FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Robert QUesinbery]

HI folks 
I am an old guy but brand new to the world of collecting minerals. I live on a large plateau region of SW Virginia on 40 acres of hills and high ridges. A few months ago my mower broke off a chunk of rock that got my attention. After looking on the Internet I believe it is citrine. I  have lived here for 35 years but never payed attention to the rocks. The place is covered with Quartz. rocks. Huge ones. small ones, milky quartz, and semi-transparent.  I started breaking the rocks open and some were beautiful. I crushed an interesting one, panned it and actually found what looks like a tiny silver nugget. There is a creek that heads up on my property and runs through a small valley behind my house.  I looked at more closely and found a vein of quartz and other material peeking out from under the bank. I broke a piece off and thought it was silver, but after some research I think it is mica schist or silver rock. I dug a bit of the vein out and it was fascinating. I have read that mica schist is often associated with gem stones. What I would like to know is if any one considers it worth while to follow the vein and see if any gems do turn up. The digging isn't easy so I just wonder if anyone knows what the odds might be.  I attach some pictures to illustrate what I have mentioned.  

[Robert QUesinbery]

[Robert QUesinbery]

[Robert QUesinbery]

another

[Bob Harman]

Your second pictured specimen looks like iron stained quartz. It could be called "citrine colored" quartz, but it is not true citrine.

Your other examples are your local rocks. Identifying rocks and what might also be found in the area, such as garnet, just from photos, is very difficult. Since you now have become curious, I suggest you find the local club and join it. There you will get help from other more experienced local folks. Bob

[fuss]

Hi Robert, I agree with Bob that joining a club is a good idea assuming there is one anywhere nearby you. In the meantime there are plenty of resources to help, this site included as well as Mindat.

https://www.radford.edu/jtso/GeologyofVirginia/Rocks/GeologyOfVARocks2-6a.html

https://www.dmme.virginia.gov/dgmr/pdf/vamin/vm%2048_2_3.pdf
(links normalized by FMF)

The links above might be a good start for some basic info on VA rocks/minerals,

I think you are living in my future retirement home, 40 acres in the blue ridge mountains..cant beat that! I will actually be driving through that area this weekend to visit my mother who lives just north of Richmond.

Also, knowing what county your property is in would be helpful to learn what minerals could be there.

[Ricky hartzog]

Hello I live in Saltville Virginia how close are you to me ?

[Robert QUesinbery]

Thanks Bob. I really don't know anything the stuff - but it is a lot of fun just looking around.

In the clear quartz the yellow orange colors are are actually "iinside " the quartz. Is this

still called staining? I don't think the the quartz would break along planes of the particles.

It's really neat looking. Do you think if I dig around the area where I found it there might be more?

[Robert QUesinbery]

Thanks Russ - I doubt that there are any clubs near me. But my wife won't let me go anywhere
anyway. I suppose that might be one reason I became interested in the rocks. Yes

This is a great place - I grew up here and didn't really didn't appreciate it then, but I am
beginning to realize that I am very fortunate, especially with the virus and all.

[Robert QUesinbery]

HI Ricky - my best friend and double third cousin - Doug Ogle. lives in Saltville. we grew up together. I live in Carrol county.

[Ricky hartzog]

That's cool. I helped an Ogle woman move a piano it seems her name was Theresa, but as far as mineral collecting goes I don't know of any clubs or anything around here. My wife and I go rockhounding - maybe we should get together and make our own club. Someone needs to. The local museum in Saltville isn't very reliable for identification. Nice meeting you and have a good day.

[Robert QUesinbery]

Dougs wife is named Kay.. but I don't think she has a piano. Doug is a botanist and knows everything about plants. He taught at the Community college at Abingdon for years. He collects local postcards and has had an exhibit at the Museum there. After this virus thing is over maybe we can get out. You ever rock hunt in the national forest?

[Ricky hartzog]

Yes, mostly you can surface collect as long as your not selling it and no digging. There is some cool stuff on Iron Mountain going to Whitetop.

[Jordi Fabre]

Hi Fuss,

I already normalized your links in https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?p=71903#71903

The links are allowed in FMF but you should use: Links within the message forum