FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Pierre Joubert]

Hi Reinhardt. Well done! There must be more and bigger and I am sure the bug has bitten. There is no cure! :-)

Dear Psax, NO glory to me. I often think the crystals have gotten to my brain. I am always looking for the stuff!!! haha

[cascaillou]

Some more prospecting tips:

-First identify some interesting areas from mineralogical websites featuring locality pages (mindat is a good place to start, but there are also websites which are more country-specific). Of course, if any books have been written about the mineralogy of this region specifically, you will likely find even more informations in those.
-See what minerals have been reported from those places.
-Learn about the genesis conditions of the minerals you're looking for (meaning in what geological context they are known to occur, and also what are the associated minerals). You will find that information in any good mineralogy book or website such as Mindat and handbookofmineralogy . org
-Get a detailed geological map of that area to locate where the geology is adequate for those minerals to occur. Notably, pay attention to contact zones (for instance contact between igneous rocks and carbonate rocks), which are usually interesting to prospect.
-Compare with a map of the area showing relief, access roads and hiking tracks.
-stuff your maps and compass in your rucksack, then go and explore by yourself.

Of course, the reverse thinking is that when you find a given mineral, then you should check the geological map to verify what the geological setting was at the exact place where you had found the mineral, so the map will show you how far and in which directions that setting extends, or if there are other spots with similar geological setting in the area.

[Jordi Fabre]

[cascaillou]

geological maps are a blessing :-)

[Pierre Joubert]

Thanks Jordi. I gave up on that one due to the spam filter :-)

[Reinhardt van Vuuren]

Perhaps it's because I'm a micromounter, and perhaps it's because I don't need massive economical minerals to have found something awesome that I feel the way I do, but I do not bother with geological maps anymore, And yes, sure Mindat has Maitlands mines which I loaded the majority of the minerals on but Quartz crystals can be found in the most unusual places. If I was to stick to geological maps and Mindat I would only go to Maitlands and the rest of my area would be considered useless but I am finding it not to be the case. I do think geological maps have their use and can serve as a guide but they are no replacement to going out there and looking for yourself. If I was looking for a pocket I would not go to a geologist, I would go to a local rock hound (like Pierre) because quite often the geologist is the fundi in the theoretical stuff but the rock hound is the fundi in the field. Speaking of which, I found some interesting inclusions in those beach crystals, they are fine hair-like black needles, but I sadly I can not photograph them to show them off.

[NellsRocks]

The whole "pocket" thing is amazing to me, a beginner. I first learned about them while watching the TV show "Prospectors". Interesting to see people's photos in this thread! I only wish I knew of someplace in my state that people could access easily, without being on a club field trip....

[Pierre Joubert]

[Alex D.]

As beginner is this an amazing topic to read about, and learn. To me the white veins of quartz are the very basic for a beginner to search for. I'm just wondering what my best chances are.

I can find several rocks with quartz washed out, so should I look for open pockets, or should I try to cut open a white quartz vein? I'm not a person to really destroy a rock, so if I have to cut for a hole, where is the best place to find one in the rock?

I suppose it's not completely on luck you start hitting a 10m³ rock to find a 10 cm³ pocket. maybe where the vertical quartz vein hit a horizontal change in stone color?

thanks

[Pierre Joubert]

[Alex D.]

Thanks Pierre for the reply,

meanwhile I did some research on my tanakami-yama mountain, and got also info from Petrov. Seems the mountain is completely depleted by mining companies who were searching for pegmatite. According to Petrov are the crystals not in the pockets anymore,the miners had no need for the crystals and threw them away. So I should look in river beds.

Last time I was there, I saw a guy coming out of the woods with only a shovel, so I was wondering what he was digging, but he said he found a topaz of 2 cm. Now I understand he was probably digging in a river.

So I'm packing my shovel and screen, and go to the rivers now.
do crystals behave themself like gold, on the inside of curves and behind rocks? or just anywhere I can get lose dirt?

Thanks

[Pierre Joubert]

[Alex D.]

Thanks, I know they are likely waterworn, but for my first specimens it's not so important.

The size is probably very small, so I polish them and my wife can have them for her collection.

The mountain is too famous about Topaz, so good specimens are rare there. Once I have more experience, I can look for nice terminated species. But it does not mean I can look out for good pockets while I search a river.

Saturday and Sunday 26th and 27th august 2017 (this weekend) is also a mineral festival in Nagoya, so I try to get some information over there too.