With last years high fuel cost we didn’t remove all the waste rock from the mine working area. So now with the cost down we started removing all the waste rock from the working areas. As all ways this task has taken a lot longer then planed and is still being done. This clean up task has kept us from a full mining effort. but we have had 2 blasts since the mine opening in mid April. The first was into a mostly low-grade feldspar area that lived up to its expectations with little beryl crystal to show. The second blast was better it was shot into a higher grade feldspar with blocky quartz (chowder). Some decent crystal came out of this area. We will work this area for the next two weeks and then move the road to the wall.
Area of the last 2 shots. Before shots
Area of the last 2 shots After shots
Good crystal that was found in after 2nd shot.
Cutting the crystal out.
The Maine Symposium (Augusta Maine 5/9-10/09) is one of my favorite shows. It is the only show that I can talk gem mining with other active gem miners. The show also draws many serious rock hounds which I just love shooting the breeze with. The mineral displays are of special interest to me because a lot of them represent self collected material.
To sum it up, check it out.
That’s it for now.
Jim