FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Chris Rayburn]

Hi Pierre--as always, I enjoy your accounts of field collecting, and I always appreciate your very active involvement in the FMF community. And what a beautiful area you live in! Thanks for taking the time to document your successful collecting efforts and share them with us.

Chris

[Pierre Joubert]

[Pierre Joubert]

Yesterday afternoon, I took Riana to the place mentioned in recent posts. It was hot but as we left later in the afternoon, we had very nice weather. We did not find as many crystals as we hoped but still found a few nice specimens (which yet have to be cleaned). There could be some more crystals but it is so awkward crawling under a large rock, with very little space, that we have now abandoned this spot.

[Pierre Joubert]

I tried my hand 'stiching' some photographs with a program. The scene is from our town, taken yesterday evening, returning from our quartz outing.

[Don Lum]

Pierre,

I like the "moonshot" and picture of Riana holding up the boulder.

Don

[Pierre Joubert]

[chris]

Hi Pierre,

Thanks for the photos. You are a great SA's ambassador. Not too many problems with snakes when you dig this way under these boulders ?

Cheers

Christophe

[Pierre Joubert]

[steven calamuci]

I feel like packing my bags and flying over, the pictures are wonderful. The Quartz specimen are beautiful, thanks for sharing.

[Pierre Joubert]

[Pierre Joubert]

I sent a quartz sample to Cesar Menor-Salvan, who was kind enough to photograph and confirm that the small green balls in the quartz are indeed clinochlore. The photo is courtesy of Cesar.

[Pierre Joubert]

Here is an account of a recent trip I had to a quartz location:
I left early on Friday (the 19Th Dec.) and drove the 80 km to a private farm where I
discovered crystal deposits about 30 years ago. I parked my car on a
neighboring farm and walked about 8 km up a gorge with a 4x4 track. It
was not that hot, but I realized now more than ever, I will not be able
to do this for many more years. The body is protesting. I will have to
buy a 4x4. Once I reached my destination; a large rock overhang (I
suppose one could call it a cave), I rested for a good while and then
headed to my favourite crystal spot. I resumed digging where I last
left, and quickly my attention was drawn to an interesting spot very
close to where I last removed some really nice clusters. I used the
chisels and hammer and before long had a number of clusters out that lay
loose in the pocket. Most of the pockets have sand in them and in some
cases, clay. I spent a few more hours digging in a pile of broken rock
and found a number of nice single points and small clusters. I left
before sunset and had a nice swim in the river. I had an uncomfortable
nights' sleep as all I had as padding was 3 knee pillows. It was hot,
so the sleeping bag was, for most of the night, unnecessary.

After breakfast the next morning, I walked upstream attempting to catch rainbow trout,
but, I am afraid I have not seen any since a major flood there a few
years ago. It is worrying and I will ask the farmers if we can restock
the river sometime soon. After this fruitless exercise, I had another
swim and then proceeded to the same spot as the previous day. I worked
in the rubble of loose rock, hoping to find a pocket. I did find some
traces of small pockets with some interesting crystals. The evening, as
I got to the overhang, I saw a Cape cobra of about 4 Foot long, with a
lovely yellow colour, sail in front of me and go under a bush and rocks
about 6 m from where I was sleeping. I prodded the bush, hoping for it
to come out so that I could take a photo, but that was not to be. I had
a better nights' sleep. The overhang/cave has a small deep cavity in
the corner where Gennets (a wild cat) stay. They have been there for
many years. They are inclined to steal your food. I hoped to see them
but did not, probably due to the fact that a strong wind was blowing.

I took it easy on Sunday and late morning I moved lower down in the Gorge to sleep at another place and to also visit another crystal area. I had some good success here also and after a, not so comfortable nights sleep, headed down the gorge with a very heavy rucksack. I arrived at my car at about 10 am. Monday morning (22nd Dec.), made my coutesy calls at the farmers and headed home. All in all it was a very pleasant trip with the days not to warm. I saw lots of baby rockrabbits (Dassie), baboons and heard some buck. Nature is VERY rewarding! Thank You Lord!!!

[Pierre Joubert]

A few more photos from this trip. I have only lightly washed some of the specimens and hope to show a few cleaned specimens later.

[Mike Wood]

Another great trip report Pierre. Looks like you did well with the quartz crystal collecting, they look very nice and I can't wait to see them fully cleaned!
The gorge in the mountains looks very scenic and the stream looks clean and inviting. Is the stream there at all times of the year or will it dry up sometimes?
The overhang looks like an excellent spot to camp. Glad to hear the Cape Cobra didn't put you off your night's sleep - I'm not sure I would have slept as soundly!
Regards, Mike :-)

Oh by the way, thanks for the photo from Cesar Menor-Salvan, of the little green balls in the quartz. Was the id of the mineral (clinochlore) visual or instrumental?

[Pierre Joubert]