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Let's Rock => Rockhounding Tips, Maps, Trips Etc. => Topic started by: Kaljaia on March 11, 2016, 09:14:50 PM

Title: Blue shale roadside stop
Post by: Kaljaia on March 11, 2016, 09:14:50 PM: Behind the dumpster in my 'home town' is a patch of dark blue shale in a seep. I stopped by there today to see if anything interesting was around.
(https://56.media.tumblr.com/b22d1f375afa4af920b3c0a0d686958c/tumblr_o3wtfspUwC1spns93o1_1280.jpg)
(https://56.media.tumblr.com/81c028471bf55fc266d798ebca99b05f/tumblr_o3wtfspUwC1spns93o5_1280.jpg)

One interesting thing was the amount of white mineral residue that had seeped from between the layers. I assume calcium because that's what we tell everyone the white scale left by the water is, but really I have no idea. I wasn't about to taste any either ;)
(https://56.media.tumblr.com/5c446c21b943fcc1b863481f35f4c61b/tumblr_o3wtfspUwC1spns93o3_1280.jpg)
(https://56.media.tumblr.com/74d7a1e2ee6e9ddc364025b0b2c72acf/tumblr_o3wtfspUwC1spns93o4_1280.jpg)

Part-way down the patch of shale was a vertical vein of white quartz. It's pretty fractured but kind of neat, so I brought a few pieces back. I don't have the saw set up yet (hopefully this weekend) so I don't know if it holds together or not.
(https://56.media.tumblr.com/c39c2171ca10f994b26f115dc4948f7e/tumblr_o3wtfspUwC1spns93o6_1280.jpg)
(https://56.media.tumblr.com/59351e451f10e88771997e9aec8fcc30/tumblr_o3wtfspUwC1spns93o7_1280.jpg)

Either way an interesting spot, and since it really is *right* beside the road/dumpster, not exactly out of my way ;) I need to go back when I have more time. I remember finding iridescent green and yellow mineral residue/patina one time in there, but my childhood memory may not be correct.
Title: Re: Blue shale roadside stop
Post by: Phishisgroovin on March 11, 2016, 09:43:25 PM: i would try and run a metal detector on that whole area, horizontal shale like that is where they find gold.
Gold likes to be in rotten quarts, it could be worth your efforts.
Title: Re: Blue shale roadside stop
Post by: Phishisgroovin on March 11, 2016, 09:45:01 PM: in that bottom photo, break that layer of rotten quarts away, scoop up all the black dirt behind it into a bucket, get everything down to the quarts under/behind it and go pan it out. i bet there is colors under it.
Title: Re: Blue shale roadside stop
Post by: Kaljaia on March 11, 2016, 09:59:15 PM: Really? That'd be pretty cool. There's a fellow out here with a lifelong dream of finding gold, so I'll make noise in his direction and see if we can't find a metal detector or gold pan between the two of us. But I'm skeptical that gold would be behind the community dumpster just sitting in a shale hill that's been exposed for 50 years ;) We're in proximity to the Horse Heaven mercury mine, but I've yet to see record of gold found in the area; if it was, people sure kept quiet about it. Thanks for the tip, though! Will definitely give this place a closer look.
Title: Re: Blue shale roadside stop
Post by: Phishisgroovin on March 12, 2016, 06:08:44 AM: there also may be fossils within the shale layers, leaves etc....
Title: Re: Blue shale roadside stop
Post by: lithicbeads on March 12, 2016, 08:55:46 AM: Is that calcite stringers in the quartz?If it is solid quartz the iron stained areas may heat treat to red.