kind of don't blame them, Yogo's can go for up to $3,000 a carat, and the price increases exponetially when they go passed a full carat! The main mine has changed hands constantly, and even though they are worth so much, it seems every time some one comes in to start the mine back up, they go bankrupt. If I had a mine and the need for a mucker, I'd contact you, but I am poor as well, HAHAHA!!!

There's a jewelry store in Columbus, MT that has a wonderful assortment of Yogo's set in the platinum and or palladium metal from the mine in the area. My last visit to the mine I was told the mine made a deal with Tiffany & Co for so much amount of those precious metals for Tiffany jewelry. I guess white gold and platinum metals are what's more in demand these days for wedding sets and other high end jewelry pieces. They don't call Montana the Treasure State for nothing. I read a story long ago of someone out camping found a large diamond once. I believe MT hold still many undiscovered riches in those mountains.