Post subject: Rumor has it? Garnet volcano in Arizona?
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 11:51 pm
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Tue May 28, 2013 9:44 pm Posts: 711 Location: Las Vegas
Rumor has it there is a garnet bearing dead volcano in Arizona bordering Nevada, they say the boulders that have fallen in the river show large deposits. Has anyone been there? What's the quality of the rough? Do you have a location? Directions.
this would be a fun stop on the way to the AZ show this year, any info would be great!
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Post subject: Re: Rumor has it? Garnet volcano in Arizona?
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 10:25 pm
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:06 pm Posts: 2267 Location: Chapel Hill, NC / Toronto, ON
As far as I know, this is referring to the Navajo volcanic fields in the Four Corners area. The only interesting stuff here is some included peridot and some pitch-black pyrope garnet that ants carry out of their anthills.
Post subject: Re: Rumor has it? Garnet volcano in Arizona?
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 12:35 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:10 am Posts: 584
I've been to that volcano...there are garnets galore studding the lava flows...you need a heat shield and a long rod of some type of heat resistant metal to pluck the stones from the cooling lava...be quick or they are hard to get out. they are worth over 100 dollars a carat in the rough and the average size is at least 40 carats...going back tomorrow with a better heat shield.
Post subject: Re: Rumor has it? Garnet volcano in Arizona?
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 1:41 am
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:06 pm Posts: 2267 Location: Chapel Hill, NC / Toronto, ON
stairman wrote:
I've been to that volcano...there are garnets galore studding the lava flows...you need a heat shield and a long rod of some type of heat resistant metal to pluck the stones from the cooling lava...be quick or they are hard to get out...going back tomorrow with a better heat shield.
wat
Last edited by Faceting 101 by Arya on Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
@Arya: Sorry to ask an obvious/dumb question, but you don't mean "Anthill Garnets", do you? http://gemologyonline.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8837 They're a relatively famous chromium-rich pyrope, apparently considered a big deal in some circles. They're kinda dark but not black, and when cut in smaller sizes show a very rich red hue and sell for a variable premium. I've seen some in person (and on JTV )--while they are beautiful, my socks remained mostly un-knocked-off. But they do have a neat story behind them and a special trade name. (I've kinda wondered about them--Cr-rich pyrope is an indicator mineral for Kimberlites, after all...) That all said, I don't think that they really match what GM is talking about.
stairman wrote:
I've been to that volcano...there are garnets galore studding the lava flows...you need a heat shield and a long rod of some type of heat resistant metal to pluck the stones from the cooling lava...be quick or they are hard to get out. they are worth over 100 dollars a carat in the rough and the average size is at least 40 carats...going back tomorrow with a better heat shield.
Heh, you'd need Herodotus's giant gold-digging ants to build a hill out of those...
I've been to that volcano...there are garnets galore studding the lava flows...you need a heat shield and a long rod of some type of heat resistant metal to pluck the stones from the cooling lava...be quick or they are hard to get out. they are worth over 100 dollars a carat in the rough and the average size is at least 40 carats...going back tomorrow with a better heat shield.
Post subject: Re: Rumor has it? Garnet volcano in Arizona?
Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 5:55 pm
Moderator
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:42 pm Posts: 4091 Location: the Netherlands
stairman wrote:
I've been to that volcano...there are garnets galore studding the lava flows...you need a heat shield and a long rod of some type of heat resistant metal to pluck the stones from the cooling lava...be quick or they are hard to get out. they are worth over 100 dollars a carat in the rough and the average size is at least 40 carats...going back tomorrow with a better heat shield.
Post subject: Re: Rumor has it? Garnet volcano in Arizona?
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 2:31 pm
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Tue May 28, 2013 9:44 pm Posts: 711 Location: Las Vegas
Humor at my expense no worries, but i am not talking about the 4 corners fields. its a lone small dead volcano next to the Colorado river. and is garnet bearing, there also have been found in the area small pockets of tourmaline and beryl no bigger than pencils. its a very interesting local i would like to investigate. I did track down some lore and found out by a rafting guide that it is only accessible by the river as there are no roads or by helicopter.
_________________ Life is to short to worry about what others think of you.
Post subject: Re: Rumor has it? Garnet volcano in Arizona?
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 8:06 pm
Established Member
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:25 pm Posts: 11
were you able to find this place?
G_Madison wrote:
Humor at my expense no worries, but i am not talking about the 4 corners fields. its a lone small dead volcano next to the Colorado river. and is garnet bearing, there also have been found in the area small pockets of tourmaline and beryl no bigger than pencils. its a very interesting local i would like to investigate. I did track down some lore and found out by a rafting guide that it is only accessible by the river as there are no roads or by helicopter.
Post subject: Re: Rumor has it? Garnet volcano in Arizona?
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 11:10 pm
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Tue May 28, 2013 9:44 pm Posts: 711 Location: Las Vegas
yes, and i found out more lore about it. I it an ancient volcano that would block the Colorado river and caused flooding in to Arizona making it a wetlands environment. when the water was finally able to break thru again it would cause massive floods down stream carving the canyon even deeper, this has happened millions of times over the life of this planet in this one spot here in earth. When there were wetlands they think that's when the small pegmatite's formed from pools around the volcano that reached the magma thru small pipes. It is a bazar place to say the least, i still have yet to get there as i have a limited budget and cannot afford the helicopter, and its to cold not to hire a guide for a rafting adventure to it. there is no road to it but you can get there by land by buggy or a dirt bike. I might try one of the later later this year if time and funds permit. I plan on at least a week on site so that a minimum of 5 gals water and food for 5 days, double the water if its summer time plus camping gear and pick's ect. its a lot of gear for a weeks time. ohh and gas to for what ever way i decide to get there, if you want even more info, there is a discovery channel special about it, its a quick reference to where and why it's unique but its better than nothing. it is a grand canyon special.
_________________ Life is to short to worry about what others think of you.
Post subject: Re: Rumor has it? Garnet volcano in Arizona?
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 5:01 pm
Established Member
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:25 pm Posts: 11
How far is it in? You could probably hike in and camp. Do you have an email I may contact you at?
G_Madison wrote:
yes, and i found out more lore about it. I it an ancient volcano that would block the Colorado river and caused flooding in to Arizona making it a wetlands environment. when the water was finally able to break thru again it would cause massive floods down stream carving the canyon even deeper, this has happened millions of times over the life of this planet in this one spot here in earth. When there were wetlands they think that's when the small pegmatite's formed from pools around the volcano that reached the magma thru small pipes. It is a bazar place to say the least, i still have yet to get there as i have a limited budget and cannot afford the helicopter, and its to cold not to hire a guide for a rafting adventure to it. there is no road to it but you can get there by land by buggy or a dirt bike. I might try one of the later later this year if time and funds permit. I plan on at least a week on site so that a minimum of 5 gals water and food for 5 days, double the water if its summer time plus camping gear and pick's ect. its a lot of gear for a weeks time. ohh and gas to for what ever way i decide to get there, if you want even more info, there is a discovery channel special about it, its a quick reference to where and why it's unique but its better than nothing. it is a grand canyon special.
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