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COMBINED MINERAL COLLECTING FIELD TRIP

THE GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY OF LYNCHBURG, VA.  INC.
AND
THE ROANOKE VALLEY MINERAL AND GEM SOCIETY INC.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Boxley Aggregates
Piney River Quarry
739 Warrick Barn Road (Rt. 665)
Arrington, VA.
9AM to 12 NOON

Sign-up is required, call me, email me or sign-up at the meeting

COLLECTING: According to the mindat.org. web site, the following minerals are listed from MINERALS of Virginia, 1990 edition. 
Anatase: A greenish-brown replacement of ilmenite.
Ilmenite: Black metallic or highly weathered masses.
Kaolinite: White powdery masses from the alteration of feldspar.
Rutile: Reddish-brown metallic to highly weathered masses.
Tacharanite: White, dull to pearly.  Occurs with the weathered anatase, rutile and ilmenite.
Zoisite var: Thulite: Veins of pink thulite occur in the feldspar.

The main rock mined here is called APLITE. It is very hard, light-colored, fine-grained and consists primarily of sodic plagioclase feldspar and quartz in the groundmass and, in some cases, orthoclase feldspar phenocrysts.  Like pegmatites, aplite dikes may represent a residual fraction on silica-rich magma after most on the magma has crystallized.

Additional minerals:  Pyrrhotite: (to be analyzed) personal discovery in 2006

Remember that the availability of these minerals depends on where they are working in the quarry at the time of the field trip and that some of the occurrences are very small.

MEETING LOCATION: We will meet in Amherst, VA, Saturday morning, at the Hardee's Restaurant on US 29 business no later than 8:00 A.M.   We will depart from there promptly 8:15A.M and drive to the quarry in a group.   From Lynchburg and Roanoke, follow US Rt. 460 east / US 29 north by-pass several miles east of Lynchburg.  Take the new US Rt. 29 north by-pass across the James River and proceed north to the Amherst US 29 business exit.  The Hardee's is in the Ambriar Shopping Center at this exit.  Come early and have a bite to eat.  From this point, it should take 15 to 20 minutes to arrive at the quarry. Be sure that you are fueled up and ready to leave by 8:15 A.M.  If you are coming from the north, the US 29 business exit will be about 2 miles south of the US 60 exit.  If you live in Lynchburg, it might be closer to just follow US 29 business thru Madison Heights to Amherst.  The Hardee's will be on your left at the new US 29 bypass interchange, just before you arrive at the town of Amherst.

ASSEMBLY TIME: 8:30 to 8:45 AM.  At the quarry scale house / office.  You will need sufficient time to read the required Boxley Hazard Training information, fill out and sign the Hazard Training Certificate and sign the required Boxley release form. There will also be a brief review of the safety regulations.  Everyone must be present for this presentation.  If you are late, you will not be permitted to enter the quarry.  We all will enter the quarry as a group about 9:00 AM.
All safety rules will be strictly enforced or you will be escorted out of the quarry and barred from future field trips.  

If you will be driving from Roanoke or points to the West of Lynchburg and would like to follow us, meet me at the Sheetz Gas Station parking lot under the gas price sign, in New London at the intersection of US 460 and Route 811.  There is a traffic light and an Exxon Convenience Store on the opposite corner.  I will DEPART PROMPTLY at 7:00AM

EQUIPMENT: The Boxley Quarries are very safety-conscious. Standard quarry gear is required. Hard hats, steel-toe boots or other substantial stomp-proof boots and safety glasses. Good protective clothing and gloves should be worn.  It could be very cold, wet or hot in the quarry, so dress according to the weather forecast that morning.  Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks.  Bring your own collecting equipment such as rock hammers, chisels, buckets and newspaper to wrap your delicate specimens.  We will be allowed to drive into the quarry.  Bring rain gear in case of bad weather.

AGE LIMIT: Children of all ages will be allowed but it will be the parent's responsibility to keep them under control at all times and see that they obey all the safety requirements.  The same dress requirements apply. 

NOTE: Severe weather or other crisis out of our control may result in the canceling or rescheduling of this trip.  If there is any question, please call me to confirm the trip. 

CONTACT: David Callahan, Field Trip Chairman. The Gem and Mineral Society of Lynchburg, VA. Inc. and  The Roanoke Valley Mineral and Gem Society Inc. 
web site www.LynchburgRockClub.org and www.RVMGS.com Phone 540-297-1853  Cell 540-874-5201  Email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it