Fieldtrip Report:

Deep Gap Garnet,
Chunky Gal Mountain,
Clay County, N.C.,
April 16th, 2005

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Most of the material at the Gal is a red or pink ruby or sapphire that forms as small single grains of corundum or thin veins up to a 1/2" wide running through a greenish/blue smaragdite matrix rock, the best color corundum is found in the emerald green colored matrix material, rarely you will find a nice specimen with a hex crystal inside. Another rare specimen from this site is the veins and granular blue corundum in smaragdite, maybe it is not so rare, but most do not id it as corundum as it blends in well with it's matrix rock.

Blue corundum on blue smaragdite.

Dave Hart, John D. and Diane on the hunt.

John D. also found this nice piece of blue corundum in matrix.

Chris on the hunt.

John giving Diane rockhounding lessons.

I would have to say the best piece I saw come out today was one that Steven dug up, it is a 10-12 pound matrix specimen loaded with dime size pieces of pink sapphire and veins running through the specimen, it is covered on all sides with nice pink and red.

Steven and his rock.

As always, another great day out with friends.

 

 

 

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