National Limestone Quarries - Middleburg and Mt Pleasant Mills, PA

Date:

Location: 3499 Quarry Rd, Middleburg, PA 17842

Times:  10 am - 1 pm Middleburg (two groups 9:30 and 10); 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Mt Pleasant Mills (exacts will be in the Trip Flyer)

Location:   National Limestone Quarries (both) - Middleburg and Mt Pleasant Mills, PA    (more details will be in Flyer)

Meet-up location : Middleburg Quarry Office 9:30 am

Ages allowed:  8 y.o. and up; kids must ALWAYS be in close contact with and supervised by parents

To be followed by the famed Jim Van Fleet BBQ cookout in nearby Mifflinburg

Safety Information: National Limestone Quarries (NLQ) requires HARD HAT, Safety / Steel Tip or Composite Rubber boots, safety goggles, work gloves for BOTH quarries. If you don't have these, visit Home Depot or Harbor Freight or similar and get the soon.

Max Number of Attendees: 30

Post Event Write-Up:

Attendees:  Groundhog Dave, Andrew "Rockhound" and Cori Rockhound Eppig, Dave "Lermanator" Lerman, Steve "Pickles" Wien, Mike "the Pie Man" Dunton, Ron "ChiselBuster" Schulz, Paul "Mr Reveille" Radziewicz, Dave "Dude" Miller, Ehmkay "MK" Delaleu, Rich "Drake" Drake, Leah Wiesel, Lisa "20 Questions" Bostedo, Kris and Maria Roselle; Hayley "Shakespeare" Nalepa, Stephanie "Carpet Squares" Apgar, Avery Federico, Dianne "CatMom" Soccio with Steve jones; Dan "the Photog" Sackerman w/ Linda; Allen Gernon, Sean Stimac, Yu Lin, Lee Billings, Shane and Sherry Moore; Steve Woodruff, Gary Quam, Anders Todd, Linda Lovstad, Kevin "Coop" Cooper, Suz, Nate and Jarrath Shaw; MSNEPA and other:  "Rock Doc" Dave Millis, Tyler Billet, Zack Racksnow, Kathleen Wilkinson, Mike Grech, few others

We had another outstanding annual pilgrimage to the famed National Limestone Quarries and the ever popular after - event, the BBQ Cookout and Garage specimen collecting at the Jim "Host Extraordinaire" Van Fleet residence in nearby Mifflinburg.  The weather was ultra cooperative for the trip and collecting, and as always owner Eric Stahl was extremely welcoming and accommodating to the Clubs.  Following the briefing and Sermon, we were off to enjoy collecting for 3 hrs at Middleburg Quarry, which fortunately had a blasting round take place a few days prior !!  Many excellent specimens of flowstone Travertine and Calcite were found, and in several areas of the quarry, druzy Calcite was found in Limestone vugs and cavities. 

Mt Pleasant Mills Quarry offered the popular Wavellite location for collecting, and several nice specimens along with Brachiopod and Mollusk fossils were found in the area.  The lower section of the quarry was not as productive as usual for dogtooth or druzy Calcite, however some pieces were found here and there.  A few pieces of Strontianite were found in this area, in 2 different forms (fibrous and massive / amorphous).  One member of the PA club found a several - inch long section of flowstone Stalactite.  A few solitary Calcite rhombs and clusters were found in the Limestone. 

The Jim Van Fleet BBQ Cookout and collecting afterwards, was excellent as always!  On the JVF Menu were:  homemade Chili, delicious burgers and hot dogs and their fixins; Sausages; Deviled Eggs, Baked Beans, Chips and dips, Watermelon and fruits, and a plethora of Pies and desserts.  It was the smorgasboard we have come to love !!  The Garage boasted plenty of opportunities for collecting of fluorescent and daytime specimens, and many members went home with flats and boxes with specimens. 

All in all, another excellent NLQ - JVF outing !!