hey everybody!!!last year i went with my grandma to tennessee and wentgem mining.long story short i am now addicted. i cant go all the way back to tennessee so what is the best place to order gem dirt of the web?? thanks for your help!!!

that comes with the screen board sifter thingy

I've got some really nice material that I know you'd enjoy. Sifters included with ID chart. Check it out at www.backbaymining.com

It is an easy thing to get addited to. lol I can relate. Various places sell kits with dirt and screens, here is one, http://www.sapphiremine.com/html2/products.php
This is sapphire material from MT. I myself prefer Gem Mtn NC for various gems http://gemmountain.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=2 material. However, they do not sell the screens. I have not tried the back bay mining material.

On the Cash and Treasures Wiki there is a resource page some of us have put together. Actually the wiki is a great place to find like minded people talking about minnig, treasures and much more. the link to the resourze page is http://cash-and-treasures-wiki.travelchannel.com/page/L...urce+and+Buying+Page Scroll down to the header RMM (Remote Mining Material) whih gives a list of mines that sell material online for us home miners. There is also a page where some of us have reported our finds with pics if you want to check that out as well. http://cash-and-treasures-wiki.travelchannel.com/page/Y...+Mining+Materials%29

As for the screen, you can make one very easy, go to the local hardware store and ask for some 1/4" hardware cloth, 1/4" screen eccentially. Get a piece of 1" x 4" lumber, make a frame and mount the hardware cloth on the bottom. However, buying a package with a screen would be easier for sure. lol

I am like you, a home miner that lives 3000 miles away from the great gems found on the East coast. I have no affiliation to any of the mines listed here or on the wiki or any mine what so ever.

Hope this helps and have fun! Paul

quote:

Originally posted by rocky road:
what is the best place to order gem dirt of the web??

Ihave oreder pocket dirt from two Califrnia tourmaline mines and enjoyed sceening both.

My current favorite is to order pocket dirt form the Oceanview Mine, Pala, CA. You go to their web site: www.digforgems.com and their is a phone number to call Simon King to order dirt. You can buy a bag for $30 or get 6 bags for $150 (plus there are shipping charges). The bags come in the flat rate priority mail boxes. I have found small pink and green tourmaline crystals, chunks of aquamarine (some gemmy), a few pieces of the gemmy purple Kunzite they show on their web page, some pretty smoky quartz points and one great matrix chunk with 4 smoky quartz points on feldspar with book mica.

I have also bought the tourmaline dirt from the Himalay mine from their web site - www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com and had some luck (although less than with the other mine). The Himalaya Mine dirt also comes in the flat rate priority mailers but there seems to be more ordinary dirt. I did find a few nice specimens of the green tourmaline. Their web site sells sunstone dirt from the Spectrum Mine in Oregon also, but I haven't tried that yet.

Either way, it is fun to get a box in the mail and then screen and clean it in the comfort of my backyard. My only problem has been what to do with the leftover sand and stones. So far, I solved it in part by taking back a bucket or two each time I drive down to San Diego to go to the Oceanview Mine. I just dup the leftover dirt on the berms by side of the parking area and have my bucket ready to refill with treasures.

Ellen

Here is another one that you and others might enjoy - http://www.rubycity.com/gem_buckets