Here's a new resource for every Rockhound ...

Now, I know that there are tons of Rockhounding sites out here on the Net. Still,  I haven't seen one that really acts as not only a place to post Field Trip reports, but a place to organize and communicate with others wishing to plan and execute great field trips.

So, I went out and started Rockhound Field Trip Fanatics! This Ning site has every tool that you need to communicate, coordinate and promote your Field Trip, or post your Trip reports, pictures and videos.
There are forums, event announcements and personal pages.
Perhaps the most useful feature is the "Groups" feature, which allows Members to post messages by specific categories of interest, directly to those who share that interest.

I've already posted some pics and the Little Panoche Field Trip, so go take a look, get connected and start sharing our hobby with everyone we can!

Re: The Panoche Field Trip and the Weather ...

    We will definitely be going on this trip, rain or shine! We have folks coming from all over the state and it's one of those sandy, flat land sites that yields material the moment you open your car door. (Well, ok ... you might have to walk 10 yards ... )

Go ahead and zoom the Google Map for the site in all of the way, and you'll get a street level view of the site. It's one of that rare breed, a truly productive surface site that has been completely overlooked, as far as we can tell.

When you reach the correct offramp (Shields Ave. / J-1 / Little Panoche Road ) you'll see a 4 foot sign that says "Rocks!" with an arrow pointing the way.

If you're in need of a place to RV camp, or a good motel, or food, or a market or ...
Well, CIVILIZATION... be sure to check out my Tumey Hills/ Panoche Road Google Map.
It's only about 1/2 hour south of the Little Panoche collecting site.

So, bring along your rain ponchos, and if you have one, a folding picnic shelter. Remember your folding camp chairs, too. The weather forecast is for partly cloudy, and the site is lush & green, and dust free!
It's truly the best time of year to visit, the wildflowers are lovely!

We look forward to meeting you, and seeing what you bring to swap!

Be Well!
              Kris
 P.S: If you're attending and need my phone number for "just in case," feel free to drop me an email at
lapidary.specialties@gmail.com         

More from the "You never know what you might find" file ...

To "whet your whistle" for the upcoming Field Trip to the Little Panoche Reservoir site here are some more pics!

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First, some from my Field Partner, Mark:

A fine, brecciated "jasp-agate" fom the Panoche Hills

Another fine "jasp-agate" with incredible "plumes!"

A "poppy" jasper of the "Morgan Hill" variety,

collected in the Panoche Hills of Fresno County!
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I recently joined the Fresno Gem & Mineral Society, and had the chance to cut and show around the "jello salad" jasper that was recently collected at the Little Panoche Reservoir site that was ferreted out by my partner Mark. He'd been looking around with Google Maps and got that old "feeling" about the area, so we went there on a day long trip in December.

Different light sources were used for each photo

Here are some pics of the pre-polished slab, complete with saw marks still intact! Yes, I WILL be polishing them out, I'm simply in a long established process of "learning the stone."

So far, there are marked variations in hardness between the darkest green areas and the largest quartz "stringers." There's a tendency to undercut, and the polish was "metallic" with tin oxide.
I expect that cerium oxide, or possibly high mesh diamond will give a mirror polish and stop the undercutting.

Will the fractures prove to be a problem or a "feature?"
Stay tuned!

As with any "new" material, there's a learning curve. I tell student lapidaries that they have to learn that most dreaded of all virtues ... PATIENCE!
I explain that, if they take the time to learn what each new material is trying to teach them, rather than simply "bullying" the stone, they'll save trouble, sweat, blood (literally!) and most importantly, valuable material.
You never know, especially in the case of alluvial materials, whether you'll ever find a comparable piece. So, to end my lecture, I say simply; Treat every stone as "precious."

My other advice for today? Plan to attend the February 27th Field trip! Email me for more info!