dig your own crystals

Digging Crystals in Mt Ida Arkansas

Crystals are not dug underground in a mine shaft.They are dug by a method called open pit mining. A bull dozer or track hoe is used to move the dirt and expose the white quartz veins running through the layers of the rock wall.Following the veins,When you are lucky enough to move the right rocks and boulders, you will find a pocket where the conditions were ideal and the crystals formed. Wow what a feeling,the crystals have never seen sunlight and you are the first human to ever see them. The crystals are then dug by hand, being careful not to damage them.

I took these pictures in 1998 during the annual Quartz Festvial Dig. This is Fisher Mountain,located in the Quachita Mountains in Mt Ida, Arkansas.

These are pictures showing the wall and the crystal pocket. The diggers had moved alot of rocks and boulders to expose the pocket. The picture below on right is a close up of the crystal pocket. This is a nice large pocket, Many crystals were found in this pocket.

You can see where these diggers have moved dirt, clay and rocks, and finally, they expose a pocket.

dig your own crystals

More Diggers, working on a wall, trying to find pockets of crystals

Mining Regulations no longer permits tourist to dig on hig walls because of safety issues. The mine owners and staff are required to take and pass

mining safety classes and even then, MSHA checks on them regularly to make sure their high walls are in accordance with regulations.

There are several fee pay mines in the Hot Srings and Mt Ida Area, where you can find great crystals and have a great time. without digging on a high wall.