Kilkeel Ireland Genealogy, Johns Hopkins Allergy And Immunology Fellowship, Bromophenol Blue Ph Range, Jonathan Felton Tom Felton Brother, What Channel Is Hallmark On Optimum, Articles C

Graphic by Bill Tanaka. At the same time a ground-penetrating radar system was employed to scan for near-surface pockets, that is, those pockets within 7 meters of the surface. Garnet Hill To this day, enthusiasts can still collect gold specimens themselves around the state, just dont expect to strike it rich. Rarely will open cavities be found, as they have either collapsed due to movement in the surrounding rock, or have filled with clay and other sedimentation. While the variety of minerals is not as large as other parts of Colorado, Mesa County is one of the best places in the U.S. to search for dinosaur bones. ). Specimens of calcite, agate, quartz, topaz, diamond, gold, and more can be found in the mountains and mining prospects surrounding Fort Collins. Though some property is private land and requires the permission of landowners to prospect, a significant swath of area is within National Forest. Some rarer specimens are replaced with opal due to higher moisture levels. Many of the pieces consist of groups containing amazonite, quartz and (sometimes) white albite. Felch Creek: Felch Creek will provide you with agate, geodes, and jasper. Crystals of Arkansas Rockhounding USA US Join us as we travel across the USA in search of rocks, minerals, fossils, and Native American artefacts. Colorado Springs is one of the best areas in Colorado for rockhounds. Thus, the Two Point Mine sits among some ne company within the amazonite district; its location being center stage to several historic discoveries. The minerals are often encased in cavities and pegmatites in the granite, so a rock pick and a hammer should be in your pack. Many pockets are also empty or contain only quartz. The blue-green microcline feldspar and rich black smoky quartz crystals create an unparalleled contrast making these specimens highly prized among collectors. Now featuring over 90 locations (with 27 new sites) where collectors can explore, the beautifully assembled guide is hard to beat for a state as diverse and treasure-filled as Colorado. All you really need is a good pair of hiking boots, a backpack, and a few basic tools. With over 770 types of minerals to be found, its second only to California in the number of different gems and minerals statewide. Petrified wood is actually a fossil. Its been a while since weve posted an update on the Detroit City Mine project at the Sweet Home deposit [], Collectors Edge Minerals Inc. recognizes and thanks Rocks & Minerals for permission to use portions or all of their original [], The 2020 Denver Gem and Mineral Show was a Success! To get to Wolf Creek Pass, the driver must be wide-awake as the road can deceive you. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The best places to rockhound in Colorado include the areas around Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Gunnison, as well as Chaffee, Mesa, and Mineral Counties. The formation of Crystal Peak. Its a great way to get outdoors, explore new places, and learn about geological history. The replacement occurs by percolating groundwater that replaces the organic materials with silica. The uplift of the Rocky Mountains has caused some distortion. Services. The pocket also produced 100s of single amazonite crystals and small amazonite groups. The blast pile can be seen to the right of the primary blast area, affectionately called The Dome, at the Topaz Mountain Adventures claim. Colorado PEAK is the place to apply for and manage your medical, food, cash or other State of Colorado benefits online. For more information or to schedule a guided tour please contact Doug (928) 215-9912 or visit www.rockabuyrocksandgifts.com. Smoky Quartz is often found alongside Amazonite in Colorado. Its distinctive look makes it hard to miss when youre on the hunt for it in the wild. Of course, with the mountainous terrain comes the complications of weather and accessibility. RockSeeker.com is reader-supported. While not common, its still worth a trip just to enjoy the mountains. Specimens of calcite, agate, quartz, topaz, diamond, gold, and more can be found in the mountains and mining prospects surrounding Fort Collins. The areas marked A, B, C and D are pits excavated during 1996 and 1997. Much of the potential prospect area in recent years has been placed under claim. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Bryan Lees poses to show its total size: over 2 meters long. Youre out for a hike and something on the path catches your eye. The State Line Kimberlite District, Colorado & Wyoming, USA While small compared to the great diamond-bearing [], The Collector's Edge Minerals Inc. P.O. The specimens were. Crystal Peak Located on the Wah Wah Mountain Range, Crystal Peak is a result of a volcanic eruption from a nearby caldera around 35 million years ago. Hiding within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Crystal Mine can be found off of Long Valley Road and just before you reach Lookout Campground. And rocks are the preservers of fossils that once lived when Colorado was a vast sea. Many of the pieces consist of groups containing amazonite, quartz and (sometimes) white albite. The plates containing albite balls, amazonite and quartz created a beautiful array of color. The Tree Root Pocket produced over 100 cataloged amazonite and smoky quartz groups. This is the repair specimen shown three photos back. The area around Denver, particularly west into Jefferson County, is a fantastic destination for rockhounds. at least 30 cm thick, it did not bend into a vertical orientation, instead, it intersected the fault and opened into a pocket, lying in a near horizontal orientation. Colorados state mineral is rhodochrosite (well-known areas are near Alma). Two kilometers to the southeast of the Two Point Mine lay the famous Gem Mines where Albert Whitmore mined amazonite in the late 1800s through the 1920s. Search in the southern areas near this mine, and you will find plenty of geodes of all sizes. Recreation Activities. Get to know this 12.1-mile loop trail near Breckenridge, Colorado. The contents of the pocket shown in the photo above. Learn more at the Lake George Gem and Mineral Club, or simply trek out your cabin door in search of a unique rock or quartz. 4) Not really a good place for fossils or gemstones (there's not much to be found), but do check out Garden of the Gods. By law, these claims must be adequately marked. The disease strikes when least expected. If you would like to read some of the source material for yourself I have listed them below. Still, there are many locations in Mineral County where one can hope to find amethyst, agates, geodes, moonstone, and plenty of other minerals. The specimens were discovered 2 meters beneath the surface, inside a collapsed pocket, eventually named the Tree Root Pocket. The pocket was mostly collapsed, the roof having fallen in, perhaps, millions of years earlier. The tree root wound completely through the pocket to its very end, wedging and forcing the plates in all directions. Pit A yielded one pocket of good quality amazonite single crystals without associated quartz. Amazonite, Fluorite (purple), Quartz crystals (clear, smoky), Fluorite, Gold, Silver, Chalcocite, Sphalerite, Willemite, Apophyllite, Aragonite, Calcite, Halloysite, Zeolite crystals, Stilbite, Zeolites, Aquamarine, Bertrandite, Beryl, Smoky Quartz crystals. You see a small fossil, a shiny stone or a glimmering crystal and, naturally, you pick it up. Though many weekend prospectors have combed hillsides digging with hand tools, few have had the resources to mine these valuable specimens with mechanized equipment. Overview Silica. The best places to search include local mineral prospects, pegmatite exposures, and local creek beds. The state gem is aquamarine, found on the lofty reaches of Mount Antero (Chaffee County). Once the newbie hound is hooked, it helps to understand the terms rock and mineral, and how the two are related. Though effort continued beyond 1997, only the first two years are summarized here. Here you can find rocks such as Fluorite, Topaz, Hematite, Amazonite, and Smoky Quartz. The best way to collect rocks and minerals is by using a hammer and chisel to break them open. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. You can get the landowners name and address by visiting the county records office. Four or ve of these faults will group in parallel forming a fault system having a total width of 3 meters. This is the most common microcline form found at the Two Point Mine. If youre prospecting on Devils Head Mountain (Douglas County) in August, youll join millions of ladybugs for their annual gathering on the summit. Every possible open space inside the sandwich was lled with clay, making specimen extraction difcult. The crystal groups exhibited great aesthetics but at this point one could not determine if the amazonite color was very good. Graphic by Bill Tanaka. The mining area addressed here lays approximately 8 kilometers northeast of Lake George, Colorado inside Pike National Forest. One of these is sure to spark your interest and sense of adventure. The pocket opening within a lens of this size could be up to 2 meters in diameter and 10 to 20 cm high. Its a great way to get outdoors, explore new places, and learn about geological history. Amazonite is a blue-green formation of microcline, with some of the higher-quality samples being used in jewelry. The Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society is proud to be part of the Pikes Peak Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show. Colorado ranks among the most strongly mineralized areas in the world, and its especially noted for alabaster, amethyst, lapis lazuli (blue sapphire), topaz and turquoise. Crystal Peak lies within this area, though today most of the surrounding area is private property. A good place to start is your local state park or forest service office. Although it polishes beautifully, it's unfortunately too brittle and soft for jewelry use. Overview. Agate and jasper, amazonite crystals, blue barite, feldspar, fluorite, garnet, geodes, opal, rhodochrosite, quartz crystal, topaz and tourmaline are just some of the specimens that rockhounds can add to their collections. First, theres no such thing as just a rock. A rock is more than an aggregate of minerals. Pit C gave up the best prize of the year. At the same time, the Foote Mineral Company began the first mining efforts in the Crystal Peak area (Odiorne, 1978). The following project review provides historical and geologic information concerning the amazonite/smoky quartz occurrence at the Two Point Mine and the efforts of Collectors Edge Minerals, Inc. (CEMI) to conduct specimen mining and recovery during the 1996-1997 season. As always, take care never to go underground when searching. While not the rarest gemstone around, its certainly a great specimen and some of the formations that come out of the mountains in Colorado are very impressive. It is also your responsibility to verify and gain permission to visit each collection site that is mentioned on this website. They reached 17 cm in length but only averaged about 6 cm, their luster is near-glassy. Late in the summer, the difficult cleaning work begins to yield some outstanding specimens. The color could only be determined later at the laboratory where the specimens would be cleaned. In some areas they lie more or less horizontally, like bedding planes, while in others they dip wildly to angles approaching vertical. The mine dump is visible one-quarter mile south of the highway on a low hill across Trout Creek. Always be alert of your speed. The following project review provides historical and geologic information concerning the amazonite/smoky quartz occurrence at the Two Point Mine and the efforts of Collectors Edge Minerals, Inc. (CEMI) to conduct specimen mining and recovery during the 1996-1997 season. Crystal Peak is the best area but most of it is under claim. There, daring prospectors can rise to elevations up to 14,000 feet to prospect their claim during the short summer season, just above the protection of tree line. . Garo Park in Park County, still plentiful in blue agate and jasper, was the site of the last Ute Indian battle. Every piece was stained with limonite. Weekend rock hound, Chuck Baldwin, holding a nice amazonite crystal just removed from a pocket on Hurianeks property. About 4 nice small pockets were recovered from this area. Amazonite with smoky quartz, Two Point Mine, Teller County, Colorado. The pocket discovery lay exactly at an intersection. This made a sort of amazonite sandwich with a clay lling. There is little or no movement along them. Few contain the top color amazonite coveted by mineral collectors. Many promising locations are difficult to access without a capable vehicle. If you travel four miles west of Wolf Creek Pass, you will discover an outcrop of zeolite. Before repair work, photographs were taken of each group. Typically they contain the same base minerals as the granite; however, other minerals have been found as well. Thousands of years of erosion have reduced the colorful sandstone formations to rolling grassy hills. The region around the mine consists of gently rolling hills covered with pine trees and wild grasses. Rock-A-Buy Rock and Gifts. Some of the groups and families that own these allow rockhound clubs onto the property, but there are no guarantees. Not all Amazonite is jewelry-quality, but even the worst sample is going to make a vibrant, colorful part of your collection. It was already over 1 meter deep. This indispensable guide features: Clear maps and directions Detailed descriptive text Numerous site photos The state gemstone of the wonderful state of Colorado, this brilliant clear blue crystal can often take a bit of an adventure to find. The McCullough Gulch Trailhead is our proposed primary route access point and can be reached by most passenger vehicles. The Stateline Kimberlite District. The Two Point Mine, located in Teller County, Colorado sits approximately 8 kilometers north-east of Lake George, Colorado. By law, these claims must be adequately marked. The area is mountainous with rugged terrain of forest and rock. Garden Park: Garden Park is located near Canon City in Fremont County. Actinolite, Almandine, Azurite, Beryle, Chrysocolla, Epidote, Kyanite, Pyrite, Quartz crystals, Tourmaline, etc. Search for amethyst and quartz at the Crystal Hill Mine, check out the view at Douglas Pass while looking for leaf imprints and insect fossils, or head to Saint Peters Dome to uncover green, white, and purple fluorite. There have been books written just on the unique geology of the area, and the many minerals that can be found in the mountains here. While there is some chance of public lands collecting in the area, most people end up at the inexpensive Florissant Fossil Quarry to dig and split shale. In the past, because most amazonite pockets are collapsed and the crystal groups disassembled, few amazonite and smoky quartz groups survived. Its found primarily in a few mountain ranges in central Colorado. Rocks are the history books of ancient geologic times. The great thing about rockhounding is that it doesnt require much in the way of equipment or supplies. amzn_assoc_asins = "B01IEX2TEO,B0002YWWVE,B08N41884X,B01CV1XW5K"; Important Disclaimer: I have not been to these locations myself, and I do not know if they are currently open for collecting. 39.5965N 120.0760W. The area is known as the best amazonite hunting ground in the world. It was found just north of Florissant, near Crystal Peak, which you see mentioned frequently on this site. improvement in digging and repair techniques during the l990s, the potential for future important large nds is very good. Crystal No. The location of pegmatite pockets seems to be controlled by these north-south faults: more on this later. Colorado can certainly be considered a rockhound and gem hunters dream. It took two months to find all of the fits. The property was owned by Jerry and Thelma Hurianek. Graphic by Bill Tanaka. Extensive lava flows cover much of the southwestern Mineral County. 1997 turned out to be the year of discovery at the Two Point Mine. For those who wished to avoid prospecting, there was, in the 1970s and early 1980s, a place near Crystal Peak where one could dig for crystals for a fee. Due to its location, its often found alongside other gemstones in Colorado. Within a pegmatite structure, there may be several places along its length where it widens into lenses. After the pit was filled, the surface was seeded and trees planted. Posts: 5 Joined: 21-March 14 Member No. The mine area is crisscrossed with faults, joints and pegmatites. If youre interested in getting started with rockhounding, all you need is a good pair of hiking boots, a backpack, and a few basic tools. The Fort Collins area has some very interesting rockhounding locations, particularly the areas of the aptly named Specimen and Crystal mountains. Poppi, Luciano, Foord, Eugene E., Kile, Daniel E. (2000) Crystal chemical variations in Li- and Fe-rich micas from Pikes Peak batholith (central Colorado). You might also want to invest in a good field guide so you can identify the rocks and minerals you find. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In the tight connes of the pocket, the roots created extensive damage to the amazonite groups; the quartz terminations received the worst. Birdseye Marble Quarry. It is up to the individual to identify these boundaries and seek permission before attempting to prospect on the claims. A popular activity in these areas, where the possibility of finding a geological treasure is real. Over another 40 million years other magma intrusions, containing minerals different than the original intrusion, pushed their way into the existing granite, remelting it and forming cores containing the mineralization we see today. Garden Park near Caon City, rich in geodes, quartz and fossils, is world-famous for its Jurassic dinosaurs and the role the specimens played in the infamous bone wars of the late 1880s. Its a matter of paying attention. This is a common phenomenon. These formations often house what youre looking for, but finding them isnt easy. Many beautiful groups were saved in this fashion and of the nal specimen total, about half were repaired. The quartz created a stunning association with the deep blue-green amazonites. at least 30 cm thick, it did not bend into a vertical orientation, instead, it intersected the fault and opened into a pocket, lying in a near horizontal orientation. The granite within these types of north-south fault systems often takes on a pegmatite-looking appearance due to the increased feldspar grain size and abundance of mica. Apatite, Aquamarine, Beryl, Bismutite, Calcite, Fluorite (white, green, purple), Pyrite, Smoky Quartz crystals, etc. The Tree Root Pocket made its debut at the Denver Gem and Mineral Show in September, 1997 to an excited audience. The end result is a mineralized fossil thats known as a limb cast These often preserve the finest details of the bark, growth rings, and cellular structure. The collecting site, which is just below the mountain's 14,269-foot-high summit, is the continent's highest gemstone locale. The mine is a true hidden gem and it makes for a wonderful place to explore for the day. The opening uncovered the previous day was originally created when the graphic granite roof plates separated from their ner-grained granite host-rock. For the Tree Root Pocket collectors, this was a one-in-a-million eld collecting experience. Circa 1980. Follow posted signage and always get permission from the landowner to collect. This area was filled and reclaimed. Colorado is also host to a dizzying array of rocks and minerals. Like aquamarine, topaz has a lot of commercial potential and the good spots are mostly wrapped up in claims. Crystal park is handicap accessible to a degree below are a few of colorado's richest rockhounding sites to get you started jerry's rock and gem was established in 1954 as jerry's. Part 10 carbondale / crystal river koa offers excellent camping amenities to its guests completely furnished cabins and lodges on most leases a rockhounding field . But the fun is still there if you know where there is public access. This season, it was decided to try a larger machine which would provide much more digging power than was previously used. Though most weekend prospectors did not stake claims on the public land on which they found specimens, some did stake and file claims to prevent others from encroaching on their property. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; The Pikes Peak granite is a 1.03 billion year old Precambrian granite which extends for over 120 km along the front range of Colorado near Colorado Springs. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Circa 1980. The Tree Root Pockets overall quality, quantity and beauty have not been surpassed in over 100 years of digging in the region. You may not dig one of those up, but theres a reason that Pikes Peak dominates the rockhounding landscape in Colorado! Story and Photos by Mark Leatherman. . Once this happens, theres no turning back. Circa 1980. It is your responsibility to know the rockhounding laws and regulations for each site you visit. Petrified wood can be found in many scattered locations across the western U.S. Sure, Colorado is known for rock climbing, hiking and skiing. Our state also has a plethora of fossils including crinoids, clams, trilobites, snails, corals, and at least one dinosaur. These targets were plotted on the base map. Plus, its a lot of fun! Be safe, never go underground, and make sure to get permission from the landowner to search for and collect specimens. While it was a little different this year with the [], Shortly after the 2020 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, the Collectors Edge acquired an impressive new batch of Amethyst quartz [], Collectors Edge Minerals, Inc. recognizes and thanks Rocks & Minerals for permission to use portions or all of their original [], Diamonds in Colorado! The valleys contain small streams, several of which run year-round. It is up to the individual to identify these boundaries and seek permission before attempting to prospect on the claims. There is a huge variety of rare minerals and gems in Colorado. However, I have compiled a list of resources here so that you may investigate and obtain permission for any locations (found here or elsewhere) for yourself. Even though a large number of specimens have been recovered over the years, the relative rarity of high end and world-class specimens has kept their value very high. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The pocket was packed with clay and contained only amazonite, no smoky quartz. The later ts into the more classic model of pegmatite formation through magmatic differentiation during the late stages of cooling. Then, the dip changed to a near-horizontal position and the pegmatite began to widen into a lens. It contains more hematite and the amazonite is of a lighter non-commercial color. Copyright 2022 Rockhound Resource | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Colorado Rockhounding: A Guide to Minerals, Gemstones, and Fossils, N & S Table Mts, many area mines & quarries, NW flanks of Centennial Cone, in pegmatites, Quartz Creek Pegmatites area, Opportunity Mine, Mine dump .3 mi. Two of the most popular for rockhounds to dig in this state are topaz and rhodochrosite. Back at the Collectors Edge cleaning lab in Golden, Colorado, Bryan Lees reviews the contents of the Tree Root Pocket. A few individuals have resorted to more aggressive mining techniques using mechanized equipment, including bulldozers and backhoes. The opening only reached 20 cm high. These gem mines have produced superb mineral specimens over a period of 100 years. Amazing smoky quartz, topaz and Amazonite have come from there. Although there's an available collection of minerals on the National Forest land. This will help you avoid damaging the specimens. The granite is of a finer grain, containing crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica less than 0.6 cm. The adventurous rock hound wanting to venture further in search of lovely stones and crystals should go to www.peaktopeak.com/colorado/index.php3, an excellent Web site where you can access locations and availability for any mineral. During the week of June 1, 1997, new equipment was moved onto the property. Antero and neighboring peaks are the worlds third-highest elevation gem field. Starting with the rich gold and silver deposits which were the starting point of so many Colorado towns, the Centennial State. The Sierra Nevada of the Pacific Mountain System characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding . Youll also have to deal with the fact that a lot of public land is covered under mining claims. The area has produced some of the finest smoky quartz and amazonite specimens in the world. where recreational miner Joseph Heiden is rockhounding. After six weeks of careful, mind-numbing effort, the pieces worthy of repair from the Tree Root Pocket were nally complete. These claims were worked extensively in 1981 and yielded about 1000 kg of specimen grade amazonites. About 100 ne pieces were removed in addition to several hundred lesser pieces. All of the space left over after the collapse has filled with clay. They can start out as pencil-thin lines and widen within a few meters to thick pegmatite lenses; then a few meters further on they can again decrease in size to a pencils-width, and nally, disappear. The joints are almost undetectable and care must be taken that the working face does not peel away when one is near. [3] With an elevation of 10,774 feet (3,284 m), Hahns Peak is the 1855th highest summit in the state of Colorado. Use this resource as a guide to get you started. Photo by Bernie Kowalski. The rst groups were heavily damaged but within a couple of hours, two very nice groups were pulled out. The deposit discussed here was discovered, claimed and named the Two Point in 1956 by John O. Buckner. If the pegmatite was very strong, i.e. The intrusive lies on the western boundary of the Pikes Peak granite. While the color was medium blue-green, the association with the albite made them very desirable to collectors. Crystal Park is open for day use only and has a fee per car. The constant water ow helped destabilize and break down many of the amazonite crystals. The proximity to the surface, and the subsequent ground water drainage through the pocket, was a detriment to pocket quality. Albite, Beryl, Lepidolite, Mica, Tourmaline, Monazite. For additional reading, Id highly recommend these books you can find on Amazon: Please remember that rock collecting locations are constantly changing. The overwhelming majority within this formation are plant-related fossils, though insect fossil discoveries are also common. Specimens may become depleted from other collectors, the location may have been built on or altered, locality information in literature may be inaccurate, and property ownership may have changed hands. June 29, 2022; medical bills on credit report hipaa violation letter; masajes con aceite de oliva para el cabello . With the influx of miners and prospectors into the state, it wasnt long before the rich deposits of the San Juan Mountains were discovered, leading to the creation of towns such as Breckenridge, Creed, Telluride, Ouray, and Cripple Creek. You wouldnt be amiss for thinking theyre an actual piece of wood. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. While there seems to be a correlation of pockets being discovered at the intersections of north south fault structures and pegmatites, not all intersections yield pockets. Here, groups are compared to photographs of their original uncleaned condition. A view of the west wall of Pit C. At one point, four different pegmatites were exposed in the face. Close-up of material initially taken from the Tree Root pocket. This pegmatite did not open into a pocket. The county road access to the gulch is the same as that used for the 14er, Quandary Peak, so weekend use in this area can be quite heavy, but those seeking the high 13ers will find much more solitude . Whitewater: Whitewater is one of the few locations where you can find geodes in Grand Junction. In three different areas on the mine property, it was observed that when pegmatites intersect the north-south faults they commonly thicken into lenses, and often produce pockets. Places like the Florissant Fossil Quarry offer visitors a near guarantee in at least finding some sort of fossil specimen of their own. There is some question as to whether these horizontal features are faults and/or joints that have been intruded by pegmatites, or are cooling horizons within the original granite melt. They may however, dip wildly within the horizontal trend. Much additional geological information was collected from eld observations made during the 1997 work. There are actually four areas just for those within a few miles of the peak itself. The Two Point Mine is located on a small mining claim in Teller County, Colorado, approximately 65 km west of Colorado Springs, Colorado near Lake George. For examples of rocks and minerals that occur in our region, its a good idea to visit a rock shop. In the past, because most amazonite pockets are collapsed and the crystal groups disassembled, few amazonite and smoky quartz groups survived. These locations offer a diverse array of rock and mineral specimens such as agate, jasper, petrified wood, turquoise, and copper. Located southwest of Buena Vista and high above the Arkansas River Valley, Mount Antero is part of central Colorado's pegmatite belt, where veins of exceptionally coarse rocks contain large concentrations of rare minerals. Rockhounding, Rockhounding end of March. U-Dig Fossils Trilobites. Careful water ushing reveals the delicate crystal plates, which then may be removed. Chaffee County is home to many old mining prospects, making it a prime destination for rockhounds.