Diamond Hill, Antreville, SC Field Trip June 23, 2005

The Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society joined with the McRocks group for a joint field trip at the Diamond Hill Mine. I had scheduled a meeting time at Crawford's General Store at 7:00am, so a departure time from the SC/NC border was scheduled for 5:30am. Following a beautiful mountain drive through upstate SC, Celia and Everett met us at the store. We left the store about 7:20 and headed toward the mine. When we arrived Mike, Paula, Frank, Linda and Beverly were already there. I had scheduled an early day to catch the cool morning hours, but there was no avoiding the heat. Gary Maddox arrived late due to an early morning arrival at his motel, so I missed getting a picture of him. By midafternoon most people had called it a day, but everyone had a great time.
Mike Streeter and Everett Harrington working a skeletal quartz hole with a few of their specimens to the right.
Celia Harrington enjoying the day while Everett was busy digging for that spectacular skeletal specimen.
Frank Foster smiling as always looking for those elusive amethyst crystals.
Beverly Sapp and Linda Foster working the cool side of the amethyst pit.
Paula Pierce, the only other JGMS member that attended, working the amethyst pit wall.
View of the skeletal pit and parking area.
Large skeletal crystal.
Three small smoky clusters.
Amethyst float from the spoil piles.
Two of the best amethyst specimens I've seen from the Diamond Hill mine.

JGMS