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Field Collecting is Alive and Well
By Paul Harter
Several months ago Sam Nasser lamented the demise of field collecting, including the lack of collecting locations, perhaps implying the "Golden Age" had come and gone. I respectfully disagree.
As my Friend Jim Bleess is fond of saying, "Grandpa worked hard for what he found." The same is true today. For those willing to persevere, the last ten to fifteen years have produced some of the best field collected specimens which Mother Nature has yielded. While we can debate whether someone is an amateur (casual) collector or a professional, hard work and diligence are characteristics of both. Today I will focus on the amateur collector.
Let me say before we begin our review I most assuredly will forget someone or some particular locality. Any omissions are due exclusively to my short memory, and not born of ill will or jealousy.
All Field collecting adventures require a degree, either greater or lesser, of investigation and prospecting. Let us begin our review with one of the more accessible locations as well as prolific. Diamond Point, Gila County, an easy drive from either Phoenix or Tucson has produced stunning quartz crystals, from tiny crystals which are gem clear to "Great Grandpa" in Les Presmyk's collection. These specimens show shades of purple, pale to dark. The crystals are loose or on matrix. Most important, they are fun to dig, can be collected by anyone and are a great addition to ones collection.
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Who among us has not marveled at the gorgeous scepters Bill Hefron as collected. Although he has not shared the location, his success confirms that if you are willing to get out, walk, and spend time prospecting you can be successful.
Dick Morris and Mark Hay have repeatedly shown that research and prospecting go hand in hand. How many hours have they spent pouring over old articles at the various libraries in our state and then prospecting as a follow up to their research. Recently we have been treated to a spectacular showing of fluorite from Mohave County. Not just the Homestake mine, but others as well . Their hard work has paid dividends for all collectors of Arizona minerals. While this location is not generally available to collectors, has anyone else been searching for another fluorite location?
Over the last several years vanadinite has been field collected at several location, some more accessible than others. Regardless of skill, ability or ambition, any of us could have collected vanadinite had we so desired. Puzzler and Ramsey are both familiar names and mines which have been available and accessible for field collecting. Although a professional mineral collector, our friend George Godas collected what is undoubtedly the finest North American vanadinite from the Pure Potential or North Geronimo. Is there another location waiting to be found.? I hope so.
(Continued on page 4)
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