[Rockhounds] Barton Garnet Mines

[Pmodreski at aol.com]

Hi Kreigh,
 
I'm sure you'll love it, if you get to visit the Barton garnet mine.   I was 
glad to read that the company does still keep it open to visitors.   I've only 
ever been there once, years and years (make that decades &  decades) ago--in 
fact, possibly on the same Penn State geology field trip when  Earl Verbeek 
was there.  But it is very unique rock, and--to those of us  who like "rocks" 
with interesting patterns of minerals in them, even if they are  neither (a) 
facetable or (b) in good "display quality" crystals--it is super  neat stuff. 
It's one of those rocks that one recognizes immediately when you see  pieces here 
and there on display in museums or other rock displays, anywhere in  the 
country.  It'll be interesting how large are the specimens that it is  possible to 
obtain if you visit the mine; when we were there, we could readily  pick up 
melon-sized specimens (as big as we could reasonably impose on our field  trip 
leaders to carry along in the vehicles).
 
Lots of other neat stuff in the Adirondacks, too.  Nice area.
 
Cheers,
Pete
 
 
In a message dated 11/14/2008 9:12:00 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,  
Kreigh at tomaszewski.net writes:

Thanks  Earl!

I'm negotiating with my siblings for a family reunion camping  trip next 
summer and the mine is reasonably near the midpoint between us  this 
year. They know I won't come if I can't collect something interesting  
nearby; most of them join me when I do go collecting. I thought the  
mine was interesting when I researched the area, but you convinced me.  
Expect to find me at the Brown Tract Pond Campground in Raquette Lake,  
NY in mid summer this coming year -- dates yet to be decided (my oldest  
sister and I are twisting arms on the location and expect to win). If  
amy of you on the list are interested in joining us please let me know  
and I'll let you know the dates once we reach  agreement.

Kreigh



On Friday, Nov 14, 2008, at 20:47  America/Detroit, Earl R. Verbeek 
wrote:

> Yes, that's  correct.  If you go to this mine, think "rock specimens" as
>  opposed to "mineral specimens".  The rock is spectacular, though.   
> Imagine
> numerous baseball-sized crystals of red garnet  surrounded by a 
> reaction rim
> of black amphibole embedded in  amphibole-feldspar gneiss.  Damn this 
> stuff
> is  good!  But I'm a geologist and get excited about such things.  A  
> mineral
> collector fixated on free-standing, gem-quality  crystals -- that is, on
> mineral aesthetics -- probably wouldn't find  much of interest here, 
> but if
> you are a *true* lover of  minerals and get just as excited about a 
> black
> lump of  metamict euxenite as you would from a transparent tourmaline
> crystal,  this is a locality you'll love.  Go!!
>
>       Cheers-   Earl Verbeek
>
>
>  On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:32:25 -0500,  wrote:
>> Massive red  garnet, lumpish, locked in matrix. Some chance of facet
>  rough.
>> Moderately interesting specimens; eg study grade for a  mineralogy 
>> course.
>
>> That's what I've  heard.
>>
>> T
>>
>>
>> -----  Original Message -----
>> From: "Kreigh Tomaszewski"  <Kreigh at tomaszewski.net>
>> To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A  mailing list for rock and gem 
>> collectors"
>>  <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
>> Sent: Friday, November 14,  2008 7:49 PM
>> Subject: [Rockhounds] Barton Garnet  Mines
>>
>>
>>> The Barton Garnet Mines in North  River, New York, produce something 
>>>  like
>>
>>> 80% of the abrasive garnet sold commercially.  They allow public 
>>> access
>> to
>>> their  #1 pit that is no longer being mined for $10 a head, plus $1 a
>>  pound
>>> for what you take out.
>>>
>>>  Has anyone collected there? Is it worth the price? Is there  roadside
>>> collecting in the area that would be worthwhile? Is  there any chance 
>>> of
>>> getting into any of their  other pits?
>>>
>>>
>>> --  
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>>
>>
>
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