The Spann Collection
- Location: Online Only
Location: 202 Turkey Hill Rd., Haddam, CT 06424
Type of trip: Pegmatite digging, in active worked pits and tailings
Date: SUN Nov 5
Times: 9:00 am - est. 4:30 pm
Location: Hewitt Gem Mine site (Haddam, CT)
Meet-up location : Site itself parking areas
Ages allowed: 7 y.o. and up; kids 13 y.o. and under must ALWAYS be in close contact with and supervised by parents
LUNCH DONATION: $ 10 p/p payable that morning. Tony will provide LUNCH and DRINKS for us. Typically, burgers and dogs, chips, cookies, waters / soft drinks and occasionally additional side like pasta salad etc.
*** CASH ONLY, PAY THE DAY OF ***
The crew at Hewitt GM have still been doing some occasional excavating of their main pits and more replenishing of tailings, so more new material should be available.
AS WITH ALL TRIPS, YOU MUST BE A CURRENT FM-NJ MEMBER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND TRIPS.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, AS ALWAYS, SIGN-UP WITH GROUNDHOG DAVE. TEXT, CALL OR EMAIL. 732-939-4476 cell.
Event URL: https://www.mindat.org/loc-23091.html
Fee: 30 $ p/p, 40 $ p/p if you bring generator / power equipment / tools (16 and under free)
Safety Information: Hard Hat NOT Required. Proper safety gear is required on ALL trips. (Glasses, sturdy footwear, Gloves) Hardhat SUGGESTED if planning to use EQUIPMENT (jackhammer/saws). Attendees will be required to sign Hold Harmless Agreement / Attendance Sheet prior to the trip.
Tools: WATER, rock hammer, chisels, sledges, pry bars, shovel, buckets, newspaper, FOOD + DRINK, backpack, (if desired – Jackhammer / Saw)
Max Number of Attendees: 35
Post Event Write-Up:
Clubs in Attend: NoJMS, FM-NJ
Trip Leader: Groundhog Dave
GRACIOUS HOSTS: Mine Operators Tony Apilla and Eric, and Owner Axel
ATTENDEES: Groundhog Dave, Tomer Shapira, Stephanie "Carpet Squares" Apgar, Arthur Finkelshteyn, Dr. Paul Becker, Steve Woodruff w Tracy Goddard; Micki Reiss; Laronda Davis, Kerri and Johnny Parani, Andrew Kreugel, Yu Lin, John Montgomery with Gayle Weigand; Nina Kiliszec and Joe Erard; Lisa Soklaski w Michael Mullen; Sarah Bernotas; Elizabeth and Luca Pendrini
This was an EPIC trip to Hewitt !! On top of having crisp, beautiful weather for the whole day, everyone had notable finds, even brand newbies that have never set foot at Hewitt !! Even despite (as Tony had mentioned) them not being able to do super - recent blasts for us, there was still plenty of great pegmatite material to go through and work from the pit walls !!
Club Member Notable Finds:
Groundhog Dave - 3 inch long, 3/4 cm wide (w minor damage) teal green beryl xl in fist sized rock; also later, one 1/2" Goshenite Beryl fragment in small rock (single terminated)
Andrew Kreugel - nice bright and deep green Torbernite clusters in a fist sized peg. rock; several Goshenite Beryl xls and loose pieces
Kerry Parani - Large (maybe 2 inch diameter) hexagonal Goshenite Beryl piece in large peg. matrix rock; 1 much smaller one in smaller rock as well
Lisa Soklaski - Large (~ 1.5 inch diameter, maybe 1" long piece) semi - hexagonal very light or colorless Beryl (faint Aqua)
Tracy Goddard - Nice 3/4 inch single terminated Goshenite colorless Beryl in dark rust colored matrix; had faint yellowish tinge
Tomer Shapira - Nice sizable (3/4 cm) Spessartine Garnet orange blebs and crystal clusters; Double terminated Greenish Apatite xl in matrix; also several small Beryls, various types and clarity
Arthur Finkelshteyn - Interesting purple Lepidolite or Schernikite - coated Beryl fragment (appeared like purple Fluorite or Amethyst would look)
John Montgomery - Very nice 1/2 " thick black Schorl Tourmaline stack of crystals (maybe 2" long); also some nice Spessartine Garnets
Stephanie "Carpet Squares" Apgar - Nice small clusters of Chlorophane Fluorite in peg. rock; also nice small Goshenite Beryl piece(s)
Luca Pendrini - Nice Schorl Tourmaline blades / xls in Mica sheets and Quartz, attractive and well defined
Yu Lin - the Crusher device / tool he immediately noticed and used expertly on many rocks throughout the day, resulting in various nice finds
Other folks not listed above, also found varying - sized and quality Beryl pieces (Goshenite, Morganite or Aqua type) and Schorl Tourmaline crystals, as well as various Garnets and various Quartz varieties.
As always, Tony's Lunch did NOT disappoint, with excellent quality Wagyu Burgers and great Kirkland brand Hot Dogs, and snack bags of chips galore. Tony's wife came and gave us fresh fixins for the burgers (Lettuce, Onions, tomatoes, etc) and condiments. Plenty of Waters and drinks were available to keep us hydrated !!
Can't wait to return in the FALL !!