Specialty Graphics

Mining Photos

Arkansas Trip - 2010

Some photos from a trip to several Arkansas mines.

Quartz Mines

We visited several quartz mines, including Fiddler's Ridge and Arrowhead Crystal Mine. We came back with bucketfuls of crystals.

Arkansas quartz mine Arkansas quartz mine Arkansas quartz mine Arkansas quartz mine Arkansas quartz mine Arkansas quartz mine Arkansas quartz mine Arkansas quartz mine
 

Crater of Diamonds State Park

We spent a day digging at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Arkansas crator of diamonds state park mine Arkansas crator of diamonds state park Arkansas quartz mine Arkansas quartz mine
 

Total number of diamonds found by the four of us after spending an entire day toiling in the oppressive heat of an Arkansas summer? "0"!

 

North Carolina Mineral Hunting Trip - 2009

In May 2009, I participated in a mining trip with the Michigan Gem and Mineral Society of Jackson. Over the course of five days, our group visited half a dozen mines. Most of the mines were near Franklin, NC. We looked for sapphires, rubies and other minerals.

North Carolina Mining photos

Masons ruby and sapphire mine Masons ruby and sapphire mine Backhoe at the Masons ruby and sapphire mine Flume at sapphire mine Miner at sapphire mine Screen at sapphire mine North Carolina Mining Trip Shaker table in use North Carolina Mining Trip
 

Mineral Hunting Trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula - 2008

 
In June, some friends and I went on a rock and mineral hunting trip in the Upper Peninsula. We visited the Caledonia Mine near Mass city, Michigan. Visitors can purchase a two yard pile of ore for $50. We had around four hours to dig through the piles. Minerals such as copper, calcite, epidote, feldspar and datolite can be found. Anything you find in the pile is yours to keep. As you can see from the photos, I found some nice pieces of native copper.

We also visited the Quincy Mine in Hancock, Michigan. The tour included both an underground portion and a tour of the hoist house. The massive, reinforced concrete, hoist house enclosed the worlds largest steam hoist.

This was actually a good time. I might visit them again in the future.

 

Caledonia Mine photos

Driving to the Caledonia Mine Caledonia Mine Caledonia Mine lunch area Ore carts Copper mining carts Copper Ore Scenic vista Looking for copper Sifting ore for minerals Driving to mine area Participants looking for copper and other minerals Copper I found Some native copper found in pile of ore Cleaned copper samples Calcite, Feldspar, Basalt and other minerals
 

Quincy Mine Photos

Quincy mine hoist building Quincy mine shaft building Quincy mine shaft building Detail of mine tower Abandoned buildings on grounds of Quincy mine Abandoned buildings on grounds of Quincy mine Abandoned buildings on grounds of Quincy mine copper mining equipment copper ore elevator car front view of ore bucket
 

Quincy Mine Steam Hoist Photos

Quincy mine steam hoist Mine hoist cable drum Cable drum, brakes, and control platform Quincy mine hoist brakes Quincy mine hoist control tower Quincy mine hoist level indicator wheel Steam equipment at the Quincy mine hoist building
 

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