Oct 6th, 2018 – Field Trip to Red Top West Side (N of Cle Elum)

Past Field Trips

I know this is late notice, but it looks like it will be a beautiful Fall day this Sat. and I want to get one more shot at the agate and jasper around Red Top before winter weather prevails there.  So I’m going up there digging and anyone that wants to join me is welcome.

There is no hike involved, but you do need to cross a rock slide which is fairly steep.  Dig site is just above the rock slide.  The agate is fairly plentiful just under the surface there, and is a light blueish grey color.  The jasper has nice creamy blue and brown tones, sometimes with blue veins or inclusions, occasional bright reds which are awesome.  Crystals can be found in the hard rock as well as in the rock slide and dig holes.   

Meet at 9:45 at the Mineral Springs Store (Mineral Springs Resort on Google Maps) 27510 US-97.  If you pass FR 9738 (Blue Creek Rd), you’ve gone too far, as this is the road that the group will take towards the dig site.  Mineral Springs is about a 2 hour drive from Renton/Kent, over Snoqualmie Pass.
Group leaves promptly at 10:00.  Dig and hard rock tools.

Roger Danneman cell # 425-757-3506.

Updated: October 9, 2018 — 7:39 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.

  • Maureen will speak on the geology and the movement of the Washington coastline over millions of years. 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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