Midwest Coleman Crystal Mining: Jessieville, Arkansas

[Ray Eklund]

We are packed for a rock hunting trip to New Mexico. High elevations have finally moderated from snow and rain to nice and sunny. About time... I say.

We use to spend many weekends tent camped at Ron Coleman Mining - Dig your own Quartz Crystals in the warmer Ozark Mountain months. This was in 1993 to 1997. I believe it was $20, per person, to dig all day from Sunrise to Sunset hours.

Once you figure out HOW to use garden tools to dig into a fresh gritty red dirt pile... watch for a fresh load coming out of the mine... crystals will give you goosebumps... as they fall out of the soft gritty material. Then wash them off at the Quarry.

Tent Camped in their modest camp ground with... Showers and Restrooms. Today... you may have to check with the size of any camp sites for an Airstream and tow vehicle. This was BEFORE I had a digital camera... so not photographs.

There are several other Quartz Digging sites in this area. Coleman's was our favorite. Red gritty dirt will give you a Red Tan after sweating and digging through piles of Quartz Crystals, using garden tools to trowel gritty red sand and clay mix from their huge Quarry.

I scanned two large quartz clusters as I have no photographs. The larger one is 5.5" long. Most quartz crystals you will find are clear smaller 'points', but you dig to find out. You will Dream Crystals the first couple evenings... you will become Crystal Crazy. Trust me... do it once... you will be hooked.

Check it out. Bring clothes you would throw away... as this RED will give you and your clothing an almost permanent TAN. They have hoses to hose each other down... when finished digging for the day.

First time... no digital photographs. You take some photographs and post when you return from digging. We lived in Independence, Missouri and Jessiveville was straight south on Highway 71... which was being replaced with a four lanes in Arkansas, in the later 1990's.

Hot Springs, Arkansas to the south. Lots to do and maybe a hot shower there too? Cannot remember.

[Ray Eklund]

If you are lucky to have a University with a Geology Department near you... they may have a copy of this USGS Bulletin 973-E by Engel. printed in 1952.

When the USGS was closing down their Book Sales operation, I purchased the last copies they had left on the shelf.

I kept one copy for myself. There is also one large Quartz Crystal Mining map, folded to fit into a back pocket. I went to several. Colemsn's was, by far, the best and has a nice restaurant and rock shop...too.

This a reference for those who became addicted to the Quartz Crystal digging... syndrome. It has text pages 173-260 and maps of various Quartz Mining operations prior to 1952. Most have been closed, although some may charge daily fees to dig, like Coleman's.

I have my own Geological Library... and have one copy for myself. You can 'hunt for your own copy' if you get Crystal Fever. I am cured... by distance from Arkansas. But... have a new list of places to 'hunt and explore' for only I know and have taken a few Airstream owners some years ago. They were not all hunters... but know what a dusty mountain road in Wyoming can lead you to wonderful Boondocking Sites.

Few understand 'the Hunt'. Finding and exploring is a hobby for Nancy and I. You need a book, a map and curiosity. Not for everyone as I discovered, some years ago, with the 2016? Wyoming Adventure.. but those who survived that... understand.

I refer to those as 'The Wyoming Adventure Survivors'.... of "I will take you there, and you figure out what to do". I was not a Tour Guide, but led the Wagon Train... so to say. Some were not happy, and half finished the... Wyoming Adventure.

For Nancy and myself... this is what we do. Go to unknown locations on a map, camp, hike and... find stuff eroding out of the side of a hill. Like Quartz Crystals... at Coleman's.

[Ray Eklund]

Just outside Kemmerer, Wyoming are a number of Eocene Fossil Fish Quarries (lets say 48,000,000 years old). Some quote 52,000,000 years, somewhere in between. These fish died a long time ago... no stink, no fishy smell.

I have been to the Tynsky Quarry that they opened in the early 1970's. His competition was the Ulrich Fossil Gallery, which is also a very good operation.

You will split a yellow chalky 'shale' in the Sun. You will get a TAN. You will get dust all over you. But once you find a Diplomystus (herring) you get to keep it. Also some smaller fish. All you find.

Sting Rays, Birds and larger fish... you probably can purchase it on the spot.

I kept one 'Diplo...'. ran out of wall space when we moved and sold all the framed larger fish in Colorado. Wife bought painted art on canvas... to fill most of the walls. I have one framed fish hanging over my garage workbench. Happy Wife, Happy Life... I say.

Search the Internet and get motivated. Since you looked at this thread... I toss in Fish Digging for Boondockers.

Fossil Butte National Monument is close by. See their specimens. I sold books to the young geologist working there in the 1980's, who now runs the Monument. He knows his Eocene Fish. We all were young... at that time.

You can even go to the quarries and look around. If you get the Fish Bug... watch others splitting rock. No limit on the small fish... no Wyoming Fishing License needed, as well. Those may be $100 to non Wyoming residents.

We leave shortly to New Mexico to hunt unusual chalcedony agate nodules. No prep work. No quarry. Just wander around like you are lost, but looking at the volcanic silicified rocks that are 35,000,000 years old, plus or minus a year. Older than a Neanderthal, too.

We Boondock with three active Blue Heelers. AKA Cattle Dogs. AKA Australian Cattle Dogs. AKA dogs. Lousy at rock hunting, but Bear do not visit our campsite, either. Bought this last one on the Colorado/New Mexico border on a Ranch. We named her GRIZZ. For Grizzly Bear. We call out GRIZZ... anyone camped near by pack up and leave. So far... just a thought.

[Dingo Girl]

Ray you've given me the fish bug. Do you think the fish fossils are still available to find? We are in NW CO. So close to big wonderful Wyoming.
Geez Id love to find one.
I'm a Michigan a girl and grew up rock hunting.

[Peter417]

Arkansas even has a state park for digging diamonds. There will be a rally there next year. Are you planning to come?

[Dingo Girl]

Ive been to the diamond crater.
We found nothing but ticks.

[Ray Eklund]

Been there twice. We missed the RAIN... while in the area. They do find Diamonds. Some large, a few carats, and high quality. If you find 'something' bring it into the office and they will tell you what you... found.

If we tossed small Quartz Crystals around, the Office would have had a line with many holding a sparkling crystal, but not a Diamond. But... did not. I can be obnoxious... but do not bite.

The area they will plow to turn over the surface. They announce right away if a Diamond has been found. The area is large and most go to the center. The edges of the large area are just as good and not walked over. Hint... hint.

The BEST TIME to be there. When it is RAINING... hard. Then you immediately get out there and start looking. Few figure that out. Now you all know. They should charge MORE when it is Raining... best opportunity!

No, did not find a Diamond, but saw many looking....

Grab a copy of the newspaper. It is interesting about the area. I could not find the copies I have here... they must be buried... gave up looking.

Quartz crystals are easier to find at Coleman's. Rain is good. Digging around is good. Close by the Diamond areas as well. Small campground at Coleman's, although we tent camped before getting an Airstream.

Dingo Girl is right about ticks. The brush in the entire area. If you have a dog or two... spray them. Local dogs will have a dozen ticks on there noses... and full of blood, ready to drop off. If in the Diamond Dirt... safe. At a campsite with grass/brush... spray yourself around the lower legs. Talk to the local TICK locals... check your scalp... if you find one on yourself.

[Ray Eklund]

This area where the 2016 Airstream 'survivors' camped upon was a prehistoric Indian Campsite.

Also on high areas I found 45-70 cartridges. Obvious hunting area at the turn of the Century.

Does anyone know how to detect a Prehistoric Indian Site, anywhere in the USA?

Most non RV Park campers do not know how to discover that they are camped in the middle of the large Native American ancient site.

You have to be curious to find Quartz crystals, Diamonds and broken Indian artifacts of the surface are clues. Photo is of area.

One couple climbed up with us to the top. The others walked in a large group around the campsite wondering why they were there? Nancy found something interesting... but I am not describing it.

[Ray Eklund]

Found a photo of where we hunt in New Mexico and shapes that catch our eyes. Vary from an inch to four inches if you are lucky to see it sticking out of the dirt.

Weathering out of Rhyolite Lave flows that are many millions of years old. These formed in air pockets over millions of years. Like jello... and for some reason... hardened.

The Rhyolite Volcanics weather over millions of years and the Agates just lay around on the surface. The cold and hot temperatures with cause most of these to crack and break up. Some are thick and look soft and sticky... Like this one.

If on the surface too long... years?... they will crack from hot and cold daily exposure on the surface and break up. If you DO NOT pick up a nice specimen... they will break up and you can have it in the future. Complete ones are barely sticking out of the decomposed volcanics and grass.

Good exercise. Cattle Dogs run around sniffing. No ticks at this elevation over 6500 feet. Warm days. Cool nights. Clear Skies. Starry nights.... ahhhhhh some. Thousands of square miles... thousands of acres... to walk. Find nothing... you sit out in the late afternoon and think about tomorrow.

Some may think this is crazy. It is. Crazy as a Fox and will wave as you drive down the unpaved roads looking for a Black Bear or an Elk.

We are ready to get rolling for tomorrow. Loaded and anxious to lay back and... figure out where to start of this trip. Mark the locations on our maps and know where we may want to camp... this time.

Not why, we already know.

[Ray Eklund]

Finding a '450,000,000+ year old Fossil towing an Airstream' or splitting shale for Fossil Trilobites, can be discovered west of Delta, Utah. Trilobites were the most intelligent life on Planet Earth.

At that time in Earth's history.

Then they went... Extinct. Hmmmm.

We are in the Holocene Epoch, currently, and finding fossils of intelligent life for these first 11,700 years has its challenges.

Search the Internet. I see there are now 5 dig sites you can pay and dig all day for a fee. We were there before these private quarries as I am a Neanderthal. Some places have more concentrated Trilobites.

We discovered some nice caves to the North that you could campout in comfort with a view. Look UP a wall of rock to find a Cave. Looking down it is called a HOLE.

Try to scout out the diggings that are free in the area first. Free. Try... is a tricky word. It means put out some effort. Sniffing rocks is not a good technique...

Camping in the Desert with no Shade at no additional cost to you.

Before selecting a pay to dig place... stop walk around and see what those already there are finding. If it looks good... you will be able to trip on a rock, fall over and find something.

I kept one Trilobite after giving kids free samples over the years. If I want more... I know where to camp and split some shale. The area is huge, but most has little to offer for conveniences. Like food, water and shade.

We have finished loading Trailer and Tow Vehicle. The bathroom sink did not fit, this time. A plastic bucket for a seat and Nancy pouring water over my head is a great shower. IF you are afraid of Aliens landing and hungry... this may not be the place you want to be. We have dogs with us. Keeps everyone and thing away from our 'diggings'.

If you are looking for company to set camp up next to them. Think twice. They enjoy NOT having company. Wait until they leave and start where they finished doing the hard work of getting their Trilobite Digging spot... ready for you.

Pay to dig one day. Figure out what you are doing and equipment. Then drive half a mile and find an abandoned hillside digging... and try your luck.

If you did not find a Trilobite anywhere... you probably need to get yours from some 8 year old kid digging at the pay quarry. They do not give up after 27 minutes.

[Searching]

Hello Dingo Girl. My wife and I were in Kemmerer, WY at one of commercial operations about 8 years ago. Each of us found a good fish fossil about once every half hour throughout the day. We only kept the good ones, of which there were many. It was a lot of fun and we plan on going back in about 2 years. The hot sun is the only drawback.

[Dingo Girl]

Thank you for the fish info SEARCHING. That is nice to know. We will go there next summer.

[Ray Eklund]

Some examples of the larger fossil fish found.

I purchases them from the Tynsky, Rock Springs, Wyoming work shop. They were prepared by one of the family, sawed slabs and ready to frame.