Lapidaryforum.net
Let's Rock => Rockhounding Tips, Maps, Trips Etc. => Topic started by: lithicbeads on March 10, 2016, 08:15:15 AM
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Lithicbeads and packlithic ventured into a local creek yesterday in search of jade. This was lithic’s first trip out to get his feet wet since his surgery. We used our own mobile belay system to get down the steep loose and rocky approach to the creek which has gotten washed out more over the winter. We used a gait belt (standard physical therapy tool) around lithic’s waist and then attached a sturdy dog leash to this so that I (packlithic ) could keep lithic from falling while negotiating the hill. The stream we visited has turned over and changed course quite a bit since our last trip several months ago and there were large pieces of jade everywhere. The selection of jade was different than normal with more large pieces and some pieces with a strange white rind as seen in the pictures below. We found several interesting pieces of jade with possible good color inside them that will be explored further once the tile saw gets started back up when the weather and lithicbeads health improves. An added bonus it didn’t start to rain until after we left which was nice given the rather cold temperature of the water in the creek. I have yet to weigh our haul but I will add that in later should the electric stay on today.
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The gait belt belay was only needed once but since every step was on crutches and the angle of the approach was a loose and slippery 45 degree washout it was appreciated. Horrible all day and night storm immediately after our leaving the creek. Looks like good jade to heat treat to try to redden the brown jade. Once again a fun and cold trip.
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Looks cold all right but glad you got out! Great jade, look forward to hearing more about the heat-treating process and results!
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i would so like to go there and learn some day.
with a cart that has off road motorcycle tires to carry rocks lol!
I cant carry them either lol
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Dog leash...somehow seems appropriate. :LOLOL:
Can't wait to see some of the jade cut. Looks like fun, but a little cold for my desert bones. I'll be happily digging holes in the desert as I sweat in just over a week. No cold water to wade through and night time temperatures to rival your warm days.
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Looks like a fun time had by all! Good to see you getting out and moving Frank! I hope you keep recovering well!
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You Lithics sure know how to have good fun. Nothing like some family bondage! :LOLOL: Glad you all were able to get in and out of there before the storms and with so much loot! :icon_sunny:
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That spot looks like its changed quite a bit since the last time I was there.
Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk
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Here is a photo of our haul. 69lbs of jade (and a variolite). The close up is of a strange variolite that we found. We have only found a couple of pieces of variolite in this creek so it was a rare find. The creek has turned over quite a bit and changed course a bit. The main gravel bar we got to was much higher than normal and the stream channels on either side were much deeper. A tree that had been laying across the creek all summer was entirely gone and a new tree was down that had been undermined by the creek. A deluge of rain again during the last storm has caused a lot of flooding in western washington so I suspect the gravel bar will be turned over again with fresh jade next time we visit.
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A unusual and very fine variolite which will be faced as a specimen as it is unique.
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That variolite is crazy cool! Please post a picture when you face it.