Rockhounding a Stream Near an Old Mine in PA - Garnets, Moonstone, Actinolite, Gabbro Samples Found

Last weekend it was warm enough for us to got out and explore a local stream that at one time had a garnet mine nearby. That mine is long gone, but we found some really cool rock and mineral samples in that stream. Take a look at this video to see what we found and to get some information on the old mine that was operating there over 100 years ago.

[@yahwhay]

Hello from Chester County, pa. I want to take my son out searching for cool rocks but I also dont want to get into trouble taking or breaking rocks. Do you have any tips or links regarding what we can and cant do?

[@dirtsandandrocks]

@yahwhay - Here are a few tips - Stay off private property unless you get the owner's permission. You can't take anything from any National Park, so Valley Forge is off limits even though the rockhounding there is pretty good (look, but DON'T take). State parks, township parks and waterways are you're best choice for rockhounding. We try to be very selective and only take a few samples (taking too much gets heavy anyway). If you have access to a spot and can make return trips, you can even return samples you've photographed and checked out already, but make sure it goes back where you found it and not someplace else (otherwise you're making a mess for future rockhounders) . Finally, try carrying out a bucket of trash while you're out collecting. There's never any shortage of trash practically anywhere you go. Waterways are the worst in my opinion which is pretty sad. Thanks for watching - Paul

[@mikefaller5840]

Nice, i was looking in that area a month ago. Didnt find alot of quality garnet but a nice quartz and tormaline piece. Need to go back

[@dirtsandandrocks]

@mikefaller5840 - I'm happy to read that we're not alone when it comes to rockhounding that old mine area. It's worth checking out every so often. Thanks for watching - Paul

[@aborch7]

I love those bricks!! I’ve just recently started collecting bricks in addition to rockhounding 😂

[@dirtsandandrocks]

@aborchert7 Wow! That's TWO heavy collections! Thanks for watching & for the comment - Paul

[@harryhumstone3149]

Wow you’re right through the woods from where I’m working I work in Wilmington Delaware

[@dirtsandandrocks]

@harryhumstone3149 - Yes! We're in PA, but pretty close to Wilmington. Thanks for watching and the comment - Paul

[@waltergeer2048]

I'm from Western Pa and have heard we have silver in my area. But on my hikes I do see all kinds of crazy looking stones. Makes me want a tumbler lol

[@dirtsandandrocks]

@waltergeer2048 - Then you should start picking up those crazy stones and take a closer look! Thanks for watching and the comment. All the best to you from the other side of the state - Paul

[@ziggycrew790]

What was that green stone called that the Mrs says you find in Media?

[@dirtsandandrocks]

There's a spot outside of Media, PA where you can collect samples of that green flaky mineral called Actinolite. You can find all kinds of information about it on-line. Thanks for watching - Paul

[@shellyfoster7319]

Do you cut them. Can you chisel them out????

[@dirtsandandrocks]

@shellyfoster7319 - No, we don't cut them. They really aren't "gem quality" stones. The mining operation from a hundred years ago used the garnets mixed with sand to make really abrasive sandpaper that could polish other stone products like marble and granite, so even they weren't finding much "gem quality" material

[@KT-rl1dy]

Can you tell us where you are?

[@dirtsandandrocks]

@KT-rl1dy - I'm sorry I don't tell you where I am in this video (or most of my videos), but if you do a little research on the internet, you can find that location pretty easily. My fear is that if I tell people exactly where we're rockhounding on the internet, that place will get crowded and eventually ruined by too many people going there. Thanks for watching though - Paul

[@shellyfoster7319]

Can you sell them???

[@dirtsandandrocks]

@shellyfoster7319 - I don't think they have much value other then being an interesting different mineral to collect. We mainly just collect cool samples for our collection. Thanks very much for watching and the comments. Please check back again sometime - Paul

[@Ontario_Rockhound]

Interesting finds.

[@dirtsandandrocks]

@Ontario_Rockhound thanks for watching & the comment. Please check back again sometime soon - Paul