Calendar

Kentucky Field Trip
May 15 to 18th, 2009
Danville, Kentucky

Peggy Gillespie and I traveled on the 15th stopping along the way to check out many rocks. We arrived around 5:30 PM in Danville Kentucky and made arrangements to meet Kristi Chumley for dinner. Kristi is the wife of Daniel Chumley, President of the Bluegrass Gem & Mineral Society and she is also the Newsletter Editor. We arranged to meet at Shoney�s at 6:30. Just as we were about to leave, Dave Callahan appeared. We discussed meeting times for Saturday�s Annual Danville Quarry fieldtrip and said our good nights.
At 12:30 Saturday afternoon we gathered at Constitution Square in the heart of Danville and when everyone was there Danny Settle led us to the Quarry. This is basically a limestone quarry with calcite that is both square, and crystallized. Also many pieces have barite and also beautiful purple fluorite. Excited and ready, we headed down into the quarry and began our search. About 5 PM Danny gave us the word that it was time to leave. Having loaded the Jeep with MANY pounds of rock, we agreed.
We found fluorite, barite, and calcite both is squares, clear, white and mixed and some smoky. We found crystals and odd shaped pieces. We also found some dog-toothed calcite. Some pieces were very large and were loaded with some of everything. Of course they were the ones we couldn�t lift!
On Sunday Peggy (one of our newest members) and I went to Shakertown. It is not far from Danville and is a real step back in time. Located on a beautiful track of rolling hills, you can see cattle, sheep, goats, geese, etc all roaming in there own areas. Inside the gift shop you can see their "totally self sufficient" means of living and enjoy the simpler life style they live. A side trip well worth your time.
On Monday we headed home and armed with the knowledge that something we wanted could be found at mile marker 117 on I-64 we headed east. Arriving at mile marker 117 we found siderite a type of weathered calcite. It is beautiful golden brown crystals with calcite mingled in it. There is always a base of limestone attached. We found many fossils too.
Traveling further Peggy found a new spot to hunt at 121-mile marker. So off we went. As we approached the road cut we saw two Kentucky State Troopers and decided it was healthier to ask than to assume. So with permission, we dug in that road cut. Finding plates of brachiopods, and many other fossils. It was a wonderful adventure from beginning to end. I highly recommend you taking time for Kentucky and its wonderful Gem�s, both the kind you look at and the people who are truly the Gems!

Field Trip Report submitted by Dee Tinsley.