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
2022 Field Trips
April 1-3, 2022 Friday - Saturday
Washington Coast,
La Push, Rialto Beach
April 30 – May 2, 2022, Saturday - Monday
Saddle Mountain,
Central Washington,
Petrified Wood
June 24 - 27, 2022, Friday - Monday
McDermitt,
South Central Oregon
July 2022 (Exact date is TBD)
Joe Cota Picnic
August 13-21, 2022, Saturday – Sunday, 9 days
Montana,
Various Locations
Sep 9-12, 2022, Friday - Monday
Red October II Mine, Oregon Fire Opal,
Southern Oregon
If anyone has a place they'd like to go, or a particular type of rock they'd like to look for, please let me know.
Please email me to either sign up, or give suggestions or options at sokkehome@gmail.com.
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
Last update 12-24-2021
Contact Webmaster by email at rockhound@clackamettegem.org