Neat Mica Crystals and More (From an Alpine Vein in Virginia S Piedmont)

Neat Mica Crystals and More (from an Alpine Vein in Virginia’s Piedmont)

A summer field trip IN A STREAM --- picking up great crystals IN THE SHADE on a sunny day in the mid 80’s --- how perfect can you get?!! Seventeen (17) intrepid souls from the Southern Maryland Rock and Mineral Club met our guide, Bob, at the MacDonald’s in Amelia, VA at the designated time of 9 a.m.. Club members participating included Paul and Linda Holden, Ralph Gamba, David, Jennifer, Mike and Sami Knies, Lorna Larson, Harry and Tina League, Chris Proctor, Al and Carole Raucheisen, Monty and Cheryl Reese, Polly Zimmerman, and trip leader, Dave Lines.

After some introductions and showing of some beautiful examples of material (complex multi-crystal clusters of perfectly formed mica as well as clear and smoky quartz crystals --- singles and clusters) found on previous trips to this location, our trip guide drew a map and explained how to get there in case our caravan became separated. By 9:30 we had arrived and all began to take a few tools --- a shovel and a screen for sifting were essential items --- toward the small path into the woods. The weather was absolutely gorgeous!! It was going to be a great day for rock hounding.

We walked in on a narrow wooded path along the bank of a tumbling stream, which was about 20 feet wide. We noticed lots of poison ivy growing along the way.

[Safety note here --- to avoid getting poison ivy rash, wash all exposed areas thoroughly with soap and water and rinse thoroughly with tepid water as soon as possible after contact. Even better, go to a drugstore and buy some “Tecnu” (trademark) and follow the directions on the box. And change all clothing to clean clothes as soon as you wash off. Launder the contaminated clothing separately in hot water.]

The location was in and along the bank of a stream that had been previously dammed. The dam had washed out in the 1960’s during Hurricane Camille and had uncovered the alpine vein. The recent discoverer of this unique location had found mica crystals in the nearby river and then followed them up the river and then into this stream. Tracing the mica upstream, he found this location and then contacted the landowner for permission to dig.

Remnants of the vein are still visible and can be excavated, but another method was to dig up the sand, mud and gravel in and around the stream and rinse it off to see the crystals. This was “easier said than done“, as tree roots and large boulders were intertwined everywhere. Yet, almost immediately, people began finding nice crystals on the surface. We ignored the poison ivy and began digging. It was a sight to make a trip leader beam with joy as everyone --- literally every single person --- was intently digging and looking. And incredibly, this all-out activity continued (except for a brief lull around lunchtime) throughout the rest of the trip.

Notable finds occurred all day --- complex clusters of well-formed mica crystals with individual crystals up to 2 inches across. As well as mica crystals as small as ¼ inch across in clusters up to 3 inches across --- and every size in between. Champagne smoky quartz crystals up to 1 inch by ½ inch in beautiful clusters perched on top of mica clusters. And at least one clear quartz crystal (1 inch by ¾ inch), with a perfect crystal of mica inside the quartz crystal --- a beautiful phantom --- all this on top a cluster of ½ inch mica crystals. Beautiful material.

After a thorough check for trash (we found none), we all left by a little past 3 p.m. --- tired but happy rockhounds.