Great Basin Tearjerkers Fall Gathering 2009

[doug hodder]

Hey Jim...I'm looking forward to it! I used to have some large chert nodules, but in all the moves I've done...dumped it. That's the problem being a geologist, you end up hauling a ton or 2 of rocks around with you for the rest of your life and sooner or later, you just gotta lighten the load!

Have you gone out near Delta and dug in the welded ash flow tuff for the Topaz or the red Beryl? Hard digging, but there's some pretty impressive stuff to find. I'm thinking...there's some trilobites to be found out there as well. Doug

[MOKI SEAKER]

I haven't dug for topaz yet, it is said they change color after being exposed to air, would like to try for the red beryl tho. The trilobites are just a little south west of there and I have sent alot to my Grand kids in Calif. (Geyserville) my daugher said that 40-50lbs is enough. Jim G

[doug hodder]

The topaz in the area are a really nice amber when you first find them and if they aren't exposed to a lot of UV...hold the color really well. Lots of individual crystals laying in the creek beds are washed out in color. Like I said, it's tough digging...needs a sledge and a chisel + a case of beer to get to the good ones. Break into a vug and then dig them out with a knife or probe. The trilobites would just fall out of the formation with a good whack and then cleave the shale...but all of this was like 35 years ago.

Funny how it works....something millions of years old 25 miles of 4 wheeling off the beaten path, buried in a formation in a desert at 100 degrees, all of a sudden is illegal for those willing to do the work to get them, in the span of 30+ years. Good rockhounding is running into a "green" brick wall. Just my opinion. I think the people that pushed that type of legislation, have never found anything or worked to find it. Just my opinion, I"m sure others will disagree. Doug

[MOKI SEAKER]

Just got back from camping in N. Utah. Is it now illegal to dig for topaz. I have a friend that camps out there below topaz mt. But he has not mentioned anything about it.. Jim G

[Ken Fincher]

All of you folks that do plan on attending the Glyph's Gathering be sure to go to the Glyph's Posting & be sure that I have put you on the list of attendee's.

There is an up to date list of everyone who will be attending on the last post on PAGE 1 of the Glyph's forum listing.


Thanks to to all.
Ken F.
P.S. See ya all soon

[MOKI SEAKER]

thanks Ken, Got er, done.. Jim G