
|
Field Trips & Attractions
Rockhounds! Please join us on our next field trip! Our club organizes many field trips each year and along with other area clubs, hosts coalition field trips. We visit local collecting sites, museums, mines, and much more. All members are welcome to join us on any scheduled field trips. Field trips are advertised on our club web site, and sign-up sheets are available at monthly general membership meetings.
Any member attending a field trip must sign a liability waiver.
Our website includes field trip reports and photos, and you can view specimens collected on the trips at our monthly general membership meetings.
============================================================================
-
NOTE CHANGE OF DATE: UPCOMING FIELD TRIP TO COLLECT OBSIDIAN ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 30TH, 2018
HOSTED BY THE MINGUS GEM & MINERAL CLUB, CLARKDALE, AZ, & THE VERDE RIVER ROCKHOUNDS CLUB, COTTONWOOD
-
MEETING LOCATION:
I-40 Exit 178 (Parks, AZ)
-
DIRECTIONS TO THE MEETING PLACE:
I-17 NORTH toward Flagstaff to I-40 WEST. PROCEED 17 miles to exit 178, Parks, Arizona.
-
MEETING TIME:
9:00 AM Departure at 9:15 AM sharp.
-
VEHICLE TYPE:
2WD to meeting place; high-clearance vehicle required for the remaining 7 miles to the collecting
area. Depending on road conditions, persons in 2WD vehicles would be advised to join up with
high-clearance vehicles for the ride into the collecting area.
-
TERRAIN TYPE:
Forest service roads which may not be well maintained and could be muddy from recent rains.
-
TOOLS NEEDED:
Bring Gloves, Eye Protection, Rock Hammer & Pick, as well as Digging Tools
(FOR THE ENERGETIC TREASURE HUNTERS!!)
-
PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELFARE:
-
Bring plenty of water, medications, sunblock, snacks and anything else that you may need for the day.
AND OF COURSE, BRING A COLLECTION BUCKET or TWO … !
-
CLOTHING SUGGESTIONS:
Warm clothing, perhaps in 2-3 layers in case the air temperature changes.
-
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Mahogany obsidian has been found at the collection site.
The quality varies considerably, with some being opaque, but most has a good degree of translucency.
Some material has banding and swirls. The ancient natives who lived here for thousands of years traveled
to this area to collect obsidian to make points and tools. With that in mind, here is your chance to collect
knapping-quality obsidian --- you could even try your hand at making your own!
JIM VAN WERT WILL BE LEAVING THE COLLECTING AREA ABOUT 2:00 PM.
OTHERS CAN LEAVE EARLIER IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO.
-
SIGN-UP SHEET:
IF YOU WANT TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP, PLEASE CALL THE TRIP LEADER TO GET YOUR NAME ON THE
SIGN-UP SHEET.
-
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ALL FIELD TRIPS (PLEASE NOTE THAT IT RAINED ON THE PREVIOUS DATE):
If we have bad, wet weather just before this trip, the trip may be cancelled at the discretion of the trip leader. Therefore it is very important to put your name and phone number on the signup sheet so that you can be contacted if necessary!!
CELL PHONES may or MAY NOT work at the COLLECTION SITE.
============================================================================
NEXT UPCOMING CLUB COALITION FIELD TRIP MAY 26, 2018:
THERE WILL BE A PAYSONS RIMSTONES COALITION FlELD TRIP ON SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2018 TO STAR VALLEY, AZ, WHICH IS JUST EAST OF PAYSON AND ABOUT A 10-MINUTE DRIVE FROM PAYSON.
MEET ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CIRCLE K ON HIGHWAY 260 AT 8:45 --- LEAVE AT 9 AM.
MEETING PLACE LOCATION:
Star Valley Circle K Gas Station
3792 E Highway 260
Star Valley, AZ 85541
We will be collecting the following:
Black & White Jasper
(Often called "Zebra Rock")
***Peach/White Jasper
*both can be tumbled and polish well
***Fossils of the Mogollon Rim:
These fossils can be found at Christopher Mountain too.
Our primary location to collect is past Sharps Creek Campground on Hwy 260 East.
Most items are float - that is, they can be found on ground level
Please bring garden hand tools which work well
Also consider bringing a rake with three prongs to sort loose gravel.
In addition, there are motels in Payson and several camping spots in the area if you want to stay overnight.
Layered clothes are a logical choice and bring lunch and snacks with lots of water.
Bring chairs to sit and meet new friends.
Please wear club badges!
Plan of wearing sturdy shoes if you want to check out the washes for treasures and fossils!
Again...Remember, most material is float (on the surface)
Any questions, please call or text me.
Lynne Wheeler
Payson, AZ
928-978-4062
HAVE A GOOD TIME!
============================================================================
Many of our leaders have taken the club to places that produce wonderful pieces to add to any rockhound collection.
If you interested in leading a field trip, or just know of a good spot to visit, please contact the club and let us know. Below are some of the places that we have been...
Mingus Mountain Banded Iron Formations - Jasper with Hematite
Lake Searle, Trona, CA: Halite, Hanksite
APA Annual Steak Fry - Gold Prospecting at Bumblebee
Mogollon Rim Fossils of the Mississippian & Devonian Periods
East Verde Fossil Coral - 7 miles north of Payson on NFS land
Mingus and Christopher Mountains - Paleozoic Marine Fossils
Salt Mine / Copper Canyon
Burro Creek - Coalition Trip for Bacon Agate and Pastelite (a variety of Chert exhibiting pastel colors)
Empire and Lost Onyx Quarries
Wiley Wells - Coalition Trip - agates, chalcedony, geodes, jasper & more!
Cottonwood Slag Heap - Coalition & Club Trips
Lynx Creek - Gold Panning
Coalition trip - Seven Springs, Sheep's Crossing
Jerome Area, Perkinsville Agate
Metal Detecting for Gold & Meteorites
Joseph City & Holbrook - Petrified Wood
Coalition Trip, Sedona Club -Holbrook, Petrified Wood
Hidden Valley Rockyard
Coalition Trip - Bagdad Mine
Brachiopods on the Rim


We've also been to the following sites:
Copper Chief Mine
Lion Springs
Cleator
Perkinsville
Luna, NM
Table Mesa
Prism Mine
Spectrum Mine
Mining and Mineral Museum
Holbrook/Woodruff
Golden Wreath Mine
Oxbow Mine
Many, Many, More
|