DMC Field Trip
GMS is the founding member of the
DMC field trip program of the SFMS

DMC Field Trip
Gem & Mineral Society of Lynchburg, Virginia
Saturday, August 22, 2015

On a pretty August day in Virginia, this kyanite mine was covered with rocks and rockhounds. GMS was well represented by 6 members. Members of the host club, the Gem & Mineral Society of Lynchburg, had a table with samples from the mine. There were samples of apatite, fuchsite, muscovite mica, pyrite, white kyanite, blue kyanite, rutile, and even iridescent hematite plus a mineral called trolleite that is found only at this location and in Sweden. After verifying everyone was equipped with the proper safety equipment and after a thorough safety talk, we were let loose. The collecting area was enormous so there was no problem finding a good spot to collect.

Lynchburg club members and kyanite mine employees gave us advice on where to look and what to look for. We parked next to a big pile of sand so it couldn’t get any easier for me. Charles quickly found kyanite and some unusual pyrite. The tiny pyrite crystals are not cubic, but maybe 14 sided. Charles found a decomposing boulder of kyanite and pyrite so I collected a baggie of sand from that.

We also got into an area with iridescent hematite. If any of this sounds familiar, then you must know about Graves Mountain in Georgia. The mineralogy of both places is very much alike, so much so that we had to remind ourselves we were not at Graves.

After our time in the mine was over, the Lynchburg club had a barbecue lunch ready for us in a comfortable shady pavilion. People traded rocks and stories and made new friends until we had to head home.

The trip was well organized and the location was perfect for so many people. Lynchburg club members and quarry employees were very welcoming and helpful. It was a pleasure to attend another successful DMC trip!

Lori Carter
On behalf of Charles Carter, GMS Field Trip Chair
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