Hobbies And Interests
Public Sunstone Sites
The Bureau of Land Management permits the public to hunt Oregon sunstones within a portion of the Lakeview Resource Area clearly marked "Sunstone Collection Area." The collection area is 23 miles north of Plush, Oregon. There is no charge to collect sunstones by hand or with hand tools, however, mechanical equipment is forbidden. The Bureau of Land Management maintains a second collection area at Sunstone Knoll near Delta, Oregon, that yields only yellow sunstones.
Private Sunstone Sites
As of 2010, two private mines, the Spectrum Sunstone Mine and Dust Devil Mining, located near Plush, offer guided digs for a fee beginning at $50 per person. Rockhounds hunt sunstones with hand tools and screens provided by the mines or walk through the property searching for the glint of a sunstone.
Hunting Equipment and Safety
Sunstone hunting requires little basic equipment: a shovel to dig with and a plastic bucket to carry the sunstones. To be safe, sunstone hunters wear safety goggles and work gloves. Dressing in layers provides the best protection against extreme temperatures. Because sunstone hunters often go to remote locations, they carry water and high energy snacks.