Rockhound Field Trips

ROCKHOUND FIELD TRIPS

Rockhound Field trips are an important part of 

Clackamette Mineral and Gem Club experience.

                                                                    Image by University of Arizona

  

What is a Rockhounding Field Trip?

Rockhounding is the recreational collecting of rocks, minerals, fossils and gemstones

in their natural environment. Rockhounding field trips make this possible. While on the field trips prospecting we learn about geology, minerology, and identification of stones.

 

Where do we collect rocks and minerals?

The Pacific Northwest has a wide variety of rocks, minerals, fossils and gemstones. We explore and prospect many interesting places such as rivers, streams, valleys, mountains, beaches, roadcuts, desserts and forests. We also occasionally visit museums and rock shops.

 

What do we collect?

Below is a sampling of materials that have been collected on club field trips.

We have collected many “varieties” of all the following materials.

Agates

Carnelian

Jasper

Obsidian

Oregon Fire Opal

Petrified Wood

Sunstones

Thundereggs


Who can participate in field trips?

Any current member is welcome to participate in club field trips.

Rockhound field trips are a great way to meet interesting people, ask advice, and learn how to use tools and gear. Field trips are a member benefit.  All ages are invited to join our club and become a member. Visit the Membership page for more information on how to join the club or contact us by email at rockhound@clackamettegem.org


Here are some of the places that we have collected:


Ape Caves, Gifford Pinchot NF, WA. Longest lava tubes in the US.

Central Idaho

Congleton Hollow and surrounding Central Oregon locations.

Double Eagle Sunstone Mine

Glass Buttes for obsidian.

Hampton Butte Clean Up. Join the Oregon Council and the BLM to help fill in holes left by rockhounds at Hampton Butte.

Hampton Butte, Oregon, Petrified Wood.

Joe Cota's Rock Castle in Lebanon for picnic and rock piles.

McDermitt, NV. Jaspers, agate, petrified and opalized wood, thundereggs.

McDonald’s Rock Ranch, Ashwood, Oregon. This is a fee dig site that offers thunder eggs, petrified wood and plume agate.

Ochocos, east of Prineville. Thundereggs

Oregon Fire Opal. Private Claim. Outside Lakeview in Southern Oregon.

Owyhees, Graveyard Point, Oregon Jaspers, agates, plume agates and thundereggs.

Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals

Southern Oregon Coast. North of Bandon. Beach-combing.

Southern Oregon Opal Mine/Sunstones.

Succor Creek. Public Campground camping. Free collecting of Thundereggs and various other materials. 

Virgin Valley. Denio, Oregon. Precious opal fee mine plus petrified wood, copper mine tailings, etc.

Yachats Beach Combing 


2023 Field Trips  are listed on the Home page, under Current Events. 





Photo Gallery 

Joe Cotta Field Trip

Succor Creek Agate and Thunderegg

Oregon Coast Field Trip

Molalla, Oregon Field Trip

Oregon Fire Opal and Spectrum Sunstone Dig Site

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Last update  1-2-2024

Contact Webmaster by email at rockhound@clackamettegem.org