Fieldtrip Report:
Ligon Beryl Mine,
Amelia County, Virginia,
April 30th, 2005
by Lee Fleming_________________________________________
Hello members, this report was written by our MAGMA member Lee Fleming, I just wanted to take a moment to say i'm sorry I missed you guys at the Ligon Mine this past weekend, Lee has sent me pics of the trip for this report, I do not know some of the new members who attended, If you see a pic without a proper name, please email me and I will add it to the report, thanks, Rick
We all arrived at the Weston Motel around 9:00 AM on Saturday and were introduced to our host and hostess Donald & Judy. They explained the dig requirements of having hat and long sleeved shirt on at all times due to the land owner's desires. We then proceeded in a caravan to drive the 30 minutes to the mine site. Upon arrival, we paid the land owners and then proceeded to spread out over the farm to begin to look for beryl and garnets.
This huge beryl crystal in matrix sits by the door at the owners house as a yard rock!
First, many of us walked down the hill away from our cars to a small creek where Donald indicated that we could find garnets and other minerals.
Members working the creek.
Many of our members had brought along a screen so they went straight to the stream and started moving dirt.
Mel Cousins, Chip Burnette, Betty Cousins, Sondra Burnette, Donald and Judy Lloyd.
Of course Thomas brought his big sledge hammer and started breaking the large boulders of smoky to clear quartz.
Thomas and his sledge.
Miles and Lawrence.
After working the creek for a while several of us moved to the cow pasture to search a large pile of dirt for beryl.
Eventually, the whole crowd came over and searched the area. We did find several beryl in this area.
