GMS Field Trip

GMS/DMC Field Trip
Lace Agate/Chert
in Georgia
Sunday, April 7, 2019

The Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies (SFMS) has a wonderful field trip sharing program called the DMC that was started by GMS member Jim Flora. DMC member clubs all over the southeast take turns hosting a field trip for other clubs in the DMC. This increases the collecting opportunities for everyone involved. April was our turn to host a trip. Charles could not decide between two locations, so he scheduled both. (For a report about the first trip, click here)

Part 2 of our DMC trip was on Sunday, April 7th to collect chert with lace agate. It rained the night before, so the ground was a little mushy and that limited the area we could search, but it also revealed agate everywhere! It was like Easter eggs for rockhounds! In addition to agate, there was a lot of light purple chert that day – subtle, but very pretty. Everyone quickly filled buckets and hauled off yard rocks. For the most unusual specimens of the day, David Bruce found some agate with a dark, botryoidal area, and Diana Poppelreuter found a piece with deep green bits. To round out the day, we visited local rock dealer and GMS member Doug Hawkins who has lots of material from estates. He laid out tarps covered with all kinds of agates, fossils, a myriad of lapidary rough, and he even had a recent acquisition of fire agate! His prices were so good I think almost everyone went home with at least a little extra treasure.

Many thanks to the property owners for allowing us to collect and for keeping us safe. Also, thanks to our rock dealer friend for inviting us to his rocks sale, and thank you to Charles Carter and other GMS members for another excellent DMC trip!

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