Striking It Rich

We had an adventure yesterday! Now, when I say this, I'm not using the phrase as you would sarcastically about a really horrible day. We actually had an adventure yesterday! We packed up really early in the morning, dropped off Cooper at Grandpa and Grandma Davis' house, and then we hit the road for a road trip. We drove two hours south to the Emerald Creek Mine just past St. Maries, Idaho. We went to dig for Star Garnets! For anyone who wants to see one, here is what they look like. So, our experience went as follows...

We arrived at the mine after a very beautiful 2 hour drive, and listening to the new Coldplay cd 4 times. Love it. We arrive and park our car, and then hike 1/2 a mile to the mine.

At the mine you pay for a permit, and then you start digging! At this mine you are allowed to take home 5 pounds of Garnets for every permit you pay for. It's very special because these stones are only found in this remote Idaho(?) mine and in India. So, they were very exciting to look for.They give you two buckets, and then tell you to fill one up from the previously mined pile of dirt. See below.

You are then to proceed to the sifting area. As you look at the pictures, keep in mind two things.

1. Steve took these pictures without moving his feet at all, just turning in a circle. The whole experience takes place in a very small area.

2. The Park Ranger told us that yesterday was the busiest day they have EVER had. Yikes.

So, in this picture you are seeing the sifting station. You pour your dirt/rocks from your bucket over a screen and sift all the mud through, saving the rocks in your spare bucket.

You then carry your bucket of rocks and your empty bucket down to the water station. Using a different screen you pour the remnants of what you dug onto the screen and the let the water wash away all the dirt so you can see what you've got!

Here's (from left) Sydni, Aidan, Dan, and Steve, looking at their rocks to see if they came away with any garnets.

The day was so much fun and we all ended up finding some. Thanks so much to Dan and Staci for being troopers and coming with us, it was so fun to do together! Also, thanks to Mom and Dad and Mason for watching Cooper!

It's clearly been a long and exhausting week.