Clipper Mine Field Trip Report October 2017

Field trip reports

We explored the tailings pile of the abandoned Clipper Mine out past Carbonado in Pierce County. We were looking for Copper, Azurite and Chrysacolla.

Met at the Rosie’s IGA Market (closed) behind the Chevron Station, Buckley, WA 98321. Our Field trip guide was Tony Johnson.  The group left promptly at 9 am with all our tools and equipment in hand.

We DID NOT enter the mine as it’s too dangerous. Our rock hunting skills were confined to the tailings pile. After all this time it still has a lot of good stuff to be found. Kids also get rid of a lot energy climbing up and down the tailings pile.  Everyone came home with some good specimen’s. One of our new younger members (his first ever field trip) found a great crystal cluster.

This field trip is always so much fun and we always find good stuff.

 

A little bit of history on the Clipper Mine:
The Clipper Mine is located in the Carbon River Mining District of Pierce County WA at an elevation of 3823 feet. The first discoveries in the district were around 1898. The Clipper was part of the Surprise group of claims dating to around 1901. The Leola Mining Company drove the Clipper tunnel using three shifts of men. They were following a lead copper ore vein that at the opening was a 15 inch width and eventually grew to a 15 foot vein. Assays showed $43 a ton in copper, silver, and gold after 380 feet of tunnel had been run.

The Clipper mine had also been known by the name Mother’s Day mine at some point in it’s history. The workings of the mine consist of 1200 feet of tunnel with several short crosscuts or horizontal branches.
Here is a link to the website with pictures. http://www.ghosttownsofwashington.com/clipper-mine.html

Updated: January 5, 2018 — 9:26 pm

Presidents Message

  • From the Top of the Rock Pile Our annual club picnic went off great. The grass and Arboretum area was not wet or muddy, plus it didn’t rain while we were there. We had the usual club members attend, plus a few new faces. I forgot to count how many people attended, but I estimate around 40. Thank you, Angie and Brian, for shopping for the food and setting everything up. Thumbler’s Tumblers donated a tumbler for our picnic auction and another one for our holiday auction in December. The new double-barreled 15# tumbler sold for $120, approximately one-third the …

Meeting Announcements

  • We are going to show a video of the most unusual and amazing things found in Amber. It isn’t just insects. We are also going to have a recap of how our Gem Show did last month. Show ‘n Tell: An item that has something trapped inside or a picture rock, thunder egg, or geode that looks like it has an insect, animal, or face inside.

  • This meeting will cover the “Geologic History of Washington State.” The meeting will be an interactive program designed to tell the story of the complex geologic history of our state. It works for kids as well as adults, with families working together to assemble the state.   Show ‘n Tell: Favorite rock or mineral from Washington.

  • Glen Ripper is a leading authority on Obsidian. He is a walking encyclopedia which should make this an interesting and educational meeting. Show ‘n Tell: Obsidian – let’s see your colors.

  •   We start the day off with a potluck holiday meal. The club provides roasted turkey and ham. Members fill in with their favorite holiday potluck dish. We follow our meal with the election of officers for the coming year. Our final activity is our club auction. It is a great time to pick up great bargains on rough rocks, polished rocks, slabs, fossils, opal, etc. Our Young Tumblers can use their Rock Bucks to purchase auction items. This meeting is also our semi-annual food drive for the Kent Food Bank. Please remember to bring something. The Food Bank has informed us that they need feminine hygiene products and grape or strawberry jelly. People donate loads of peanut butter but never jelly. They also receive very few donations of feminine hygiene products.

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