When I was a kid my brother and I were always fascinated with rock shows. The crystals, minerals, gemstones, geodes, polished stones and all manner of material found within the Earth were quite fascinating. I would look at gemstones in the rough vs. the finished faceted versions and be completely amazed. How was that even possible?
So, for those of you with an appreciation for gemstones and jewelry, perhaps an interest in Lapidary as a past time, coupled with a bit of an adventurous spirit, have you considered planning a vacation to a gemstone mine? There is a surprising number of open-to-the-public mines scattered across the United States where people really are finding beautiful gemstones. And as a family activity it could be great whether the center point of your vacation or a planned activity for a day if a Mine happens to be near where you are vacationing.
And it’s not just about finding a gemstone in the rough and leaving it that way. A few years ago I had seen a segment on The Travel Channel’s “Cash & Treasures” show that took viewers to a couple of open to the public gemstone mines. A portion of the show highlighted the fact it’s not hard to find a gem-cutter who will finish / facet your gemstones if you so choose. For a fee of course.
This won’t be your typical vacation however. You’ll be “roughing it” to greater or lesser degree depending on the mine location and facilities. Some of the mines are in remote locals, and may or may not have camping areas. So, a little investigation into your desired digging spot will be in order!
The good news: The Internet makes investigations like this a breeze compared to those “bygone” ages of just three decades ago or so.
The two things to determine first are: Type of gemstone you are interested in and the location. Mother Nature dictates where certain minerals appear, so realize if you have a particular gemstone in mind (say Opal) you may be restricted to certain parts of the U.S. (or World if you are abroad). Use searches such as “(gemstone name) mining”, or “open to the public (gemstone name) mining”, and go from there. You will generate plenty of hits to follow as you weigh your choices.
Did you know the only open to the public Diamond Mine in the world is in Arkansas, right here in the United States?
http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/
http://geology.com/gemstones/united-states-diamond-production.shtml
When considering a mine, identify some basics right away: Type of gemstones/minerals found, fees per day, precise location and travel route to the mine, hours of operation, open vs. closed season.
Identify what the closest lodging is to the mine, and whether the Mine has camping facilities on-site. Are there water, power, and bathrooms available?
Double check their recommendation for “equipment”, which is typically simple hand tools given the context is “open to the public”. For those having visions of wielding heavy powered equipment while wearing hardhats down in the depths of the earth, have no fear. The websites you will be finding most often show photos of people using simple screening trays and small pick hammers in open digs, though it is likely they will still require you to sign a waiver to dig onsite.
Ask about mining options available. You dig only, or are there “conveyor belts” available for people to stand at and pick through?
Once you’ve generated a short list of Mines, or made a selection, contact them directly and clarify any questions you may have. Many of them are family run operations and will answer questions quite readily.
Consider some basics to have on hand in addition to anything the Mine itself recommends and/or provides: Kneepads, gloves, water, headbands/handkerchiefs, sandwiches and snacks, small first aid kit / bandages (an auto kit would be fine, the idea is to address any scraped-knuckle type issue), sunscreen, sunglasses. Consider some jars or coffee cans, perhaps some baggies, for the treasure you find.
If you are interested in having any of your finds cut by a gem cutter, talk to the Mine owners and see if they have recommendations. There may be gem cutters local to the Mine.
Once you’ve made your decision, it’s now up to you! Will you find the next Hope Diamond? Probably not. However, it is very likely you will find some gemstones, perhaps nice enough you may want to have one or more finished and facetted by a Gem cutter. And, though the odds are low, it is possible you find something remarkable. One never knows, and that is part of the thrill to treasure hunting!
And certainly the makings of a memorable vacation activity.
Following are a few starter links for your investigations:
Red Labradorite (aka “Sunstone”): http://www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com/html/spectrum_sunstone_mines.html
A review of someone’s experiences at the Spectrum sunstone mine:
http://flyviewsandreviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/labor-day-trip-to-spectrum-sunstone.html
The Treasure Hunting Wiki from The Travel Channel, Opals:
http://cash-and-treasures-wiki.travelchannel.com/page/Opals
Drill up to the Home page link to the Treasure Hunting Wiki, and there is a wealth of links, videos, and information to whet your appetite, feed your knowledge, and spur your imagination.
Many gemstone types:
http://www.sprucepinegemmine.com/?gclid=CPm2-vqJ1J8CFQEMDQodn2VScQ
Opal & Black Fire Opal:
Ruby and Sapphires:
Amethyst, Topaz, Garnets:
http://www.toteshows.com/morefield.html
This site has a very interesting reference to gemstone facet designs on his website. Go to the “online designs” link at the top of his main page: www.faceters.com
