_______________________________________


Graves Mountain New Years Dig!
January 5th - 7th, 2024

Official Field Trip of the
Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association

The MAGMA club will be on the mountain Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 5th through the 7th to ring in the New Year, while finding tons of great minerals to add to our shelves. We will meet with Junior at the gate at 9:00am Friday morning to sign release forms and make donations for our three days of digging. If the weather is tolerable, and you want to bring some rocks to trade and swap, bring em. All mountain rules apply and are listed below. The dig will end and everyone must be off the mountain by 6:00 p.m. each day.

Everyone in this group is invited to join us. You do not need to be a member of our club to attend this trip. If you decide you like our members and would like to join, visit my website at: www.AmericanRockhound.com and click on the MAGMA link.

The theme for this great New Year’s dig is ‘Vintage Rockhounding’ We will be rockhounding like our prehistoric ancestors did it way back in the 1990s and early 2000s, you know, when there were dinosaurs! We will be walking into the mine, carrying our tools, food and drink all by ourselves. We will spend the days digging, and then walk all the way back to the parking lot. It will be very educational for some.

On Saturday, I will give a walking tour of the mine starting at 10am. I will point out places where I know great things were found in the past. I did this in April, 2023, but a lot of people could not attend since it was on a Thursday.

FYI: No children 12 and under are allowed on this dig. You must be at least 13 years old to attend. Children are only allowed during the two open house digs that occur the first weekend of October and the last weekend of April yearly.

Fee: The fee for this dig is by donation, to show our appreciation for being allowed access to the mountain.

Graves Mountain Code of Conduct:

Park your vehicle in the designated area at the end of the paved access road.
ALL pets must be kept under control and on a leash.
The caretaker, Clarence Norman Jr. has final and absolute say as to where you may safely work.
Ladders or power tools of any kind will not be allowed. (HAND TOOLS ONLY!)
STAY AWAY FROM ALL HIGH WALLS!
NO RAPPELLING OFF OF ANYTHING!
No one is allowed to drive their vehicle on any part of Graves Mountain beyond the parking area. (The caretaker must accompany anyone driving beyond the parking area!)
EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE OFF THE MOUNTAIN BY 6:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This means you need to start packing up around 5 or 5:30 to be off the mountain on time.

Please protect our ability to field collect at Graves Mountain!
Report violations to:
Junior Norman
Norman C E Wrecking Co
3333 C E Norman Rd
Lincolnton, GA 30817-3110
706-401-3173

All reported violations will be held in strict confidence.

DIRECTIONS: From Washington Georgia, drive east 11 miles on SR-378, look for mine entrance on right. From the Hardees in Lincolnton, Georgia, drive approximately 5-1/2 miles west on SR-378. Look for the sign at the entrance to Graves Mountain on the left side of the road.

Motels and Camping:
Cullars Inn, Lincolnton, Georgia, 706-359-6161
Soap Creek Marina, Cabins and Camping. 706-359-4100. 3000 Soap Creek Lodge Road.
Elijah Clark State Park, 706-359-3458 / 800-864-7275
American Legion Camping: 1121 American Legion RD.
Lincolnton GA. 30817
Contact: Eric Kenerly, 727-710-0322, Text message preferred.

Back to M.A.G.M.A.

Back to American Rockhound