Turquoise Hunt

Yesterday I went to Bisbee, AZ for the annual turquoise hunt sponsored by the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum.  Once each year the museum has access to the mine dumps from the famous copper mining operations in Bisbee.  Organized and coordinated in conjunction with Freeport McMoran Copper, the current mine owner, rockhounders who purchase tickets for this event are transported by bus from a lot across the street from the museum past the original Sacramento pit and the famous Lavender pit, onto and through the mine property to dump #7 where the mining company generously 'rips' (turns over) the tailings on a broad flat area known to yield some nice turqouise, including some of the brilliant deep blue 'Bisbee Blue'.  The company provides drinking water, water for washing your finds, port-o-john facilities, stand by first-aid capability just in case, and a few polite mining company employees to remind us when we have wandered past the designated collecting area or onto the steep slopes and berms, which is verboten, for good reason.

I did not have much luck, but a few nice pieces were found by others, as always, which keeps us eternally hopeful and coming back again.  I was looking for material that would produce at least a 10 x 8 finished cab, and although I found many nice chips with great color, I left them behind hopefully to be found by one of the many first time novice rockhounders or children whose day would be absolutely made by finding even a small piece of 'Bisbee Blue'.  I suspect that there are many small treasures being proudly shown to family and friends today.

Despite not finding a monster chunk of some of the rarest and most beautiful turquoise in the world, it was an awesome day.  Great Arizona fall weather - clear blue cloudless sky, mid to high 80's - good conversation with old and new friends, giving a little advice to eager novices, getting a bit of sage advice from the old timers who really know their stuff.  There is not a better way to spend a day.