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Quiet Creek Herb Farm & School of Country Living

Crystal Hunting

2/10/2012

21 Comments

 
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“Walker, are you ready to go?” calls my brother, Ashton, from downstairs.  “Yes”, I reply as I put my rock hammer and water bottle in my pack. 

Yesterday Ashton had gone crystal hunting with Finley who is the care taker of our sabbatical home (Harmony House), Junior, Jay, and John—three Jamaican friends.  I had stayed back to help build a house for Miss Faith and her six children. 

They all live in Harmons, a remote village in the mountains, rich in the bauxite needed to quench America’s thirst for aluminum.  Mining this natural resource without environmental regard has exposed calcite crystals covering boulders at the huge holes in the ground (some 80 foot in depth)

For family day my parents planned to join us too.  My dad, Rusty, being a “retired” mineralogist was excited beyond explanation; whereas my mom saw the beauty of geologic studies for our home schooling. 

I ran down the hallway and met the excavation crew at the front gate.  Junior, our guide, started off into the bush.  We all followed along the well-worn paths, passing clumps of houses made of tin and cement.  Outside one home was a group of Jamaican children adorned with dreadlocks and smiles. They questioned Junior in Pautwa (the native creole) about where we were going.  Junior replied that we were crystal hunting. A few of them joined our procession including a new friend named Antony.

The weather was beautiful with puffy cumulus clouds in the sky and a warm wind blowing through our hair and in our faces. Soon a complex system of hills, valleys, ditches, and ponds came into view.  “It is the quickest way,” Junior chortled, so we obediently followed. 

Within minutes, I felt like a mountain goat scrabbling across the switches.  Ashton was in his glory, not only is he an avid tree climber back home but he loves to climb rocks as well. His new friend Antony was just as much of a daredevil as he is.  They challenged one another to do handsprings down the ravines and jump off the highest peaks.  My mom was having difficulty and I could sense she would have preferred the safer route.  Likewise,  my dad shared in her discontent until he looked down and spotted his first cluster of calcite crystals.  Junior yelled, “Come now, this is nothing to compare to what is coming!” 

As we progressed, I learned about the calcite crystals (CaCO2) from my mom.  Evidently Jamaica, a Greater Antille, had volcanic origin, but was covered by an ocean laying down millions of now compacted sea shells. Calcite had grown out of the solution of dissolved calcium carbonate.  Commonly found world-wide, this soft mineral is known as a “3” on Moh’s hardness scale. They are classified in the trigonal crystal system.

Once again my dad wanted to stop and get more treasure protruding out of boulders   surrounded by the red bauxite refuse. Ashton and Junior ran ahead bringing him back a sample of ecstasy.  He dropped his most recent collection and quickly journeyed onward. 

What we saw was incredible, piles upon piles of calcite, the size of your wrist displaying perfect rhombohedra cleavage and sparkling vitreously in the hot sun.  Junior requested my hammer and showered the ground with finger-thick, diamond-like crystals.  Pumped with adrenaline, my dad lifted a sixty pound boulder.   Then he would drop to the ground and pick through the crystal as if nothing had happened.  This hulk-like activity continued until a huge pile of calcite heaped in front of us. 

My mom and I gazed in amazement.  Then I saw the concern on her face, knowing of my dad’s severe inflammation in his shoulder area. 

“Are you ok, Rusty?” she inquired.  “Oh yes, I have always wanted to do this with the boys, but I never had the time or had access crystals like this to share with them.” 

What a glorious day in Jamaica; I learned a ton of geologic facts and a new respect for my father and his love of mineral hunting. 


         


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21 Comments
Uncle Den-Den
2/10/2012 02:13:29 pm

You write well, Grasshopper. The goat metaphor was vivid. However, there is a run-on sentence (Hint: It involves Ashton).
I feel your Dad's pain. We are comrades in the creaking-shoulder platoon.
Keep the faith.

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Michaeldectis
2/16/2012 02:35:32 am

Your writing is great, full of good information. Glad you guys are having as blast.

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MABrown
2/17/2012 04:57:44 am

Hello Walker, nice narrative of the day. Good use of vocabulary too. Keep up the learning.

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camo link
8/22/2013 11:32:31 pm

Thanks for taking this opportunity to talk about this, I feel fervently about this and I enjoy learning about this topic. Please, as you gain facts, please update this blog with more information. I have found it enormously useful.

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Zane Dyer link
6/19/2022 09:02:30 pm

Great poost thank you

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Steven Wagner link
10/28/2022 08:17:22 am

Junior replied that we were crystal hunting. A few of them joined our procession including a new friend named Antony. Thank you for the beautiful post!

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12/18/2023 03:50:52 am

What a captivating and adventurous experience! Crystal hunting offers an exciting journey into the natural world, where one seeks out the beauty and wonder hidden within the Earth.

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3/2/2024 11:47:53 pm

This content is written very well. Your use of formatting when making your points makes your observations very clear and easy to understand. Thank you.

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3/6/2024 06:18:20 am

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Driveways and surfacing Orange link
12/10/2024 04:57:00 am

The way you describe the day with your family, learning about calcite crystals and exploring the landscape, is truly captivating

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HARDSTANDS SURFACING Yass link
12/12/2024 02:33:08 am

The crystal hunting trip sounds both educational and thrilling. Your dad's passion for mineral hunting is truly inspiring.

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Pothole & Grading Surfacing Muswellbrook link
1/3/2025 03:34:47 am

The way you described the surroundings and the excitement of finding calcite crystals was captivating. It’s wonderful to see a family's passion for learning and exploring together.

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Spray & Seal Bitumen Tumut link
1/3/2025 04:08:32 am

The blend of geology lessons and family adventure is truly captivating. The excitement and enthusiasm shine through in every paragraph.

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ASPHALT & BITUMEN SURFACING IN Mudge link
1/20/2025 03:20:40 am

Really appreciate the personal touch and family dynamics. It's heartwarming to see your father's passion for mineral hunting and your shared experiences.

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ROAD CONSTRUCTION Temora link
1/21/2025 03:51:06 am

Appreciate the insights into the geology and your family's passion for mineral hunting. What a fantastic day in Jamaica!

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Driveways and surfacing Singleton link
2/20/2025 09:36:29 pm

Thanks for sharing this captivating story! The adventure of crystal hunting in Jamaica sounds thrilling. It's wonderful to see the family bond over such an exciting activity.

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Spray & Seal Bitumen Tamworth
2/20/2025 09:37:20 pm

Great read! The detailed description of the crystal hunting process and the geological insights make this post fascinating. I can feel the excitement of discovering those calcite crystals.

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ROAD CONSTRUCTION Singleton link
3/31/2025 10:51:17 pm

What a fantastic family outing! The mix of geology, adventure, and family time must have been unforgettable. Plus, it’s great that your dad could share his expertise!

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BaddiesEast link
4/28/2025 01:48:54 am

Some truly wonderful work on behalf of the owner of this internet site , perfectly great articles .

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    Walker Orner, son of Rusty and Claire Orner

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