Fort Drum Trip report Nov 08'

Fort drum still produces good specimens!

A few years ago, Fort Drum, FL mine Rucks? Pit, was producing many great specimens of not only excellent fossil shells but top quality calcite crystals. Most of the Calcite crystals were grown in the cavities of fossil shells, the best were found in fossil clams.

In the following years mining restrictions imposed on Rucks? pit by OSHA ended the collection of virgin material from the pit by collectors. The restrictions imposed proved to be cost prohibitive to continue to let collectors access the pit area. To combat this problem and continue to provide collection of this material to collectors the mine owners gathered the remaining material into a common tailings area.

I was invited to return to Rucks? pit a few weeks ago. This was my first time back after pit collecting was closed. I was very lucky to be invited to camp with my good friends Jeff and Karyn Bee and kids Patty and Zack. Second, to share the trip with the Curtis and Frances Siver

and daughter Melissa. We camped at the Kissemmee Prairie State Park. It's located at the corner of 40th and plum. Plum in the middle of 40 miles away from everything. If you?re looking to find a place to get away from it all, we found it!

There was no moon light that weekend, so the nights were as black as hematite and pyrite cabbing sludge. Interestingly enough, this was perfect for the 9 or so astrominors also camping at the site. So rock hounds met star gazers once again. Seems to be a growing trend with JGMS. We got to see a couple shooting stars and gaze at near by galaxies, constellations and nebulas. How cool!

Saturday morning we arrived at Rucks? pit, now Rucks? Lake seeing how it's filled in with water now.? There were, I think 14 JGMS members collecting that day so it was nice to be surrounded by friends. The collecting area consisted of many large piles of material with garden hoses at the head of each pile. The hoses really helped while trying to go through dried piles of rock, sand and shells. Collecting for the most part was nothing like it used to be, but it was a lot easier than pounding in virgin material.

After collecting for two days and getting the material home and cleaned I was able to assess the outcome of the trip. Over all you can still find a decent specimen or two but the chances of finding a great undamaged specimen are slim. With Edwin Rucks assistance in bringing in

a fresh bucket of material at the end of the day, I finally did find one really nice specimen.

In all, the trip was not a total wash. I was able to spend quality time with great friends all doing what we love to do. If you're interested in a specimen or two from Rucks? Pit, call up some friends and visit Rucks? Pit. Regardless of what you may find, you'll bring home buckets of good memories.

Jason Hamilton