As some of you know I'm out collecting minerals all over the place. A lot of these locations are really out there on the roads less traveled. One of my favorite collecting areas is Clear Creek about 30 miles NW of Coalinga, Ca. in the the Diablo mountains in Central California. It's an area mainly filled with ranches, some of them quite large and beautiful.
Hidden in those mountains is one of the rarest gemstones in the world, Benitoite. It also happens to be the California
state gemstone. Only found in 3 places on Earth, Japan, Arkansas & California and only in gem quality in the San Benito County portion of the Diablos. Discovered in 1907 by a prospector the vein was quickly acquired and mined for the gemstone. The California State Gem Mine, formerly the Dallas Gem mine, is that location and is now privately owned. There are a few other occurrences, but those are also under claim. Please stay off these claims.
My favorite in my collection. Benitoite & Neptunite.
In addition to it's rarity, benitoite also has some other unique qualities. It's shape, dipyramidal which can forma 6 pointed Star of David and it's refractive index which rivals that of a diamond. We call that the "Fire" of a stone. Look at the beauty below. Per carat it also rivals diamond in price.
Another from my collection.
In addition to benitoite, neptunite(the black crystals), joaquinite, fresnoite, jade & jadeite, cinnabar, uvarovite(green garnets), chromium minerals, plasma agate and other rare minerals are found here. It's a fantastic area to hunt for rock hounds, but there is a drawback.
Being a massive serpentine zone, the area is loaded with asbestos. There are two giant abandoned, open pit asbestos mines in the area. Due to the hazard you are only allowed into the mountains with a permit. Anyone can get one, you just have to call up and ask, but you are only allowed in 5 times a year and I believe the mines are off limits.
There are 2 camp sites at Clear Creek, just before the entrance into the hazard zone shown in the picture above. The rate is $10 and it's first come, first serve basis. The creek flows next to the campgrounds and is loaded with minerals, just be sure you aren't on someone's claim before collecting.
Plasma Agate with cinnabar(red)
Plasma Agate
For more information on benitoite I suggest John Veevaert's site, http://www.benitoite.com/benitoite/index.shtml
He's an expert on it and I've bought many specimens from him including the ones in this post.
For more info. on Clear Creek you can look here: https://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72153
Enjoy the photos
I left this one there for ya
This one too
Panorama of Hernandez reservoir which Clear Creek feeds.
View looking towards Clear Creek from the opposite ridge. Looking towards the New Idria Mining District.
