Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
How to Mine Garnet Gemstones
Learn to identify garnet gemstones. The numerous varieties mostly reflect the assorted colors that can be found, according the U.S. Geographical Survey website. Among them are: hessonite, an orange, light brown or pinkish stone; tsavorite and melanite, dark green stones; malaya, a red, orange, brownish or pink stone; and rhodolite, a purplish-red stone.
Select an area where you would like to mine. The garnet is more abundant in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah and Virginia, according to the USGS website page about garnets.
Prepare for your day by dressing appropriately. Wear clothes that you won't mind getting dirty and bring a spare set of clothes to change into when you are done. Rubber boots, such as a simple pair of galoshes, also are recommended, according the Gem Capital of the World web page.
Take cushions to sit on while you are mining. The wooden benches used by most gem-mining sites are uncomfortable over a long period of time. If you intend to stay the entire day, cushions will help make your experience more enjoyable.
Bring bags in which to put your gem finds. Resealable bags are sufficient.
Anticipate an admission fee, which at most sites will generally buy you a bag or a bucket of gem dirt, according to the Gem Capital of the World web page. Your fee also will provide you with a screen, which you will use to you sift through the dirt.
Find a spot on the wooden benches along the flume, which is a trough of running water, where you will mine for your gemstones.
Fill your screen with the dirt provided with your admission and carefully let water run though it. Larger stones will remain as the water washes the smaller particles away.
Use your knowledge of garnet gemstones to identify your findings. An excellent source from which to learn is "The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones: A Complete Guide to Appraising and Using Precious Stones From Cut and Color to Shape and Settings" by Judith Crowe. The book not only will provide identification techniques, but will explain how to determine a gemstone's worth. Attendants typically are stationed at mining locations to assist you in identification also.