Rockhounding

By Monica Devine

October has been a busy month. From our home in Abiquiu, we hosted 15 people, members of the Chugach Gem and Mineral Society of Anchorage, Alaska. My husband, a former president of the club, is an avid rock hunter and he has been exploring the local area for years. At selected sites, over a five-day period, the group collected stones of various shapes, sizes, colors and characteristics that only rock nerds would consider consummate treasures. One of my favorites is the fluorescent calcite that produces a brilliant orange color under ultraviolet light. Too cool!
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On the first day the group explored areas around Abiquiu Lake and Pedernal where they found petrified wood and agates. On day two, they explored an abandoned copper mine near Cuba where they found azurite, malachite and septarian stones. They finished the day with a delicious New Mexican meal at El Bruno’s. The third day brought more surprises, near Coyote, where they found moss agate, and limestones that contained ancient marine fossils.

The mica mines entertained on the fourth day, followed by the fluorite dig off of Highway 554. Of course, everyone enjoyed soaking at Ojo Caliente, and visiting the Ghost Ranch museums and hiking trails. We finished up the trip with a boisterous potluck at our home where October birthdays were celebrated, rock specimans compared, and future trips discussed. All in gratitude. Thank you, Earth, for the quiet strength of stone, and thank you, Abiquiu, for your wild and spacious beauty. Many-a-treasure-hunters will return!