Rebecca and I survived the wintry weather, dug in the wrong places, and found a few quartz point clusters in stuff others tossed aside. No photos. Just getting around was enough. Rick J spent all afternoon towing vehicles out of the muck with the track hoe. I waited till last. The Mighty Club Wagon has the clearance but no 4wd. Glad to back in the hotel room sipping hot tea. Tomorrow is sunny and high of 65. Woo hoo, but as temps rose today the snowmelt rapidly filled many a freshly dug pit. I'm thinking of screening the dump pile tomorrow. More high and dry.

It was a great dig.  I spent my time in the dump piles and came away with four buckets of dirt clods that have crystal faces showing.  I think I got my first amethyst ever.  Friday was an adventure in digging in frozen ground.  Today was an adventure in walking in mud.  Dump piles were not too bad and were very productive.  When my knees and legs gave out today I headed home. 

To those brave souls who camped out on Thursday and Friday night, I salute you.  My rear end was in a hotel.

It must have been quite an adventure for many people dealing with those conditions.  I'm glad people were finding stuff and having fun.  I chickened out when I saw the forecast.  Can't wait to see pictures of all that was found.  Thanks for reporting.

Scufflin Acres Farm Amethyst #2
Prospect, Virginia
Friday through Sunday, March 14th – 16th, 2014

Official Field Trip of the Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association
(MAGMA)

No need to pre-register, all MAGMA members are welcome to attend!

Be sure to read this entire trip announcement for conditions, rules and fees for this dig!

The Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association (M.A.G.M.A.) invites you to join us for an encore dig at the Scufflin Acres Farm Amethyst site in Virginia. We had a big track hoe at the site prior to the dig to open the area and expose veins of amethyst and quartz crystals. Members found hundreds of specimens of amethyst and smoky quartz, so we decided to do a second weekend for those that could not make the first trip.

Members are welcome to arrive on Friday morning (March 14th) to set up camp and dig. You can camp Friday and Saturday night on the property, no charge. This site is located in a large cow pasture, so plenty of room for camping. If it rains, do not pull into the pasture, you should park outside the gate on the high dry ground, do not block any roadways or driveways. The town of Farmville is nearby and has numerous hotels and motels. It is also within 30 minutes of Lynchburg, Virginia.

All trash (including cigarette butts) must be removed from the property when you leave.

Fees: $25 per person, per day, kids 12 and under are free.
Look for James Hall on Friday and Tom Leary on Saturday and Sunday to make payment and fill out a release form.

Address: Use this address for yahoo maps, does not seem to work on mapquest:
261 Scufflin Acres Lane, Prospect, Virginia, 23960

Here are the directions from the Asheville, NC area; Take I-40 E. 157.6 mi-
Take the I-40 E/Greensboro/Raleigh exit to stay on Fordham Blvd (I-40 E)- Go for 9.4 mi-
Take exit #223/US-29 N/US-70 E/US-220 N/Reidsville. Go for 0.5 mi-
Continue on N Ohenry Blvd (US-220 N, US-29 N, US-70 E). Go for 16.0 mi-
Continue on US-29-BYP N toward US-29 N/Danville. Go for 16.6 mi-
Continue on US-29 N. Go for 7.0 mi-
Take the US-29 N/US-58 E/Danville Expressway/Lynchburg/South Boston exit. Go for 0.5 mi-
Take ramp onto Danville Expy (US-29 N, US-58 E). Go for 6.9 mi-
Take ramp onto S Boston Rd (US-360 E, US-58 E) toward South Boston. Go for 28.8 mi-
Turn left onto James D Hagood Hwy (US-360 E, US-501 N). Go for 1.6 mi-
Continue on James D Hagood Hwy (US-360 E). Go for 36.8 mi-
Take ramp onto Farmville Hwy (US-15) toward US-15 N/Keysville. Go for 17.0 mi-
Make a U-turn onto Prince Edward Hwy (US-15 N, US-460 W) toward Lynchburg/Culpeper. Go for 6.6 mi-
Turn right onto Simpson Rd. Go for 0.3 mi
Turn left onto Scufflin Acres Ln.
Your destination on Scufflin Acres Ln is on the left. The trip takes 310.5 mi/499.8 km and 5:07 h.
261 Scufflin Acres Ln, Prospect, VA 23960

I'll get there mid day Friday, hope to see you there

So here's how the takings looked coming out of the ground. The Mighty Club Wagon bids adieu to Scufflin' Acres.  Next day at home, Rebecca washes her clay that was soaked overnight, and look at the color show! And finally, partially cleaned examples of what I dug.

Thanks for the report and all the great pics, Tim!
Looks you two were having a perfect day at Simpsons' Farm!
It does get a little disappointing after a while of those plates falling apart on you,
but there sure are some pretty colors!
Makes the plates that hold together that much nicer!

I want to get up there again sometime.

Nice pics Tim!  Makes me want to get out of the office and start digging!

Every time I turn around the house and yard I find another pile of partially cleaned quartz from this field trip -- you know, clean a few, set them aside, clean some more, set them aside, forget where you set them .... Point being, thoselumps of clay produced a lot of quartz.

Also, many crystals and clusters showed phantoms and other signs of stop-and-go growth and regrowth.  Not as distinct and pretty as some posted on the lounge, but there nonetheless.  Not sure if my phone camera can capture, but I'll see what I can do.