Spruce Grove area *** Open to collecting ***

General Info North of Lake George, near the small town of Tarryall, is the Spruce Grove campground area. Within 1.5 miles of the campground, one can find beautiful topaz and smoky quartz crystals in alluvial gravels and in situ. Also known as the Tarryall area or the South Tarryall Peak area.

Minerals Click on the image(s) below to see a picture of that mineral from this location. Columbite - Cylindrical masses associated with fluorite, beryl and quartz, according to Hawley and Wobus (Raines). Florencite-(Ce) - Reddish-brown micro balls and scales on smoky quartz were reported by Modreski (Raines). Goethite Smoky Quartz - Sometimes double-terminated crystals are found in the pegmatites here. Can be light or dark in color. The tips of some of the crystals are colorless while the rest of the crystal can be a very dark color. Topaz - Crystals over 1 pound have been reported; sizes rarely exceed 5 cm. Colors are generally clear, slightly blue or slightly sherry; in addition, Raines reports yellow and pale brown. They are typically found in miarolitic pockets in pegmatitic granite with reddish clay. Many crystals are terminated on one end and very gemmy, although they can have etch pits or striations on their faces. Termination forms are usually considered "chisel point prisms", but they can be more complex. Usually associated with smoky quartz and microcline. Other Notable Minerals Albite, Biotite, Cassiterite, Chrysoberyl, Elbaite, Fluorite, Hematite, Hornblende, Ilmenorutile, Lepidolite, Microcline, Monazite, Muscovite, Opal, Phenakite, Quartz, Thorite, Xenotime, Zircon Field Trip Reports REPORT #1 REPORT #2 REPORT #3

Digging at Spruce Grove for topaz and smoky quartz crystals. Pocket where many pieces of topaz were found. Spruce Grove area. A view of the Spruce Grove digging area. Another view of the Spruce Grove digging area.

References S. Voynick, 1995, Colorado Rockhounding (ISBN 0-87842-292-7) J. R. Mitchell, 1997, Gem Trails of Colorado (ISBN 0-935182-91-8) E. Raines, 2001, "Rocks & Minerals" (Vol. 76, September/October, pgs. 298-325) J. A. Murphy and P. J. Modreski, 2002, "Rocks & Minerals" (Vol. 77, July/August, pgs. 218-238) Please see the reference(s) mentioned above for directions to the site if specific instructions are not given on this page.

Home  >  Colorado Rockhounding  >  South Central  >  Park Co.  >  Spruce Grove area

.