Rock Hunting for the 1st Time

I thought this would be nice to share with you.

At first, I wasn't going to post this, but then I thought it was MY experience with rocks and my own photos; no reason not to, so why not?  Yah?  OK!

Since I was a kid I have always thought that rocks were fascinating; I would spend hours pouring over my grandma's rock collection.  You could catch me picking up rocks, looking them over and stuffing them in my pockets anytime I was near an area with a lot of rocks.  There were times after a big rain storm I would find the coolest river worn pebbles in the gutters of the neighborhood ... my brothers thought I was weird.  So, it was just grandma and me that appreciated a good rock.  

Over the years I found cool rocks here and there on walks, hikes, and vacations without concerted effort - they were just there, I saw them and took them with me.  Nearly every spring and summer after the garden has been plowed, more rocks will just turn up and I'll collect a few more; just this summer I found a neat green rock about the size of my palm! And even in Target's parking lot this spring I found two interesting pebbles - so what I'm saying is that I have never specifically, on purpose, gone rock-hunting ... until now!

This past June, 2014, I had the opportunity to go on my first ever rock-hunting field trip!  A friend that I had at the time asked me to go and we went to Utah's west desert.

June 5, 2014, in Utah's west desert.

We started out early and headed out to the Dugway mountains.  I wanted it to be a fun adventure, but I was quite worried as I had just battled 3 days of the stomach flu that had been going around, and I was worn-out.  My stomach was raw and sore, yet the draw of maybe finding a 'killer' rock was hard to resist.  The day was beautiful; clear skies, perfect temperatures, and a nice breeze which helped take my mind off the pain and give me hope for a great day.

Along the way we saw antelope; the only time I saw more than one antelope at a time was a mama and baby antelope.  I don't know if they are solitary animals or that we just didn't catch them 'hanging out' that day.  I missed a whole lot of opportunities to take photos - didn't want to make my ride stop every little while just so I could satisfy my other hobby = photography.  We were hunting rocks, not photo ops.

photo from internet:  Pronghorns, west desert, Utah - Mia McPherson

There were lots of prairie dogs, squirrels, and chipmunks running around and one 'mormon cricket'.  The only reason I saw that one is because we stopped to look at it.  Thank goodness it wasn't infestation time.....didn't want a photo of the horribly ugly, disgusting little giant insect.  ick 

photo from internet:  Mormon cricket (Anabrus simplex)

And to my dismay, there were cows!  I did not like the fact that so many cows (most were black) were out there in the desert where there was NO shade, NO visible source of water, and NO shelter. Cows are not wild and I abhor the conditions they have to live under.  A big FAIL to the ranchers out there.  :(

June 5, 2014, in Utah's west desert.

When we got to our destination, I was able to collect some neat rocks that were just lying around. That was nice because first, I wasn't feeling very well, and second, as of that time I hadn't yet invested in rock-hounding tools/equipment.  It's kind of funny though, 'cause when I got home and washed the rocks - I wondered why I had even picked them up!  They didn't look as good, now.  Then I remembered that I was wearing polarized sunglasses that day and they make everything look deeper/richer in color.  sheesh

These are the rocks I picked up in the first area we stopped to 'hunt'.   Yah, I know.....if they were fish I'd throw 'em back.  Click the pic for larger view.

Closeups of a few that aren't so bad:

I don't know what the rock is but I like the sparkly burgundy and mauve.

Amethyst

 Amethyst and Dendrite Crystals

Love the colors; reminds me of a desert sunset.

June 5, 2014, in Utah's west desert.

Collected some Hematite that was just a little ways from the side the road - no digging required!

Hematite; large piece measures 7.5"  x  5"  x  5.25"

Love that burgundy color!

Now, on to the Geode Beds!  Saw that very sign.

photo from internet

photo from internet:  Dugway Geode Beds

The photo above looks similar to where we stopped to look for Geodes (except there weren't any puddles).  I was hoping to find a nice round Geode - no such luck.  I'm sure they were there, but as it was around 1p.m., getting uncomfortably hot and by now I really wasn't feeling well - all that bending over to pick up rocks had made my stomach cramp and nauseous -  so I didn't scout very hard.  I took what was easily found and if I had my head about me (felt well) I would have opted to open the Geode at home; it was opened right there.  

A dumb thing happened when I was carrying the pieces back to the vehicle, I cut my thumb on the crystals inside the Geode!  You know how finger cuts seem to bleed way more than you ever think is possible.....well, yah, it bled on my pretty crystals, all down my hand, and dripped into the sand. By the time I finally got a bandage on it, I was shaking!  I think it was a combination of several things: not feeling well and anxious to get home; anxious to not spoil the outing, anxious to not pass out and it scared me losing what looked like a lot of blood even though I know it wasn't.  Plus, the type of bandages that came with my first-aid kit = total crap! I went through 7 bandages in less than 20 minutes; all because they just wouldn't stay on; the adhesive bit the dust only minutes after application.  Glad I didn't really hurt myself.....stOOpid worthless bandages.  Moral: replace first-aid kit contents with the best you can afford the day before you go on an outing/trip/vacation.

So anyway..... here's the Geode that I paid for literally with my blood, sweat, and tears.

In reassembling the Geode I tied them together when I found a matching piece; it was the only way to get it back together.....but I couldn't find where the two pieces on the left should go.

It has such a weird shape - a conglomeration of many smaller geodes that came to rest and form together.  You can see by what pieces I do have back together, just how many pieces are missing - quite a lot.

I regret not being cognisant enough to find all the parts that flew/came off while opening the Geode; would have made reassembling it so much easier - as it is, it's like putting a puzzle together with only half the pieces. !

These are the pieces that fit and were tied in the previous photos.  

I had a difficult time photographing this Geode, so many strange, awkward angles and the colors were very hard to get a correct representation.  Because of this, I'll only be showing a few photos - otherwise there would be at least 20 or more photos showing all the crazy sides and angles.  Plus, let's be honest, it's not a very good looking Geode anyway.

 Closeup below

Imagine if you will, in a galaxy far, far away.....

To me this looks like endless stars seen through celestial gases swirling in formation of a new galaxy.  Wild, yah? !

 Looks like another galaxy inside this one...

This piece...the oddest and macabre...

What does that look like to you?  A skull, mangled with fragments missing that expose the agatized gray matter inside.....perhaps?

This Geode has such a strange shape with so many angles and with so much missing, I cannot figure out where these pieces go!  The contour and formation patterns don't match any part of the other pieces; I just know the missing parts fit the pieces above and then with those pieces it would all finally fit right back together.  I wonder if some of the bits were left in the vehicle of my ride. ??

Moral:  Never do anything while feeling ill because you won't have your head about you in order to do things correctly.  "Your brain on pain is a strain with results lame."  ~ me, JH   ;)

So, anyone interested in this Geode?  I'd be happy to trade.  

A small bit of a Geode I found - wish I could have found the rest of it but I bet the big/good part was taken home by someone else.  Nice colors.

Time for lunch with a stop at Simpson Springs Campground - the only trees for miles and miles and miles.....I think my head was already back home, having chicken soup and heading for a nap because below is the only photo I took of the campsite and it was taken after leaving it!  

I even blew a chance to photograph a darling squirrel at the campground - sheesh!  It was soooo cute, too.  Looked just like the squirrel below.

photo from internet

photo from internet

The little 'guy' liked/gobbled the goldfish that I tossed his way; they even eat cute! After eating his fill, he gathered up every single fish left and headed back to his home (I suppose).  Crud, I cannot believe that I missed such a great photo op.....a brain on pain doesn't think well.  Case in point; I lost track of my prescription sunglasses but remembered just as we were leaving the campground and I couldn't find them; got out of the vehicle to look, and yada yada yada, they were bent.  They weren't too bad and that's why I don't think they were run over, but were certainly stepped on.  I got them straightened and they're fine now.  :)   YaY

Earlier in the day on the way to the first destination I noticed some pretty flowers right next to the side of the dirt road.  You really couldn't miss them, they were the only thing of color in sight among the drab/dead sagebrush.  Going by so fast, I didn't get a good look but I thought maybe they were Sego Lilies; Utah's state flower!  So, on the way back, I hoped to spot them again and stop for photos.....and I did! 

This is what I thought might be Sego Lilies.  It was a big bunch with the tallest being about 18" from the ground.

Actually, quite a pretty poppy-looking blossom, but the greenery was super prickly!  Thorns ruin everything.

These are actual Sego Lilies.  Wasn't too far off, was I. Pretty good eye for speeding by, wouldn't you say?  Well, I did used to be a florist.  :)

Our last stop was to one of the Pony Express Stations - Historic Landmark.  I like history, so for me this was fun to see.

Click the pic if you'd like to read the marker.

Click the pic if you'd like to read the info.

Inside the station.

View to the west of the Pony Express Station.  In the photo on the extreme right is some really cool mint green colored rocks; I don't know what they are but there's more to the left (at about the same level as the ones on the right).

Such a pretty day..... and now we were homeward bound.

Comments?  Please.