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INDEX
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Researching Mineral Locations
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Over the years, I have always had good luck researching locations through local college libraries or through subscriptions to periodicals such as the "Mineralogical Record" or "Rocks and Minerals." Perhaps of
greater importance is a comprehension of geology and the types of minerals that can occur with various geologic settings.
A good first step is to latch onto a mineral, or a suite of minerals, that captures your interest. For instance, let's take the mineral Cinnabar -- a crimson-red mercury sulfide. The first step completed: having an interest in it, I would read up on the
mineral and develop a sense of the types of geologic settings where the mineral can be found.
For this I could turn to any number of mineral references such as "Dana's Manual of Mineralogy," or John Sinkankas' "Mineralogy" and read up on the types of geologic settings where Cinnabar forms and can be
found. Sinkankas writes, "[Found] in low temperature deposits, usually near recent volcanoes or hot springs; associated with pyrite, stibnite, marcasite, metacinnabar, opal, quartz, chalcedony, and calcite." He then goes on to list several outsanding
locations around the world.
The triggers for me are: an association with a variety of minerals and recent volcanic activity. By recent, it is assumed to be within the last several million years. So from this single passage, I can then
look up the geologic literature to determine if there is any place nearby where recent volcanic activity has occurred.
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Inesite
Collected 9/96 - Hale Creek Mine, Trinity County, California
I collected this specimen this past summer. The crystals were exposed by
etching the calcite away with dilute hydrochloric acid. The best crystals
of inesite from North America are found at the Hale Creek Mine.
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A local college library is the best place to obtain this information, followed by a public library. College libraries tend to have a much more comprehensive array of references to review. They tend to carry a
complete list of such items as professional papers produced by the USGS, periodicals such as the "American Mineralogist," open file reports produced by the USGS, mining records produced by the various states, and, in the case of California, a number of
individual reports on the mines and mineral resources for quite a few of the counties in California.
A quick review of the literature in the library can develop a large list of potential sites to visit. Carefully reading the reference material can help you to decide on what the prospects are for finding the
mineral(s) you are interested in. It takes some time, but the adventure that follows can be remarkably rewarding -- especially if you visit a site that has been "lost" or forgotten through the years.
Other quick places to look for mineral locations are: The INTERNET, periodical journals such as the "Mineralogical Record," County Courthouse records, museums, various state agencies that administer
mineral programs (in California it is the California Department of Conservation - Division of Mines and Geology), rock and gem clubs, mineral shows, and the list goes on and on.
 | Beryl var. Aquamarine
Collected 12/94 - Kern Knob, Inyo County,
California
I collected this specimen during the late fall of 1994. The vast majority of beryl from this locality is of a very light blue and heavily fractured (frosted) nature. This particular specimen was encased in a fairly ugly smokey quartz crystal. When I
popped it with my hand sledge I was greeted with this rich blue and partially gemmy aquamarine crystal! |
I have had good luck in the past with a little book work before getting into my 4x4 and heading for the great outdoors. You too can stumble across a forgotten treasure trove of minerals. If I can do it, anybody
can!
Good luck and have fun!
John Veevaert
Trinity Mineral Company
Weaverville, California
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Copyright, 1997 by John Veevaert
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Trinity Mineral Co. sells quality mineral specimens including benitoite,
neptunite, fluorite, tourmaline and many others at very affordable prices
over the internet. There are many "Rooms" to visit at Trinity Mineral Co.
including a Micromount Room, local Fossil Room and the first mineral
specimen auction on the internet known as the Auction Room. Drop in for a
visit and have some fun!
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