O-ville Field Trip Report

Date: 4/22/2017 12:00 AM

Location: Otisville, NY –  Washington Lead Mines Trip, ,

Attendees (14 total) included Groundhog, Ron “ChiselBuster” Schulz, Jess Jacobsen, Dave “Dude” Miller, Paul “MR Lucky / Mr Reveille” Radziewicz, Mike “the Pie Man” Dunton, Nina Kiliszek, Joey Erard, Jim Currie, George and Alaine (Bellhop George / Georgie Porgy and Lainie) Mack, Mike “WebMaster Mikey” Wright and Lynn Sian, Mike “Mr Boca” Machete We had an outstanding trip yesterday to Otisville, aka O-ville. Weather was dismally overcast, and we did get a few sprinkles, but nothing more, and weather held out for the most part. Everyone enjoyed the hike up several hills exploring the old mine adits and spoils piles. Additionally, EVERYONE made it up to Mine #6 on top the hill where the veins of copper mineralization are known to occur. Everyone had fun finding pieces of vein galena, small quartz points and pieces, disseminated pyrite, hematite colorations on host rock of all shades and hues of red, and various qualities of sphalerite crystals. Most often encountered were weathered sphalerite clusters across quartz veins, but some nicely formed, iridescent and relatively unweathered crystals were found. Notably, Mike “the Pie Man” Dunton, who arrived first with Nina, unearthed a nice boulder with an edge-seam of galena from which a number of smaller pieces were chipped off containing pyrite and malachite as well. Dave “Dude” and “Lainie” worked in a pit behind the spoils pile and unearthed many SOLID galena pieces. Yes, you read that correctly, Dave “Dude” worked his butt off and impressed the more seasoned collectors AND this Groundhog too. I must mention Paul “Mr Lucky” too for his unbridled enthusiasm in finding some small quartz point clusters in several pieces. His enthusiasm was duly noted by NOJMS Club President Ron “ChiselBuster” Schulz, who went on record saying “This is what it’s all about…” Submitted by Dave “Groundhog” Shapiro