raedar63

Can anyone tell me about digging for crystals in Arkansas? I have always wanted to do this and decided I am going in Sept. I have never went more than an hour away alone let alone to a diffrent state but I need to start living a little and this has always been something I have wanted to do and it seems very inexpensive . Four dollars to camp and ten to dig. I may even spring for a hotel if I can find a clean affordable one . Soooooo I am looking for any and all information from those of you who live out there of have done this

Thanks,
Rae

mom-6

Sounds like fun! Did not get a chance to do it when DH and I got a trip to Hot Springs years ago, but would have loved to.

QuiltMania

We went a couple of years ago. It was so fun! We stayed in a little motel a few miles away (I can't remember the name of the place). If I recall, we paid a deposit to rent a set of screens, a shovel and a bucket. You pick a spot, put some dirt into your bucket and then go to a covered area that has water filled trenches. You put a little dirt into your screens and wash them in the trenches. The dirt washes away and you see what you have left. You get to keep whatever you find. Remember to bring something to keep your "haul" in (we used plastic cups). When you are done for the day, you return the stuff you rented and they will identify what you found. Wear old clothes because you will get wet and dirty. Have fun. I had a blast and would like to go again.

tesspug

We hunted for topaz in Colorado. There they just sold us a bucket of tailing dirt and we took it to my brothers. He had screens and we washed it all in a wheel barrel. The kids loved it. We found three large stones and many small ones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skLv-...eature=related

QuiltingCrazie

We did it a couple years ago and had a blAst. Go to the dollar store and get All your digging supplies. Bring lots of water there is limited shade. We had a fabulous day and bring energy food lol

babyfireo4

That sounds like a blast! We did the quick and not quite as cheap version at Gatlienburg, TN. DH and I took a late honeymoon (Like 5 years late lol) and when we were walking around there was a store set up for it. You bought whatever size bucket of dirt you wanted/could afford and sat on a bench by the trough that had water streaming through it and just shovel full in screen sift keep what's left repeat. I loved it, DH did it cuz I was so excited, when we finished he stated we just spent 30 bucks on a bucket of dirt and got to keep rocks *shakes head*

Hahaha well one of those rocks was a decent size Ruby, there were also some keepable size emeralds and some smokey mountain quarts. Not to mention the prettys that were worth less but just as pretty.

sassey

Wow sounds like lots of fun think I would like to do that

valleyquiltermo

I bought a dvd to study up on it from Ark. Can't wait to get my house done so I can go.

mltquilt

We did this many years ago and picked the hottest year ever to do it. The kids loved it and were covered with dirt and mud from top to bottom. There was a state park pretty close because we took a shower there and changed clothes. The water was not hot, but we did not care as we were so hot. Take lots of water to drink. If you don't enjoy getting dirty might not be the thing to do.

mltquilt

Tartan

Sounds like a treasure hunt! I would bring water to drink, sunscreen, hat, long sleeve shirt so I won't get burnt to a crisp, maybe bug spray? You might also like long rubber gloves to protect your quilting hands? I hate when my hands get that wrinkly skin from too much water. Sounds like a fun thing to do but I might wait for the current heat wave to move first.