Fieldtrip report:
Ray Mica Mine ,
Yancey County, N.C.,
Flood Series, part three,
M.A.G.M.A. fieldtrip,
October 2nd, 2004__________________
Hello members, the beryl is cleaned and it's time for the fieldtrip report!.
It was early Saturday morning (this morning) at 6:30 a.m., from a peaceful sleep I was awakened by the sound of my alarm clock 8^(, then I realized it was time for our MAGMA trip to the Ray Mine!, I dashed downstairs for a hearty breakfast of strawberry poptarts and a jelly donut with two cups of black coffee, once energized I headed for the MAGMA pole and slid into the MAGMA Cave (my basement) (note to self: wear pants when sliding down the MAGMA pole!) at the MAGMA Cave I started to jump into Maggie the MAGMA Mobile, but she was still hacking up french fry grease from an expiermental fuel I have been working on, so, to the Daewoo and off to the Silver Armadillo parking lot to meet with more members. At the Armadillo, I met with Ed Wagner, David, Andrea, and Cindi, from there we headed towards Burnsville on the way we met up with new members Jim Small and his wife Anne and two of their friends from the Kingsport Tn. club. We arrived at the Mine around 10:00, many of our other members were already at the site, Shirley, Glenn and his daughter had arrived the night before from Raleigh, John D. and Chris Moss had come from South Carolina early that morning, we also met with new members Jim Teal and Bob Taylor. Bassey Bennett came out to greet everyone, he told me he had never seen that many people at the Ray Mine at the same time, with all the parking money he made he will be adding a new addition to his house!.
Parking at a premium at Basseys.
Ed, ready to rock!
The group ready to head for the mine.
While we were getting our stuff together Dave Hart arrived in time for a small group shot at the parking area, we even got Bassey to get in the pic, then we headed to the mine.
Jim and Anne Small hunting for moonstone.
David on his first MAGMA trip, looks like he's having fun.
Shirley is always having fun.
Ed and Jim Teal, two more of our new members.
After getting to the creek area we met with other club members who had arrived there ahead of us, Grant Kidd, Thomas and Danya Davis, also two more of our new members Curtis Allen and his girlfriend Adrian. Roseanna and Ed from Charlotte also showed up a little while after we arrived. Curtis and Ed Wagner are both very knowledgable about the Ray Mine, Curtis gave me a copy of the paper he had published with Bill Miller on the Ray Mine, thanks Curtis 8^).
Grant looks pretty happy, I know he found some good stuff.
Glenn, Shirley and Karen deciding on the next spot to hunt.
John D. working the bank.
Chris screening for gems. Chris had found a nice crystal as soon as he arrived this morning.
New member Bob showing one of his finds to Cindi.
Andrea looks pretty happy too!
Curtis and Adrian. Curtis found some nice stuff, thulite, sphalerite, fluorite, Adrian had some nice moonstone also and of course beryl.
Cindi on the way out, notice the bag full of beryl next to her and the big smile!
Bob Taylor, Bob found some nice specimens.
Of course I got a few shots of some of the material found today:
John Deneys big beryl in matrix.
John looks happy!
Two more pieces John found.
Chris Moss also found some nice stuff, this beryl in matrix has small tourmaline crystals growing around it.
Another nice crystal Chris found.
Basseys dog "ol'mutt" came by to see us.
Thomas came down to the parking area before we left where I gave him the award for dirty digger of the day!, he also brought a specimen of amethyst he had collected last week in Georgia:
Cluster of crystals about 6" x 6".
Glenn and Karen ready to head home.
As far as I know, everyone found many nice specimens of beryl, moonstone and much more, I know everyone was smiling when they left. Here are a few things I brought back today:
Twin aquas in matrix, the large crystal measures 1", the neat thing about this specimen is the crystals go through about 2.5" of rock and show on the other side:
Some gem moonstone.
Another beryl in matrix.
Roseanna and Ed's beryl in matrix.
It was great to see such a turnout today from the club members, especially after the huge turnout for last weekends trip to Va. This is what rockhounding is all about, till next time, to the MAGMA Cave!!!
