How to Dig for Crystals in Arkansas
The Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas have some of the finest-quality quartz crystals in the world. This is a prime location for people who want to try their hand at unearthing their own crystals. Digging for crystals can be a fun activity for the whole family, and even beginners can often make great finds if they follow a few steps.
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Things You'll Need
- Old clothes
- Old, durable shoes
- Bug spray
- Work gloves
- Small shovel
- Three-tine garden rake
- Screwdriver
- Newspaper
- Bucket
- Four or five seal-tight bags
- First aid kit
- Bandages
Instructions
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Find a location to dig for crystals that is legal. Many crystal mines around the Hot Springs area of Arkansas allow you to dig for a small fee. There are also two areas near Mount Ida where you can dig for free--Jessieville and Perryville. It's a good idea to go to one of these spots because the material has already been extracted from the mine veins, and you will only have to dig through the tailings. Digging at these locations will save you a lot of time and energy.
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Wear old clothes and old, durable shoes. This can be a messy job that could ruin your clothing.
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Apply bug spray before starting your dig.
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Put on work gloves. Quartz crystals are sharp, so you will want to protect your hands from cuts.
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Dig through the mine tailings using your small shovel until you find a pocket of crystal. There is no sure-fire way to pinpoint where the crystals will be. You just have to start digging.
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Dig around the crystal with your small shovel. Dig slowly and carefully so as not to scratch or break the crystal.
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Move away rock debris using your garden rake.
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Loosen the dirt around the crystal using your screwdriver.
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Wrap large crystals in newspaper and place them in your bucket. Place smaller, more fragile crystals in seal-tight bags.
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Tips & Warnings
Digging for crystal can be exhausting, so bring food and water if you plan on digging for an extended period of time.
Be careful when handling crystals with your bare hands; it's easy to get cut. Have the first aid kit and bandages ready in case you do get cut.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit little druze of calcite and quartz image by Alexander Maksimov from Fotolia.com
