Here is a video I made this weekend. It was an attempt at showing what I look for as I am out walking in the hills. I had to follow the trail about 70 feet until I found the source. At first all the pits and pieces were close to the surface and loose in the scree. That’s what I call float. Meaning it did not originate there and over time leaves a debris trail that may extend many yards down hill. When I left the hole was still producing so I need to return soon. Have a good one, Woody.

http://youtu.be/67px1vQfJGo

Will have to check it out when I get back to me room... can't wait to see another Woody Production!

THat's how I got hooked... was hiking along Bear Creek and found some Amazonite. Surmising it came from up the hill, I climbed the scree field, finding more, until I got up to the source. The next time I found the pocket of smokies in my photos. Being an amatuer, as Dypheron said, a lot of the stuff someone only looking for the "good stuff" threw out in the tailings I thought were pretty darn cool!

Woody now you need your own tv show!

Ha ha, My own TV show.

I don't think the world is quite ready for that yet but it would be cool getting paid to dig for rocks in the ground. Here is the conclusion from that weekend. My camera batteries died before I was finished and then I returned to that same spot the next day. It also shows the Fluorite I was finding. Some of the crystals where clear Smokye but most only had 3 or 4 good sides at best. But the mountains where a lot cooler than sitting around the house doing nothing so it was fun. Hope everyone's Fourth of July was enjoyable as well, Woody.

http://youtu.be/X8AFdbcJDMc

Haven't been able to get YouTube to load for a week; stupid internet here is always doing crazy random stuff like there. :(


Look forward to seeing what you've found; that photo is a nice teaser!

Woody, thanks again for coming out, it was a lot of fun. Definitely going to investigate that one seam next to that coyote hole where you found the tool. I don't know when - some year when I get caught up around here. I will let you know when I start. Too bad we didn't find any crystals here, it would have been great to have you find something to take with you. I think that green stone is epidote. As you saw, lots of it here, and if that is what they found in crystal form in that coyote hole, it may be worth investigating again. I don't think they did, or we would have seen some sign of it. Again, it was fun, and I would like to get out with you in your neck of the woods. Those vids you made are amazing, worthy of your own TV show, as Russ suggested. It would be way better than what we have seen with the other shows so far!

The pleasure was all mine Caveman. I enjoyed poking around on your side of the mountain.

Ha Ha, Funny! My own TV show……. Not! I don’t see me ever being that motivated, let alone being financially funded.
That might be more headache than I want to encounter.

Now scratching around in the dirt and making a video now and again, Ya I can handle that. Woody.

I hear that. I will let you know when I get to that Quartz seam.... that was worth finding. Probably nothing, but it would be cool if it turned rosy! Too bad I can't bust into that epidote seam, It's just too far off the line. I'll try to get with the landowner over there and see if I can just clear it out to see what they were looking at back then. I'll have to contend with that badger and the harvester ants if I do, though, but it would be worth it. Let me know if you'd be interested in that - might find some more cool broken worn out tools!

woody,
new to the game!
seems like your a person willing to share some of your knowledge.
would like to spend some time with you.
would be willing to drive and provide lunch
i have been hunting all summer with the family and have not found a thing. a few shards
i see you also enjoy hunting and fishing also .. im big into the archery and ice fishing .. used to be big into fly fishing but to many people here for me!
please send me an email so we can hook up.
shawnparker45@gmail.com
really looking forward to hear from you.

WOO HOO, I finally got to watch the videos. Nice finds Woody!





Welcome

Shawn, welcome to the club! Woody is indeed a great guy, and an incredible font of knowledge. He's an outstanding representative for the Club. When you two meet, you will have a great time. Woody, I say "when" because I know you will somehow find the time to meet up. Thanks for all you do, you do us proud.
Take care and Have Fun Out There!

This weekend I was able to get out and do a little mineral prospecting in an area that I had not been to before. I did an extensive research on the LR2000 web site and I had been in touch with a few of the locals and was advised as to where the existing claims were located. My attention would be focused well beyond these areas. Still I was careful to look for any postings in the field. I had a large area to cover and figured to get up in the hills early Friday after work. As soon as I found a comfortable parking spot I headed out on a hike. I was sure I would be back in plenty of time to finish setting up camp. Wrong!

True to my nature I just had to see what was over the next ridge. I did a lot of poking here, prodding there, but nothing really caught my eye. I did spend about an hour digging into a quartz seam I found but it never transitioned into anything interesting. There was the occasional one sided crystal and I kept thinking “maybe just a little deeper”. By the time I gave up I knew it would be a race to reach the truck before dark. I got there with about 15 minutes to spare. I would not have had a problem just laying out on the ground but it looked to coming on to a storm so I set up a tarp for cover. The mosquitoes were a bit troublesome but the tap, tap, tap of a gentle sprinkle put me into a coma until sunrise.

Saturday I broke camp early and headed over to meet a fellow club member. I had talked previously with Shawn and we decided to spend the day rock hounding and picking each other’s brain. I met Shawn and his son and spent a few minutes exchanging formalities before we took off on our 4 wheelers for a short drive. We stopped at a well known collecting spot and dug around for a few quartz crystals. They were not very large but they were crystal clear and gemmy. Shawn and I took a short walk up the hill and soon I found an outcropping of rocks that looked promising. They were only about four or five of them but they were aligned in such a way that it suggested a seam of sorts. At first glance nothing looked interesting but then a little sparkle caught my eye. Looking closely I could just barely make out that it was dark green in color and nestled nicely in liken that was growing on top of the rock. It was a quartz rock that was about half the size of a basketball. I pulled it up and could see more of the same on the underside. I figured it to be Epidote and could see more dark green on some of the rocks still in the ground.

That’s about all it took. Quickly we were two juveniles digging a hole looking for that shinny green stuff and at the moment nothing else mattered. The biggest crystals were only about ½ inch but they sure are nice and gemmy. I think we left a little in that hole and might set up a time to give it a closer look. As always I brought home a few extra pieces from the field to sample and am surprised to see how well they turned out. Hopefully Shawn was able to take home a few nice collectable pieces as well.

It was kind of funny. I can’t recall ever finding it in Colorado before but twice this month I have been on the trail of what I believe to be Epidote. I was out to Caveman’s spread two weeks ago and we found what we think must have been a small mine shaft dug looking for Epidote and this week I stumbled onto it yet again. Just a coincident I guess.

Shawn it was great to meet you and your son. You guys are great company and hope to get out with you’ens again soon. Maybe we can give the invite to anyone who wants to come and have a little get together down in my neck of the woods. Have a good one, Woody.

Don't know if these pieces can be cut and faceted but they look pretty cool.

Woody,
Very cool adventure! That point you found looks nice... almost an amber or peach tint to it. Neat that you whipped up that tarp pup-tent for shelter too. I've had to do the tarp-taco a few times, I can relate.
Good stuff!

Welcome to the forum Shawn, make yourself right at home browsing the entire website. Since these guys welcomed you to the club so friendly like, here's a link to the club membership page should you wish to join in the future for more knowledge/learning and fun with the club members.
Colorado Prospector club membership

Very interesting finds Woody, sounds like you had an excellent adventure this weekend.
That's awesome of you to take some new folks out to show them a bit too , I'll bet they had a great time!