Scott
Northouse and I were once again exploring high and low in the foothills
of California
looking for minerals. Today we were extremely fortunate and found
a great pocket!
A
very mysterious morning in a very mysterious place!
Scott
Northouse and I looked at any rock exposures we could find, in these
misty morning mountains-
After
we searched for a while, I was shocked when I spotted a *VIRGIN*
pocket of large gemmy Axinite blades! I have never found a
pocket of, or collected a good specimen of Axinite before.
That's all about to change! Pictured below is the initial
1 inch (2.5cm) discovery crystal, with other Axinite crystals
showing in the pocket mud-
We
dug in!!!
Here's a nice 1 inch (2.5cm) Axinite crystal
in the pocket-
And
the same crystal after extraction-
Scott's
like WOW!!!
Axinite
is Cool!
Then
the pocket became really well defined for a little while and rapidly
produced dozens of great Axinite crystals!
The
vein was lined with cruddy Axinites and the center was filled with
gemmy Axinite blades and pocket clay!
Time
to stop collecting and do some needed specimens wrapping!
And
then, this gemmy jewel of a 3cm Axinite came out!
The
piece, pictured above, after cleaning-
Another
killer 3cm+
gemmy Axinite crystal!
The
pocket progressed-
A
1.5 inch (4cm) Axinite crystal
in the pocket!
And
then I found a monstrous ~2 inch (4.5cm) Axinite blade
floating in the pocket clay!!!!
The
4.5cm Axinite crystal,
pictured above, after
recovery and cleaning-
Scott
scores a nice one!
After
spending almost 5 hours working the Axinite zone into oblivion,
it was back to driving, hiking and looking, with no other finds
for the day, but it was
an excuse to see some beautiful areas.
It sure was a AWESOME day!
A
little that lead to a lot!
Here are some of the best Axinite crystals
from the pocket, ranging up to almost 2 inches (4.5cm) across!
The 1 inch (2.5cm) specimen at the center, just below the
largest blade,
is the initial discovery crystal!
