[Rockhounds] AD: Jeffrey Solution Quartz & Wavellite

[Stu Schmitt]

I recently acquired what might be the last of the Jeffrey Quarry Solution 
Quartz from Charles Steuart (CTS Rock Shop in Hot Springs, AR).  Charles has 
closed his shop and will be selling out.  I have about 500 pounds of the 
Jeffrey material including needle points, haystacks and clusters/points 
peppered with cookeite.  I have sent some of this quartz with Ray McGrew and 
Judy Morton (Judy's Crystals) to be sold at Quartzsite and Tucson.  Judy 
will be set up in Quartzsite at the Desert Gardens (A-B 15-16) Dec 27 - Jan 
28 and in Tucson at The Electric Park Jan 31-Feb17.  They will also have 
around 500 pounds of our Mauldin Mtn wavellite.

We recently acquirred the old BLM 80 acre Avant wavellite and variscite 
lease from Henry deLinde.  Henry dug the area for about one week in the 
early 1970s and it hasn't been touched since.  We plan to start digging at 
Avant in late Feb or early March when Ray gets back from Tucson.  The Avant 
lease is known for its large wavellite balls (up to 2" diameter) and drusy 
green variscite crystals.  We hope to have the material available in March 
or April along with more Mauldin Mtn wavellite.

Here is a link to a web page with photos of Avant when I first visited the 
area with Mr. deLinde on Dec 6, 2006: 
http://www.arcrystalmine.com/avantweb/avant.html

Here is a link to a web page of our Plan of Operation we submitted to BLM 
for approval:
http://www.arcrystalmine.com/POA/POA.html  I think this was the first POA 
submitted to BLM via a webpage and approved by BLM and the Forest Service.

I found the recent discussion about sharing collecting localities 
interesting and it helped me decide what to do with the Avant lease.  I've 
debated about putting up "Keep Out - Private Lease" signs or welcoming 
rockhouds to the area.  The signs would probably anoy the locals who ride 
their 4 wheelers along the top of the ridge and it would be impossible to 
restrict access to the area.  There should be a lot of wavellite and 
variscite in the tailings for rockhounds to pick up and they might want to 
see and buy some of our better specimins.  As of now, rockhouds will be 
welcome.

If any of you would like more information, please contact me off list.

With appreciation & gratitude,
Stuart Schmitt
Clear Creek Crystal Mine
www.arcrystalmine.com
60 Mary's Eagle Trail
Mount Ida, AR 71957
(870) 867-2443