The first mineral that actually got me into collecting minerals is called Pink Halite, more commonly known as Himalayan salt or rock salt. The pink halite from Searles lake is a little different though as the crystals grow to massive sizes in clusters.
Each year, the second weekend in October, the Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society hosts their gem show in Trona. It's a very unique show because in addition to buying minerals from the dealers you have the opportunity to take 3 fee dig field trips onto the lake bed to dig halite, hanksite, sulphohalite, borax and several other minerals.
The first two digs on Saturday are the mud dig for barrel hanksite & thenardite and the blow hole event in which the minerals are blown up from 30' under the surface via explosives & suction pumps. The second event usually seems to be the most popular as it's the one where they actually do a demonstration of the suction pump. At this second even you can find all of the minerals the lake has to offer, halite, hanksite, sulphohalite, thenardite, borax and trona.
Sunday is the pink halite field trip and really the one I look forward to. After about a 15min drive onto the lakebed your set free to roam, dig and take home as much of the stuff as you can carry. The specimens are actually quite valuable. The first image at the top of this page sold for over $100. We usually make enough money just from the sale of pink halite to pay for our entire trip, plus any minerals we buy and a nice amount of money on top of that.
If you are in the US and want to know more their website is http://www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/FLYER.htm
I'm there every year with my family so if you see me say hi.
Enjoy
And a short video.
