| Kentucky/Illinois Fluorite Trip-Oct 7 to 9th, 2006 | ||
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When I gave my KY fluorite presentation to the WMC last June several
people expressed interest in the trip that I am planning for this
coming October. Well, the plans are made and I still have some
openings for additional collectors so I am opening it up to other
Mass. clubs in addition to the Boston Mineral club. Here is an
announcement to pass along to your members. Time is critical here so
please try to distribute it ASAP before the trip is filled. I will
separately contact those who expressed an interest at the meeting.
Nate Martin
BMC fieldtrip coordinator
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I am leading a Boston Mineral Club fieldtrip to Marion, KY in early
October to collect at fluorite localities in Kentucky and Illinois. I
am planning to take 30 people on this trip so far have about 15
registered from the BMC. Thus I am opening it to members of other
Massachusetts clubs in addition to Boston Mineral club members. This
will be my third trip into this area and I am looking forward to
introducing others to this unique collecting opportunity. Please
circulate this to your members and have them contact me immediately if
they are interested. Other details are included in the announcement
below.
Nate Martin
Kentucky/Illinois Fluorite Field Trip
Saturday thru Monday, October 7th To 9th, 2006
This trip has been confirmed and it will provide field collecting
opportunities in both Kentucky and Illinois over the Columbus Day
weekend. It also will include visits to both the Clement Mineral
Museum in Marion, KY and the American Fluorite Museum in Rosiclare,
IL to see some of the best fluorite specimens in the world. The trip
agenda is as follows:
Saturday, 7 October.
Meet at 8 AM in the parking lot of the Clement Mineral Museum in
Marion, KY. Travel in caravan to a nearby mine area to collect
fluorite, "ruby-jack" sphalerite, galena, smithsonite and other
minerals from the dumps of several WWII vintage mines located near
Marion, KY. We will concentrate our efforts on the Eureka and
Columbia Mines where the dumps will have been recently turned to
provide us with fresh material to collect. On my most recent trip
there in April, the Eureka mine dumps produced by far the best
fluorite specimens including dark purple cubes greater than 1" on edge
with complex stepped faces. After dinner in Marion, KY we will have
special access to the Clement Mineral Museum starting at 7 PM. See
their website at
idea of the quality of the minerals on display.
Sunday, 8 October.
We will again meet at 8 AM in the parking lot of the Clement Mineral
Museum in Marion, KY. This time however we will drive to the Ohio
River, take a small ferry to Cave-in Rock, IL and proceed to collect
at the former site of the heavy media mill near Cave-in-Rock. In the
afternoon people will have the option of visiting the American
Fluorite Museum in Rosiclare, IL (open until 4 PM) or collecting at
another Illinois fluorite or fossil locality. Sunday evening will
feature a nighttime collecting opportunity back in KY for
multi-colored fluorescent minerals.
Monday, 9 October (Columbus Day).
For some this may be a travel day back to Massachusetts but Monday
morning and early afternoon will feature additional collecting in KY.
We will again meet at 8 AM in the parking lot of the Clement Mineral
Museum in Marion, KY and will leave from there to collect at the
dumps of the Lafayette Mine and/or make a quick visit to the closed
Babb/Barnes Fluorite Mill to see the head frame and processing
buildings. I plan to leave by 1:30 PM to catch my early evening
flight back to Boston.
Rules & Guidelines:
Come prepared with dump digging tools plus a crack hammer & chisels
for splitting rocks and/or trimming specimens. Bring an UV light if
you want to do fluorescent collecting at night. If you plan to fly
into Nashville you will not want to bring too many tools due to
baggage weight restrictions but some may want a heavier sledge hammer
and pry bar for boulder busting. Collecting buckets (5 gal paint
buckets) can be purchased at minimal cost when you get to Nashville.
BMC or other EFMLS club membership, signing of the BMC liability
release, gloves, eye protection, and sturdy boots are also required.
Bug spray and specimen wrapping materials are always a good idea.
Bring extra luggage to take specimens back with you but pay attention
to your airline's luggage limits. Note that some members plan to
drive and we may be able to arrange to send a few heavier tools with
them.
Travel Issues
If you are planning to fly, I recommend flying into Nashville, TN on
either Southwest or US Airways. Southwest allows three checked bags
at 50 lbs per bag but at this point in time the best fares seem to be
on US Airways. You will then need to rent a car for the 126 mile
drive up to Marion, KY.
For local lodging information, go to the Marion, KY website at
I have already made my reservation at Myers Bed and Breakfast in
Marion ($70/night for 2 people including breakfast & all taxes, cash
or check only). Others plan to stay at the Marion Inn. The Royal
Guest Inn & Suites is a small motel in town that has changed names and
claims to be recently upgraded since I stayed there a couple of years
ago so it may be OK if your standards are not too high.
Registration:
It is important to plan early for this trip. Lodging options in
Marion, KY are limited and if you plan to fly into Nashville you
should make your reservations early to get the best price. In
addition, there will be a limit on the number of people who can
attend. Thirty people will be allowed to attend this trip and I am
opening it up to other local clubs including the Worcester, North
Shore and South Shore Clubs. Please register with trip-leader Nathan
Martin as soon as possible by email at rocknate@gmail.com or by
telephone at (781)674-0017. Since we are having excavation work done
at the Eureka and Columbia Mines there will be a fee of $40/person for
the trip. However, the BMC board has agreed to cover half of this
cost for BMC members so that the cost for BMC members is reduced to
$20/person. To reserve your spot on this trip you must reconfirm your
intent to go AND send a check made out to the Boston Mineral Club no
later than 15 September. Mail the check to Boston Mineral Club, c/o
Nathan Martin, 8 Elena Road, Lexington, MA 02421-7437. Detailed
travel directions from Nashville and updates on the trip agenda will
be provided to those who register. This is a great chance to see
another part of the country, collect some good fluorite specimens, see
two interesting mineral museums and generally have a great time.
Don't miss it!
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