| jackie |
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| #1 |
We are yet again taking another vacation this year. This time we want to go to Mount Ida, Arkansas. Is there anyone out here that would mind helping us out with some of the better places to go and search. Have seen that rockhounds are welcome in the Ouachita National Park, and saw a few other places to dig on our own. thank you. |
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| Gemhunter |
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| #2 |
Hi Jackie, 
Don't forget to go to Diamond Creator State Park to find find Diamonds while you are down there. I have yet to get down there my self but a few people from WI have found diamonds down there in the past few years.
KOR Carl in WI |
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| Phil Koble |
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| #3 |
Hey Jackie
Go to page #2 on the board and about 3/4's of the way down theres a post "Going on a trip...Any tips for collecting" by Becky.Looks like some good info from Joe D. and others on the Mount Ida area.Good luck and safe traveling.
Phil |
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| Addie |
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| #4 |
Just be wary in Mt. Ida of tourist trap mines that salt piles but don't let you into much of anything else. I took my family there last year and we paid $80 for 4 people to collect what amounted to mostly junk. A few pieces from the spoils pile that they eventually let me into (after I complained) have proven to be impossible to clean, despite acid baths and toothbrush scrubs. My suggestion is to go to one of the mines recommended by folks on this board - don't take a chance elsewhere. Also, fwiw, I think on TripAdvisor there are some comments on particular mines. |
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| Addie |
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| #5 |
On a more positive note, we stopped at the National Forest building in Mt. Ida and got a map and advice on collecting there - had good luck there and it was free! But it does involve hiking a mile up hill with a bucket, chisel, and hammer. My 80-year-old father-in-law was able to make it, but he's in good shape. |
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| AndyT |
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| #6 |
Jackie, I have been quartz crystal digging a couple of times.
There are three mines that I have had good times at. Arrowhead mine run by Matthew (cant remember his last name)Always nice stuff
Fiddlers ridge, the last time there, we didn't find much in the piles. The owners son was running the track hoe, when he would hit a pocket, he would share with everybody there cant ask for more than that
Sweet Surrender mine, run by Randy and Becky some of the nicest people you could meet. the stuff from there was harder to clean, but worth it
Hope this helps |
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| Jackie |
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| #7 |
Addie, you mentioned something about TripAdvisor, where can I find that? I do not come on here often enough and now that we moved and are not able to get Internet yet, it is now less often that I can get on here. Are there any places that are not recommended to go to?
I want to thank everyone on here because you have all showed great generosity to my family and I. Thank you. |
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| Carol Poole |
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| #8 |
OK,
Can't stand it any longer...I have been to many of the affore mentioned.......Not for me.
As far as I am concerend there is no good place to go. They are too interested in selling anything good themselves. None of them let you get anyting worth whiles unless you make friends.......do not go to Miller Mt.......Ron Colemans has lots of large cloudy points, but at least you find something worth while. If all you want are some small insignificant points, it matters not where you go. None of the mines let you get anything worth a hoot these days, they are there to make money, and nice clusters are big money. I am done with AR, wanna hunt some nice druzy, get a hold of Docia.
Good luck,
CP |
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| les |
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| #9 |
Ive got family that lives about an hour from little rock and we have dug a few times down there. The best place we have found is over in Jessieville. Ron Coleman is the name of the mine. A 30yard dump truck comes up from the mine and dumps all the end trails and thats where the public gets to dig. We spent about 7 hours and brought about 75 lbs of nice crystals home. Some real clear points some more quartz looking, but never the less alot of fun. |
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| James |
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| #10 |
I have been to both mines in the Hot Springs area, Miller Mountain once and Ron Coleman`s twice, would highly recommend Ron Coleman`s mine, and will say that Miller Mountain is a waste of time and money and you almost need four wheel drive just to get to their parking lot. Miller Mountain def mines the nice stuff and sells it, but so does Ron Coleman, and I have found nothing at Miller Mountain but found several nice crystals and some great large clusters, 50 and 80 lb pieces, at Ron Colemans.
As far as Mt Ida, I have only been to Arrowhead Mine with friends and while we found some nice small clusters in the dirt piles, we felt they had been salted there for us to find. Matt was nice enough to give me a nice yard rock that turned out to be a nice inside house rock instead of a yard rock. I prob wont return to this mine mainly due to the rules changing so much there.
I cant say anything about the other mines in the area cause I havvent been to any of them, but the mines I have been to do dig their own clusters and sell them worldwide and if you ask, they will show you their sale stock in hopes of selling you one or two as well.
James |
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| Kathy |
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| #11 |
We just got back from Mt Ida. We camped at Charlton---very nice, clean and tons of space.
We went to Sweet Surrender first, $20.00 a person. The mine has not been worked in a while. What you do find will be covered in iron.
Then we went to Miller Mt $10.00 a person dig from morning to dark. We did extremely well. Brought out some nice crystals and a beautiful yard rock that was given to us by the caretakers, they even helped load it. The road was not bad, small cars were doing ok getting there.
Then we went to Arrowhead where next to nothing was happening there.
Did not go to Ron Colemans.
We stopped at all the rock shops and drooled at the material there. Wegners rock shop was awesome.
Every mine has something to sell and some are reasonable and some are not.
But we had a great time............ |
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| jackie |
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| #12 |
has anyone ever gone over to Judy's mine? On the website it is quite informative about how to clean the rocks and has a section just for rockhounds. I do like the webstie....I found it on mtidachamber.com. I do think that that was the website. I will double check. |
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| Rob |
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| #13 |
Greetings All!
Two places come to mind that I would mention. First off is the "Visitors Information Center" in Mount Ida. The nice lady there had a list of places in the area, and marked which ones were actively digging! The mine I went to was the G&D mine. Not only were they digging, but I lucked out as one of the folks who had put money into the mine was visiting! So they were digging alright!
The other place is "Crystal Vista". It is a freebie, and it might be said that you get what you pay for. But it is a great place to take kids. Wears them out, they can find some nice small crystals, and there are some spots worked by folks that have nicer crystals showing. But it hasn't been worked in years, so if you're looking for whoppers, this isn't the place for you. I enjoyed going there. The Forrest Service has brochures on Crystal Vista.
I camped at Daisy State Park. It is between the diamonds and the quartz. I like to stay at state parks because they are usually nice, clean, and quieter. I was not disappointed! |
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| Henry |
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| #14 |
I have begun going to the mines near Jesseville, Miller Mt and Coleman's. I have done well at both the in the last couple of years. They seem to have more crystal showing these days than do the mines around Mt Ida. Miller Mt has new caretakers who are really shaping up the place. There seems to be more crystals to be dug in the piles. It is getting back to what it was several years ago. Two of my best days of crystal digging were there. One time I filled 4 5 gal buckets of prime clusters with the clay still on and several pieces that would not fit in a bucket in about 2 hours. The other time we rolled out a 3' mass of clay, loaded with plates and burrs. Really nice. Warning the clay here is especially thick and the crystals hide very well in it. Digging in a wet pile can be quite a workout.
Ron Colemans is good with a lot of larger crystal to be found. Two years ago my duaghter and I went in behind someone else and went down to the bottom of the pile. We did well. She found one just smaller that my fist, water clear with just a couple of tiny dings. I found one just bigger than my fist also water clear almost perfect. We must have filled a 3 gallon bucket of nothing but single points. All about 1 to 2 inch and a few larger. She and I had a great time.
Went this past Aug with my 14 year old. We both did well at Miller, he has about 3 flats of nice cleaned crystal points and clusters. I also did well.
I am going soon and can post another report if anyone is interested.
Henry |
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| Jack COle |
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| #15 |
Mount Ida, Fisher Mt. / Stanley an Son Ollie.
Ocas Stanley would Open pits for all to dig, Though since his Death in 1987, The SON still Family Though don`t trust!!!
Has allowed digging on the 9 20 acre claims,
Though that was in 2002, I wont even talk to the son now.
When the top cap was worked was in the 40s and it was the best tell the late 80s.
I Could count on a nice cluster every Birthday up tell his passing.
Sad the Son wont work Our run the shop with the feelings that
Ocas had...................!~
By the treads i`m reading is the end has came for the Olee
And the Fisher MT. Claims In Family since the wagon wheel broke...
Jack |
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