14 minute read
Gem
from TheLaker_Oct. 11_21
by The Laker
By Leigh Sharps
There is no other profession where one may say, “Now that’s a real gem you have there” and mean it.
Ryan Dickson, self-proclaimed rockhound, was brought into serious prospecting when a good friend picked up a rock at Ryan’s house and asked, ‘Where did you fi nd this hunk of beryl?”
“I don’t know,” Ryan told him. “I just picked it up on my travels.”
Thus, Ryan became a dedicated gem seeker, now a serious hobby for him. Ryan credits his long-time friend, Nick Forge of ‘The Northeast Prospector’, who identifi ed that beryl. “I have been a rockhound my entire life, but I have been prospecting seriously for a little over a year now,” says Ryan. “I was invited into this sport/obsession pretty easily. Nick has been doing this for 12 years. He has taken me to many spots, and we found a few new ones. Once I know a pocket area, I can search nearby. Sometimes I see a rock, or a ledge and I wonder what’s out there and then I go check it out,” he relates. (Rockhounding is a term used for recreational rock collecting).
For those who may not know it, New Hampshire is rich in different minerals, gemstones and even gold. But Smoky Quartz (the state’s offi cial gem; beryl is the offi cial mineral) is the most popular and prolifi c. It is a variant of quartz. Other variants include citrine, amethyst, onyx, topaz, agate, and tiger’s eye. Smoky quartz and feldspar are the most popular minerals to be found in the state. Smoky quartz is mostly clear and can range in shades from yellowish to very dark brown, appearing nearly black. It is mainly used in jewelry making. In mineralogy feldspar is the most common mineral and moonstone is a variety. It is a cloudy stone. Quartz is found throughout the state within huge granite and pegmatite deposits.
The Baker River in Warren has produced gold and other minerals as well. Gold has also been found in the Wild Ammonoosuc River near the town of Swiftwater.
There are several spots in the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) for hunting both minerals, gems, and gold. One is the Moat Mountain Smoky Quartz Collecting Area in North Conway, which is in the zone of both Conway Granite and Moat volcanics.
Near there, also, are spots at Lovejoy Mountain and Hurricane Mountain. There is gold panning at the Coos Canyon Rock and Gift Panning in a scenic gorge and the Swift River Gold Panning Area is on the East Branch of the Swift River. There are many areas like these which are publicized online and in hunters’ guides. (‘Rockhounding New England’ by Peter Cristofono includes 25 locations in New Hampshire). “Here is where the truth comes out,” admits Ryan. “This is actually a very secretive hobby. I have thought about taking (and asked if I would take) people out for guided mineral adventures, but here’s the thing. Spots don’t get shared much and with good reason. I love looking in my home area, which is Grafton County…sorry that’s so vague…although we have been in northern NH recently. Mostly we go to private land areas where we have permission to dig. But I volunteered with Planet Rangers out of Portsmouth with Nick this summer and we went to the Moat Mountain Mineral Site. It was a great spot. Some of the kids even found some smoky quartz crystals that were very impressive. We also go to Crystal Grove Mine in St. Johnsbury, NY to fi nd Herkimer Diamonds.” (There is a White Diamond Mine near Center Sandwich, but the White Diamond Area is now part of the White Mountain National Forest,
Smokey quartz crystal. so information on that site must be through that organization. Please check before going).
• Gem
Continued on page 12
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Ryan’s fi rst dig was close to his home. “I found milky and clear quartz just 10 minutes from my house. I returned to the area and found close by the only quartz scepters (meaning extremely clear) found in the area. Some are completely water clear but are mostly thumbnail minerals (small specimens) that I dubbed ‘Dickson Diamonds’”.
There isn’t very extensive or expensive equipment needed to dig for gems. Says Ryan, “Sometimes we dig with shovels and/or pickaxes, but other times it’s all hammer and chisel work. Pry bars, jimmy bars, fl ashlights and long, thin screwdrivers are used to fi sh out crystals. Pumps and buckets are used often to clear out water. Tarps, snips, and fi rst aid gear can be important. My pack is never light and especially with gems wrapped in newspaper or in gem bags, which add to the weight of the pack on the way out. It’s a workout for sure, and it borders on just plain old work.”
As with hiking suggested for this sport, especially for youth you will need a backpack with water, warm clothing, and rain protection and rockhounding gear, stainless-steel U-Dig-It folding hand shovel, rock pick, goggles for eye protection and a notebook to record and date fi nds.
Ryan never thought he’d end up in some aspect of the arts and crafts world when he was young, but he admits he always loved “hanging out in the woods. I still don’t think of myself as an artist, but I guess I have been making my little wooden crafty stands (for the minerals to be displayed on), but it does take some work as well as cleaning the minerals and I also cut a lot of my work, so it stands a particular way.”
He also uses his rockhounding talent in his business (RHD Property Management). “I enjoy rebuilding stone walls and building stone fi replaces. My customers love the crystals in my work too. I think I have the knack for fi nding cool things, or as someone told me recently, I have the ‘shine’”.
If you are looking for a fun and exciting hobby, get out there and start searching for NH’s ‘gems’. This is a real rockin’ pastime for sure!
NOTE: Dickson’s Diggins’ items (for sale) can be seen on both Facebook (FB) and Instagram. His work/items for purchase can also be seen at the Little Squam Farmstand in Ashland (MayOct.) and The Northeast Prospector on Main St., Littleton. He hopes to have a booth around the state at events next season, and he also has a small store at his workshop. Appointments to see the store may be made on his FB site or at ryandickson@gmail.com.
Whether a beginner or advanced hunter, make sure you get permission from private landowners and look online for areas open to the public in the White Mountain National Forest and for other locations.
These are informative references: ‘Northeast Treasure Hunter’s Gem and Mineral Guide’, ‘Roadside Geology of Vt. and NH.’, and ‘Rockhounding For Beginners’.
There are two wonderful museums in NH: The Woodman Institute in Dover and The Little Nature Museum at Gould Hill Farm in Contoocook. Both exhibit rocks, minerals, and fossils.
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