We’re serious about rock hounding. Our field trips range from nearby sites for poppy jasper, chiastolites, and other materials, to distant locations for shark’s teeth or gemstones.
Upcoming trips are listed below. Scroll down for pictures from prior trips.
SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2022 – EAGLE MEADOW ON SONORA PASS FOR PETRIFIED WOOD
- Hat, gloves, sunscreen, water
- Collection bucket for your treasures
- Lunch/snacks
- Plenty of water
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022 – PATTERSON PASS FOR FOSSIL OYSTERS
We’ll meet at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds at 8 AM for carpooling. Or, you can meet us at the Mobil station at 25775 South Patterson Pass Road. Try to park on the right side of the building.
We will then proceed to the Top Of The World scenic outlook on Patterson Pass road. The fossils are a hundred yards, or so, down hill from there.
The soil is soft. No hard rock tools are needed. A pointed rock hammer, or small digging tool, would work just fine.
You should have all you could want, or carry, in less than an hour. We will then move to Del Puerto Canyon, 30 minutes south on I5, for some fossil leaf impressions and maybe some jasper. If things work out, we might be able to eat lunch at the source of Noah’s Water. Bring bottles for free magnesium water.
For those with GPS, the oyster fossils are at 36.686744, -121.629132.
- Hat, gloves, sunscreen, water
- Collection bucket for your treasures
- Lunch/snacks
- Plenty of water
RSVP TO [email protected] OR OUR STORE AT 209-966-4367!!!!!
SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2022 – EXETER FOR ZOISITE/THULITE
Meet in Oakhurst at 9:00 am. The meeting location is directly in front of Vons Supermarket, in the lot closest to Highway 49 (next to the old Payless Store). IF YOU PLAN TO GO, PLEASE RSVP TO THE CLUB’S EMAIL, [email protected] It’s approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to the collecting area. Carpooling is encouraged; if you want to drive others or ride, please email us. If you are between Oakhurst and Fresno, please email us for an alternative meeting place.
There is no hiking or off-road driving! The collection area is along a road; when rocks are cleared from the orchard, they are added to the pile.
You will want to bring:
- Hat, gloves, sunscreen, water
- Collection bucket for your treasures
- Spray bottle to help identify them
- A pry bar could be handy
- If you plan to climb up into the pile, please wear good boots. Rocks could shift and the surface will be uneven
- There are places for lunch in Exeter or bring your own
The material you will be collecting is a combination of zoisite and thulite. This combination of calcite rich rock will accept a polish. Here are some pictures from prior trips.
SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2022 – SOAPSTONE RIDGE
Trip Report: It was a beautiful day in the foothills, perfect weather for rockhounds. Here are some pictures of the views and rockhounds doing what rockhounds do – walking around with their eyes aimed directly at the ground near them, looking for the perfect treasures, on their knees digging in the dirt, or sharing their finds with fellow rockhounds. Much soapstone found a new home!
Meet at Coulterville Community Park in Coulterville at 10 am. Gas up before you get to Coulterville! Also, the Park provides the last restroom facilities…. Dog-friendly dogs are welcome.
4WD is not necessary, but high-clearance vehicle would be best for the dirt roads we’ll be on.
The soapstone from this location comes in shades of green, white, gray, maybe some red. Rockhounds will typically carve it, as it is relatively soft.
Bring:
- Digging tools to break up large boulders (chisel, pryer, rock hammer). You can also surface collect
- Buckets, bags or crates for your treasures
- Lunch, water (lots of water), sunscreen, hat, chair. There is not much shade at this location
The site is 1.25 to 1.5 hours from Coulterville, so we will arrive there about 11:30
PLEASE RSVP at the Store, (209) 966-4367.
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Ready for a day gem hunting at Ocean View Mine in San Diego County