Beacon Hill Idaho Agate and Moss Geode Nodules 10/25/08

25 Oct

Posted by Jason as Rock Hounding Field Trips

What Beacon Hill to go collecting Moss Agate nodules and Geodes!! Count me in so on Saturday October 25th the Boise Gem Club and the Owyhee Mineral Society joined up on a group trip to Beacon Hill just outside of Weiser Idaho. I was quite excited about this trip since earlier in the year I had been to Hog Creek Idaho collecting very similar material. The trip started very early in the morning about 6:45. Tony and his wife Chris picked me up and we were off to the Ontario Oregon rest area. While waiting for everybody to show up I met a few of the kind people that I have meet through this very site that have contacted me in the past.

By the time we finally left to go to Beacon Hill it was almost 9 am and I think that is just to darn late to be leaving. The trip to Beacon Hill is quite a little trip as it is located deep in private property, I think we went through at least 3 locked gates to get there. The road for the most part is not as bad as other trips this year but still a dirt road. By 10:30 we finally arrived woohoo!!! The first thing I noticed was a very old and faded metal sign that said Beacon Hill Claim Boise Mineral Club “No Trespassing, Blasting or Mechanized Equipment”.

After we gathered all of our equipment and started to wonder around deciding were to set up shop. I had to stop and enjoy the breath taking view of the Snake River way down below a couple of thousand feet to be exact. Well after about an hour of searching and digging I think my bucket had no more than 5 or 6 little golf ball size Agate Nodules not what I was expecting from this area that I had heard so much about. Once again I wondered around and started to dig up by everybody else with very little success. By around 2:30 Tony, Chris and I had no more that 20 little nodules each. Oh wait Chris found a very nice softball size green nodule that later found out had very awesome moss agate inside.

By 3 pm we were just plain bored with Beacon Hill and decided to head out. We drove down the road about 200 yards from were everybody was at and got out to see what was around. Well obviously nobody else had though of this because there were agate nodules everywhere. Within 20 minutes we had filled our buckets with little nodules and a couple softball size ones as well. So word of wisdom always check in very obvious spots as most people will assume it has been picked over and nobody ever really looks there.

Well this was my experience at the famous Beacon Hill Idaho location. I will be honest it was one of the most boring field trips this year. The reason is very little material was collected as it is quite obvious it has been picked very clean in the last 50 years. I will definitely give this location another try next year just to see if my perception is different. So all in all I will rate this trip a 3 out of 10. Also I would like to give a big thanks to the Boise Gem Club for allowing myself and others to come dig on there claim.

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3 Responses

Steve from Tx

January 18th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
1

Hi Justin! It’s nice to see the posting. I met you on that trip.

Following your sage wisdom from your site, I didn’t stay with the main group. I headed for the hills, taking a long walk with my pack looking for float. Dropping down the hill about 300 yards and circling a very wide area, I came upon a steady show of great float.

I found a great “beaner” bigger than a grapefruit. I haven’t cut it yet, but it sure looks promising. It’s got a lot of “sweet blue” for sky and I can see major moss settled on the bottom of “the melon”.

I found some great 5 color moss. White background, brilliant yellow and green, red and black. I found some really nice sparklies – plates of quartz crystals on an agate rind. Overall I left with a full daypack and very pleased that I could be “particular” about what I put in the pack. “Is it worth hauling out?”

Because I was looking for the float, it was by and large very, very clean material. This gave me the opportunity to “peek” inside the nodules and I can see some great scenes just screaming to be released from within.

Meanwhile, back on the hilltop – I noticed that if one had the patience of a miner and were well equipped with heavy sledges, iron rods and other assorted heavy-duty tools, success came after several hours of cracking rotten rock down a few feet on the top of the hill.

I made a round of visiting the foxeholes to see the prizes others had collected. I didn’t see anyone with less than 1/2 bucket. But that was, tough foxhole work. The nodules are situated like clams in hard shale. The material would crack into fat “bricks” and as the “bricks” were tossed out, the nodules became apparent to be collected. The reward is there, but not without hard work and probably several hours of “cracking rock” until the nodules begin to show themselves. The material itself, is certainly first class, gem quality. Worthy of the diamond used to cut and grind and the elbow grease to polish.

I’d recommend the trip to somenone – with the club, but be prepared to go for a long walk or dig a foxhole in rotten, plated fossilized volcanic mud. “The good stuff is never easy.” Bring water (standard) and be prepared for an awesome view. It’s beautiful country that changes as the day progresses from morning to late afternoon. It’s a great photo op. (As your report shows.)

Anyway, keep your differential up as the ruts get low… best wishes and keep on rockin’
John howell

February 7th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
2

hey enjoyed the dinner, Linda eat to much, But very good food.
Linda & I and a few Friends will be going out , soon as the weather is better ? For the most part we will go out for a week to 10 days But some day trips , I,ll try & let you know , Have a good wk end
John
Jason

February 9th, 2009 at 12:12 am
3

Thanks John

Hope the you get well soon so we can get some rocks this summer.

Jason