Fieldtrip Report:

Annual M.A.G.M.A. Fall Fluorescent Mineral Dig!
October 20th, 2007

We had another successful fall fluorescent dig for the club. This year it was only a one night affair as compared to the past few years, we may be back to the two night thing next fall. The dig started at the parking lot of the Western Sizzlin in Spruce Pine, around 25 MAGMA members arrived to participate. Many had been to the Glendon pyrite dig earlier in the day, and had driven the 4-5 hours back to Spruce Pine for this dig.

We met at the mine and the members listened as the foreman gave a safety talk before proceeding to the mine.

At the mine.

View from the mine.

We had about an hour or so before the sun went down, so many of us hunted for other non-fluorescent minerals like torbernite, Thomas found a couple of nice pieces.

Soon the sun was dropping over the horizon and we got our gear ready for the night collecting.

Colorado

Ed and Dennis

Another few minutes....

Once it got dark, the UV lights were on and so was the hunt!. This is a pic of a giant boulder covered in hyalite opal, if you look closely, you will see our member "mudcat" , he is sitting in front of the boulder with his arms raised.

Hyalite opal was the most sought after mineral at this dig, we also looked for pink fluorescent feldspar, autunite, apatite etc.. Hyalite forms in cracks and crevices in the pegmatite boulders in the mine. When the mine is blasted, it dumps many loose pieces for the dumps exposing the hyalite. Most of this material is a clear coating on the rock. You may also find nice shades if green, blue and yellow hyalite.

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