[Rockhounds] Speaking of garnets...

[John Junkroski]

On Oct 15, 2007, at 5:55 PM, Lanny wrote:
(Snip)
>
>  An interesting bit of information is that nearly all the garnet  
> locations (star garnet and those that are facet quality) in the  
> region, at least all of those well known to the rockhound  
> community, are on National Forest acquired lands. Acquired lands  
> (by statute) are not open to mineral entry, thus it is illegal to  
> go out and dig garnets without a permit on these lands.

(Snip)

Lanny,

Thank you for your excellent information on the garnet locations, and  
the outstanding  photos. I hope to spend several weeks next summer in  
that area.
( Retirement is wonderful! )

With respect to your comment ( above ), does this apply to surface  
collecting, or only to "digging holes"?
Could one legally scoop rocks out of the creek bed? I've  been given  
to understand that as long as you don't mess up the stream banks or  
create fox-holes, collecting is permitted pretty much anywhere on  
National Forest and BLM lands.

Have you had any experience obtaining permits for collecting on those  
lands? How bad is the bureaucracy?

Thanks again,
John