Fieldtrip Report:
Diamond Hill Mine,
Antreville, S.C.
April 22-23, 2006
Fieldtrip Report:
Diamond Hill Mine,
Antreville, S.C.
April 22-23, 2006
photos by: Lee Fleming and Rick Jacquot
Oh yes, it's time for another Diamond Hill report, I probably wouldn't write so many reports about this place except for the fact that we always seem to find someting new and unusual every trip, not to mention we always have a number of new members at every dig, so I like to get their pics also. This trip I did not take very many pics, Lee did almost all the photo work except for just a few, thanks Lee! The major work at the mine was done the previous week by Chet and a few others, many new areas were opened up in search of the big smokies and amethyst, we found some of both but mainly a nice selection of manganese covered plates along with some large clear crystal plates that I have not even seen cleaned up yet. The M.A.G.M.A. club was the first group allowed to access the site after the dig was done, members began arriving Friday evening for the weekend dig. Friday night late, the rain moved in and poured on the mine into the late morning hours Saturday, while this would usually discourage most people, we actually had many members who wanted it to rain, during the previous weeks work, around 50-60 dumptruck loads of material was removed from the amethyst and smoky pit and piled at the far end of the field, the rain washed up numerous crystals, I saw a few 2-3" amethyst crystals and a bunch of smoky crystals loose and on plates.
Nancy and Nancy working the dumps.
John D.
A lot of material was left at the mine from the previous digging, this consisted mostly of what is called "drusy quartz" some of this material can be very beautiful when cleaned, it was just to much to haul out with all the other material removed, there was a small cave in the side wall where we put numerous plates for the members to have, there was also tons of drusy plates found in the pits, Lee Fleming took a bunch of these home and cleaned them and they turned out great.
Leah found the drusy stash.
Lee specimens.
Lee specimen.
Chris Moss in the smoky pit.
Christian and Beth working the dumps.
Me and Leah working the wall.
I took this shot of a crystal after it had been out of the groud for a few minutes, I call it "birth of a crystal"
Group working the dumps.
