by CR Munson
My first fieldtrip with CCGMS was to this quarry in Northwest, GA. I recall the excitement upon finding my first piece of Lacey Agate. Today is probably my 10th visit. The great thing about this site is that the quarry is active so each visit reveals new material.
Signing in with Wes Manley fieldtrip leader I see over 40 participants have arrived. Weather is overcast and mid 50’s but calm and comfortable. For today I’ll only carry a shoulder satchel, camera, rock hammer, and gloves limiting weight and bending as I’m nursing a sore back. I note most of the people are new along with families and children. They picked the perfect place. Many already have filled 2 buckets and are headed back for more. One group is enjoying a break, sitting down for luncheon. Plenty of room and the material is abundant.
Rumors circulate about a bear in the area. On further questioning I am directed towards some bear tracks. Up I hike and receive confirmation (see photo to right). Obviously days old but I guess the bear was a rockhound too.
Christmas in November, a beautiful pile of rocks full of nice red lacey agates awaits me!
A group of determined brothers return with a dolly for their find of the day. On the path down we direct everyone to fall behind the dolly just in case it gets loose. Wes reminds one to walk with their rock hammer pointed down. After a few slips, the 40lb rock and the boys return triumphant.
In the photograph at left, Professor Dion Stewart, resident geologist is busy giving a short brief on some of the material collected. He identifies some of my milky looking rocks as chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. They should make some nice cabs.
A young rockhound displays a nice classic grayish white agate seam with druzy caps she found.
A large muddy trench has been excavated and I notice much activity. Over the next hour, dozens of bowling ball size 30lb lacey agate monsters are extracted from the white chert mud and wrestled up to the road. Can’t wait to see some of the enormous slabs from these boulders.
Lots of red lacey agate, white on black lacey, druzy quartzes, red oolites, blocky red jaspers, and chalcedonies, were collected.
Another wonderful day full of surprises collecting at this site. My thanks to the quarry owners, Toby Stewart and Wes Manley for arranging the dig and Dion Stewart for the great piece of Blue Chalcedony
All Photographs by CR Munson
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