DigginIt Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 So, I promised to post some pics of some of my gemstone finds. These are collected from two "pay to dig" sites near my home in Carlsbad California, the "Oceanview mine" in Pala and the " Himalaya mine" at Lake Henshaw, Cali. At the Oceanview mine I have collected Kunzites in pink, clear, and yellow. Also aquamarines, feldspar, lepidolite, clear and smokey quartz crystal, and book mica. At the Himalaya mine, I collect Tourmalines in pink, green,black, blue (RARE, have only tiny pencil crystals of this color), watermelon (outer crystal green, inner crystal pink), tricolored (Green, pink, black). Here, we also find lepidolite, clear and smokey quartz crystal, and book mica. So, here goes....... Kunzites... Quartz... Aquamarine beryls... Smokey Quartz w Mica... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Dazzling finds! They have great colours for sure! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greel Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Beautiful gemstones. I'd love to live so close to these famous mines. Especially would like to dig the tailings of the Himalaya for tourmaline. I watch Kirsten Gum's video of her visit to the Himalaya mine on America's Treasures series over and over again. -greel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigginIt Posted April 1, 2012 Author Share Posted April 1, 2012 (edited) Black Tourmalines... Lepidolites... The tip from a HUUUGE smokey quartz crystal... Another nice Smokey Quartz with Clevelandite? Green Tourmalines... Pink Tourmalines... Book Micas... HONKER ALERT!!! My largest Piece of Tourmaline and its Tri-Colored! 3 inches in circumference and 3 inches long. When I pulled this out of my screen, I laughed maniacally and ran away with it from the table and ran in circles . My buddy, Steve-o kept saying "Get back here! Let me SEE!!!" And finally, I think tis is too cute. A Blue Feldspar "Fishy" with a black Tourmaline eye! Thank for having a look! I am taking Gemstone classes currently and hope to facet some of these someday. Others, are display specimens and others yet, I will wire wrap in Silver. " The precioussssss, I stole it from them......" LOL! Edited April 1, 2012 by DigginIt 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigginIt Posted April 1, 2012 Author Share Posted April 1, 2012 Thank you, both! Yes, the Himalaya WAS on that show, wasn't it?! I truly, forgot that! Dave and Denise are SO friendly and helpful! I consider them friends. I highly recommend the Himalaya dig to anyone that can make it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonsfly Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Worth the wait !!! Love that huge tri-color. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigginIt Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Very nice. Thanks for giving us a look. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigginIt Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel59 Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 You you buy buckets of the material there or dig your own??? Are the mines salted there as they are here in NC and TN ??? Here in NC some places allow you to dig out of the actual mine area more like a small quarry than a mine, while others set you at a sluice and sell you 5 gal buckets of material they saly with non-native stones as well as some local NC ones... We get a lot of Saphires, emeralds, Rubies, garnets, and Hidenite... Jeff/Tarheel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigginIt Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 Hi Jeff. At the Himalaya mine one pays $75 for about 5 hours . Denise, the mine manager explains that when the mines are blasted they do remove the majority of visible large gem material from the floor but cant and don't get it all. What is left is dozed into a pile and brought down to make a pile from which WE scoop from and screen ourselves for 5 hours. I truly don't believe they are salted piles. You CAN order for delivery or pick up on site different grade buckets to take home . Here is a video of a day screening .. . http://carlsbad.patch.com/articles/day-trip-dig-for-tourmaline-gems-at-the-himalaya-mine#video-9323034 I would LOVE to do the quarry mining. None of that too close to here but, we do of course have BLM sites in southern Cali. where we can prospect. I have family in Sparta and Chapel Hill N.C. I was able on one trip to do a quick stop in Franklin County at one of the mines to sift through a twenty dollar bucket but, took home only a few very small gems. That county IS LOADED . I didn't get to do the mining of my choice because of time constraints and other plans my family had for me but, have promised myself that when I go back to visit in N.C. next time, I will disown ANY and ALL family that gets in my way ! If you get a chance, load some pics? I'd love to see some of your finds! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigginIt Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 Jeff, I saw your shark tooth collection pics. WAY COOL! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astron Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Very nice mineral collection Thanks for sharing Here are two pics of the bigger concretion (of selenite, sulphur and barite) I have found in my hunting place in Crete island, Greece. 1 Astrinos P. Damianakis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrified Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Nice Tourmalines! 1 Definition of a fossil= Love at first site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigginIt Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 Wow! Monster sized and GORGEOUS, Astron! And thanks Petrified. Your avatar is great,lol! You look so much like my goofy cousin Geoff in it. No kidding,uncanny! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Michal Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I realize this is an old post. I couldn't go without telling you your gems are breathtaking so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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