FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[thecrystalfinder]

I have a claim for geodes on Graham Island in Northern BC (part of Queen Charlotte Islands or Haida Gwaii) The entire north end of graham island is all basalt and rhyolite. The claim enloses a cliff approx fifty feet tall by two hundred feet long. The cliff or outcrop is basalt or andesite and has numerous cavities. Each cavity has a different content and color. some are pure quartz crystals, some are calcite and quartz. some are druzy crystals while others are larger crystals. The colors range from colorless to blue and green and rarely purple (amethyst). The cavities range in size from a few inches up to several feet in size. For years I have been working the claim for small crystal clusters and in the hopes that someday I would find something good. In February 2010 I had the chance to do a few days work at the site and was lucky to hit a huge pocket. approx two feet in length and foot in width. The cavity was line with rough druzy quartz with large calcite crystals. The best crystals were the found as the pocket was opened and in the clay in the bottom of the pocket. Sadly a lot of the crystals were damaged but still a few fine specimens were recovered. also a lot of crystals were left in the cavity for the rock was too hard to extract and I am working by hand with hand tools. (chisels and sledgehammers and prybars) The potential of the site for more large cavities is good but I might let the claim lapse for the site is fairly remote and costs a lot to get to so I only get to visit the site every couple of years. anyway enjoy the pictures. Thanks

-Herb Hyder
gemstone prospector

[Ed Huskinson]

Cool Herb, way cool.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and photos with us. Posts like this one pique our interest, and are welcome surprises to the normal Forum topics.

I wish you the best of luck in your collecting efforts.

Good on ya, mate!

Ed in Kingman

[thecrystalfinder]

a few more pics