Post Gathering trip to Ruggles Mine with the 12...

granitestateofmind

granitestateofmind

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Apr 20, 2013
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I don't think the 12 is in any of these pics....but it was laced into the MOLLE straps on my pack. I was asked at the gift shop "is that a Becker?" by the young man behind the counter; I got it out and showed it to him and talked up BK&T, the 'Heads and the Gathering. He seemed interested and knowledgeable...perhaps we'll have another younger member here sometime soon. Anyway, this is for my friend galeocerdoshark. Ruggles Mine is a VERY old mica mine....there are LOTS of minerals and EVERYTHING glitters from all the little pieces of mica. The big "books" have long since been removed. Anything you find you can keep; the short list includes amethyst, tourmaline, beryl, garnet, feldspar and quartz crystals. It's not far from Trailbum's house and was a great way to spend the afternoon on the way home from a most excellent weekend.

Mt. Cardigan viewed from the parking lot:

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Heading in:

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It's an open pit mine, but there are plenty of "underground" places to explore:

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A nice example of mica:

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One of the cooler grottoes:

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There were plenty of people hammering away, looking for their fortune (LOL) and plenty of sparks were flying from the steel hitting the quartz (granite).

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[/url]DSCN2162 by granitestateofmind, on Flickr

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[/url]DSCN2164 by granitestateofmind, on Flickr

It looks in some places like an ancient city in the Middle East (hey....I've seen pictures!)

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[/url]DSCN2168 by granitestateofmind, on Flickr

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[/url]DSCN2183 by granitestateofmind, on Flickr

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I think it's just a fascinating place, and although we didn't find much of value on this trip (except for in the gift shop), I'm sure we'll go back. You never know.....

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It was a great day, following an even better weekend.



This was a perfect finish to an even more perfect weekend; many thanks again to trailbum and his family for inviting us up to his neck of the woods.....made this trip easy.
 
Great pics, looks like a great place to explore. How cold was the water in the cave? Looks like it doesn't see a lot of sun.
 
Thanks for posting, GSOM. That scenerey is SPLENDID! Some truly spectacular shots there. Love it. I'd gladly spend a day or more in a quarry like that.
Even though I mostly collect fossils, and uh, knives nowadays, I used to collect minerals and gems as well. Still have that collection, but I don't go out actively looking for them 'cause over here you're mostly hunting micromounts.
Thanks a lot for sharing. Seems like you and the girls had a great time there. What did you bring home from the quarry and/or the gift shop? Now you got me curious!
 
That place looks awesome man. Thanks for sharing.
 
Galeocerdoshark said:
Thanks for posting, GSOM. That scenerey is SPLENDID! Some truly spectacular shots there. Love it. I'd gladly spend a day or more in a quarry like that.
Even though I mostly collect fossils, and uh, knives nowadays, I used to collect minerals and gems as well. Still have that collection, but I don't go out actively looking for them 'cause over here you're mostly hunting micromounts.
Thanks a lot for sharing. Seems like you and the girls had a great time there. What did you bring home from the quarry and/or the gift shop? Now you got me curious!
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I'll see if I can round up some of the booty. Mostly an assortment of feldspar, beryl, quartz and whatever I thought looked cool. Struck out on amethyst and quartz crystals this time (there are some geodes to be found) but I'll see what pics I can get and post them up later for you.
The Warrior said:
That place looks awesome man. Thanks for sharing.
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You're welcome. I always think of you when I do the massive picture thread, oh Master!
 
Wow what a cool place to explore. Could definitely spend a day there smacking rocks for shinies. My daughter (and I) love rock hunting, so a place like that would be right up our alley. Nice that its not roped/sectioned/cordoned off and they actually allow visitors to work the mine. Thanks for sharing.
 
Looks like you three had a great time! I have been waiting for this post! I thought I missed it somehow.

Thanks for posting the pictures. That place looks like fun.

Jeremy
 
Aikiguy said:
Wow what a cool place to explore. Could definitely spend a day there smacking rocks for shinies. My daughter (and I) love rock hunting, so a place like that would be right up our alley. Nice that its not roped/sectioned/cordoned off and they actually allow visitors to work the mine. Thanks for sharing.
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Yah, you know - New Hampshire is the "Live Free or Die" state.....thanks for pointing out what I had taken for granted.
dresnor said:
Looks like you three had a great time! I have been waiting for this post! I thought I missed it somehow.

Thanks for posting the pictures. That place looks like fun.

Jeremy
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camoninja said:
Great pictures, thanks.
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tradewater said:
What an interesting place. Great post and pics.
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You're welcome....and thanks!
 
Looks like you had a great time. Thanks for posting all of the photos. I wish Minnesota looked like that today!
 
granitestateofmind said:
Thanks! It's a cool place. So cool that our 3rd graders make the 2 hr. drive for a field trip. That's how I found out about it, last year. I finagled in as a "chaperone".
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I think it's awesome you let the 3rd graders drive that far. We usually make them wait a couple more years and still catch crap over it.
 
very cool - thanks for the pics.
if you end up back there in the near future, I could use half a dozen pieces about 3" or so square by 1/8" or so thick. :)
 
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