| mike k |
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| #16 |
There's only one field trip report for Arkansas posted. I'd love to read more about trips there and see some pics. |
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| Henry |
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| #17 |
I will post a trip report when I return. There has been a good bit of rain in Arkansas in the last 6 weeks so it will be interesting to see if any extra crystal showing. I will also be in contact with a couple of diggers who are doing the annual dig this year in Mt Ida, World Championship as they call it. It's usually a lot of fun but my schedule would not cooperate this year.
Will try and bring a camera so I can include a few images. It's always fun to see pictures of collecting trips.
Henry |
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| Henry |
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| #18 |
Here's my trip report minus the pictures. Hope to have those transferred soon. We spent 4 wet muddy and days in Arkansas digging quartz. They have had a tremendous amout of rain in the last 6 to 8 weeks, probably on the order of 35 inches.
Met 2 digging buddies at Ron Coleman's one day. Not much new brought up that day. We worked the remainder of a pile that one of the guys had worked the day before. Found some decent stuff. One of the guys found a perfect 3 inch single point, clean unbroken tip, water clear. everything else was smaller but nice.
Spent 3 days at Jimmie Coleman's Miller Mt, not too bad the weather worked aganist us as the piles were a bit wet to dig and they were unable to bring up anything new, due to the weight and the slipperly road down to the mine from the tailings pile. Did manage to find several nice 5 and 6 inch clusters and lost of 2 - 3 inch cluster and lots of nice single points, finger size. It rained most of one day on us and you know you are hard core whne you just keep working in the muck. One lady managed to dig out a 14 inch cluster with lots of great finger sized point sticking out of the mud. She started cleaning it however I suggested that she leave the clay and mud as it would help protect the crystals until she got it home. She did that.
I did end up buying some uncleaned crystal at the Miller Mt mine. They were really good and are cleaning up very nicely. One of the guys bought about 20 baskets there. He reports that they are very good and worth the money.
One suggestion to any diggers. make sure you get to the bottom of the pile. Most of what we found were in the bottom of piles that had been trampled down by previous diggers leaving about 1 to 2 foot of un-checked tailings. Just start at the base and work you way in, maintaining the bottom of pile as your reference.
Anyway, hope to post a few pics soon, and I am thinking about my next trip.
Henry |
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| Mike Streeter |
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| #19 |
Hi Henry,
I appreciate the update and advice, it always helps to have the most current information.
Mike |
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| James |
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| #20 |
Thanks for the neat report Henry...I`m heading down there in ten days for my annual fall vacation, was going to go to Ron Colemans Mine, but now rethinking I`ll go to the Miller Mountain Mine instead. Have been hearing good things about them in the last year...I was there two years ago and didnt get much for my time or money and it was dry then.
Many of my photographer friends there have been telling me that they havent been able to get out and shoot outside pics since July 1st, its been raining steadily since then down there, across the whole state. Much of the rain we have had here in Missouri has come up from Arkansas as well. We had six inches night Thursday night alone. Many of the rivers and creeks in Arkansas have been running bank full or flooded for the past few months. This has just been a weird year weather wise, all over. Denver Colorado had three feet of snow dumped on them two days ago, worst snow storm in twelve years. Denver normally doesnt get that much snow even all winter.
I think I will give Miller Mountain another try. thanks again.
James 
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| Henry |
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| #21 |
James
If you have 3 or 4 days of digging, I think I would mix it up and go to both places. It's kinda of like fishing, you never know where they will be biting. It also explains some folks who swear they will never go back to a place because of no crystals and I tend to discount those opinions. I have found really good crystals at both and I have had poor days at both. If it's wet mud/clay it will be a tougher dig in either place. At Miller's look for the peanut butter clay, if it's on a rock, check it real close as a lot of the really nice clusters hide under it.
The new caretakes(mar 09) at Miller Mt have been making a real effort to improve the digging. If you do go, be sure and pay at the mine, not the shop. They can aim you at the newest piles.
If you are digging in the dirt on a nice fall day, just enjoy it. Finding crystal is a bonus!!
I would enjoy hearing about your trip. There should be some decent Fall color in the area.
Thanks, take care and be safe
Henry |
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| James |
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| #22 |
Hey Henry,
All I am going to have down there is half a day on Saturday so I`ll prob go in the morning if the weather is nice.
How does one go about paying at the mine ? when I was there the last time, you had to pay at the shop. I didnt know you could even get close to the mine, we were directed to the tailing piles and told we had to stay up in that area only.
I`ll def look for that lighter colored clay for sure, thanks for the tip.
James |
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| Jack Cole |
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| #23 |
Ollie Stanley
939 Highway 270 E
Mount Ida, AR 71957
870-867-3556
In Past Ocas Stanley would let you dig in the wall and floor of the 9, 20 acre claims.
And the cap of Fisher Mt. 357 acres to hunt.
Though Ollie has said that their must be a watch man on site.... While digging is going on. this was in 2000 Just after Aunt Irene passed away, i got the sad news, ( Ocas`s Wife..........)
Since Ocas passed away in 1987, Ollie has let the place go.
Though there are some great fine`s to be found their.
Jame`s / Henry
I now your NOT thinking of this site though i have been on the receiving end of Quartz clusters from this site for over 40 years and all has been water clear and large points.
Family their knows what is best for a Birthday present.
Jack
P.S. Check it out, i`d like to hear more about the area.
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| James |
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| #24 |
Jack,
I was told a few years ago by locals in the Mt Ida area, that the Stanley Mine was long time ago shut down and covered over and the rock shop sold to someone else.
James |
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| Jack |
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| #25 |
Good thing`s do happen, great Sonny did not deserve our respect the family`s claims.
Thanks Jame`s. Ocas was Grandpas Bro.
the whole family would do reunions their.
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| Henry |
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| #26 |
James
When I said pay at the mine, you follow the signs to the mine, stop at the old house on the right and pay there. You do collect in the tailings. They will tell you which piles are the newest.
I don't think there are any mines around any more that let you in the pit. New rules govt. prevent that. It's probably for the better as I have seen some awfully foolish folks trying to work on the walls dropping rocks everywhere. I always stayed away from them. A rock the size of a golfball from 20 feet is a mnor issue.
Have a good trip.
Henry |
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| James |
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| #27 |
Henry,
when I was there with some friends a couple of years ago, we were allowed down into the same area as the trackhoe at Arrowhead Mine, we werent right down where the trackhoe was peeling way the sandstone with its giant teeth, but we were very close and we were allowed up on the walls by the owner of the mine too, as long as we didnt injure ourselves or others. However, as my friend can attest, that rule or policy was later changed on him by the mine owner who gave us permission in the first place.
Jack, I found the Stanley Mine on the map, using the aerial map of mapquest, and it looks like its still there, doesnt look like its been reclaimed as I was told in years past. While I cant tell if its active, it sure doesnt look like its in a state of being reclaimed or covered over either.
James |
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| James |
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| #28 |
Henry,
so you are saying dont stop at the rock shop out on the main highway, just go on down the offshoot highway to the gravel toad to the mine and stop at the little house up by the tailings and pay there ?
James |
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| James |
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| #29 |
Jack, this from a friend of mine in the Mount Ida area who takes rockhounds on mining tours and field trips as well :
seems like everyone either has a friend who was there or went themselves to the Stanley Mine...
its been awhile since it was reclaimed
people still go there to collect, but its a LOT of hard work that most folks do not want to do anymore
little pine trees have grown up everywhere
nothing like it used to be 15 yrs ago
Sonny Stanley is retired now
Judy's Crystals charges $10- 20/adult to go up there
better off collecting at ron or jim colemans', its easier
hope this information helps, Jack.
James |
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| Henry |
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| #30 |
James
Yes, you can pay at the mine. I hardly ever stop at the shop back in Jesseville. You do know the way there don't you?
Anyway as you pull up on top of the hill, just past the trailer, there is an old house looking structure on the right. Just stop there and pay. I like to get there early (7:30) as Bill may be using the Front-end loader to bring up or move piles around. He always fills me in on the newest piles, which ones were flipped, etc.
As far as digging in the mines. The MEMSHA rules are pretty strict about the public getting too close to big walls. And all the Mine owners I know do not allow the public near them or to go into the deep pits. They are dangerous places and people do get hurt. I have seen a few places where the quartz veins run on top of a sloping surface and you only need 4 or 5 foot walls to dig the veins. The old Fiddlers ridge was like that. Arrowhead has some spots like that. They can be a lot of work, but rewarding if you hit a pocket. Like I say anyone with a deep pit is not letting anyone in these days.
As far as Stanley Mine. Itt is as described slowly being reclaimed by mother nature. There is always a possibility of finding a pocket of crystal. 3 years ago at Thanksgiving one of my son's and I hit a small pocket about the size of Watermelon. A few finger sized single points, several nice 3 and 4 inch cluster and a lots of jewelery point. I suspect if a digger really worked the area and got lucky he could find a decent pocket of two.
Would enjoy hearing a report after you get back
Good luck
Henry
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