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GeneralQuartz and pyrite from Spruce Ridge, King Co. Washington

7th Jul 2015 18:15 UTCLarry Maltby Expert

I just received my new copy of the Rocks and Minerals magazine. The cover shows a superb photo by Jeff Scoval of a Spruce Ridge quartz, pyrite specimen. The article recounts the original commercial find in 1977 and mentions that the specimens were introduced at the Greater Detroit Gem and Mineral Show in October of that year. I attended that show and remember the great "splash" that these specimens made among collectors. I thought that some of you guys would like to see a couple of the specimens on display then.

Quartz and pyrite from Spruce Ridge, King Co. Washington.

7th Jul 2015 20:54 UTCRock Currier Expert

Their beautiful and apparently have never been cleaned.

30th Oct 2015 18:16 UTCTony Stephens

I love this place ! Never been to Bob's claim but would love to find something like that near there.

9th Jan 2016 02:24 UTCJim Allen

The R&M article said that the Spruce Collectors' LLC contracted with a single dealer to sell the specimens produced by their hired miner. Does anyone know who that dealer is? Or, does anyone know which dealer in Tucson would have Spruce Claim specimens?

13th Jan 2016 07:14 UTCRonald

Bob Jackson would know, after all he wrote the book on it (AMT #43) Spruce Ridge King County, Washington

Also, The Crystal Circle at the Inn Suites may have specimens, The elder of the company Jack Heckscher

has a kick-ass collection of Spruce Claim in his "showroom".

22nd Jan 2016 06:34 UTCBob Jackson Expert

Sorry I missed this thread back in July, out mining then. Thanks for the comments, guys. I'm sure Rock's "apparently never cleaned" comment was a fun jibe at me, I would have enjoyed batting that around with him as we had on other topics here. Alas, not to be. Back in the day, none of us knew how to clean Spruce specimens very well. Thankfully that has changed.

I still do most of the marketing of Spruce specimens. We had a banner season last summer, so there is presently a good supply. PM me if you'd like to see some of what I'm bringing to Tucson. Joe George of Cascade Scepters should have a good stock at the Tucson City Center (former InnSuites), and Stan Esbenshade always has some at Midwest Minerals. Jack Heckscher collected with us at Spruce several times, part of how he and Pete built their excellent collection.

Cabinet specimen in my hands, collected August 2015 Note drill hole visible just behind specimen, how we discovered that vug.

22nd Jan 2016 11:16 UTCLarry Maltby Expert

Hi Bob, great photo!

Back in the late 70’s I think that I recall reading that at the base of the mountain there was a hot spring and you guys could come down after a hard day’s work and soak for a while in the spring. I can remember thinking “how cool was that”. The most recent article didn’t tell that story and I was disappointed. Is that true or is my memory playing tricks on me?

22nd Jan 2016 17:33 UTCBob Jackson Expert

Your memory is spot on, Larry! Very nice to have a hot soak available at the end of a day of collecting. There was also a hotspring below the Hallelujah Junction scepter locality when my team worked that in the 80's. I think every locality should have one. The Spruce hotspring is called Goldmyer, after the prospector who patented the claim on which it sat. The spring is exposed in an adit that followed a pyrite seam. Locals call it "The Cave". In the 70's it was open to anyone who happened by, now reservations are needed. Fortunately we now have solar-powered wifi at Spruce, so we can reserve online ... what a change!

22nd Jan 2016 17:49 UTCLarry Maltby Expert

Thanks for reinforcing my memory Bob. I am sure that I won’t forget it now.

22nd Jan 2016 19:36 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

Bob you should post that here. Is that Bart with Carbide in the photo?

22nd Jan 2016 20:06 UTCMatt Ciranni

urg, YOWZERS Bob J!! Don't take this wrong or anything, but I would rather have not seen that picture...

22nd Jan 2016 20:35 UTCBob Jackson Expert

Rob, Where do you suggest posting it? I wasn't the photographer, so I'm not sure who of the What On Earth crew are pictured. Perhaps they will pipe up to tag their photos. I don't think it's Bart, unless he just happened by the springs while the guys were bathing.

Larry & Matt, my apologies if that image now resides in your impression of Spruce. Like most hot springs, Goldmyer is still 'clothing optional'. Would you prefer I replace it with this generic one of how the springs looks today?

22nd Jan 2016 21:27 UTCLarry Maltby Expert

I think that both of them should be posted. It makes a good story and I like telling stories and hearing them also.

22nd Jan 2016 22:00 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

Sorry Bob I thought that picture was an old one when Carbide was still alive. If one of them was Bart it would be worth posting, but maybe not with a TV crew. Yes please post the second pic. However "Clothing Optional" in the caption of the second photo doesn't quite tell the story as the first does.

22nd Jan 2016 22:07 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

No offense to Bob and Bart, but regarding famous photographs of mineral personality's naked backsides, I much prefer the one of the lady (who will remain nameless for the purposes of this post) pushing a wheelbarrow into the Himalaya tourmaline mine. I think it appeared in the Min. Rec. a long time ago. Anybody remember the issue number? Adorable.

22nd Jan 2016 22:20 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

For more sensitive viewers like Matt, I asked Bob if he could post them at http://www.mindat.org/loc-23955.html which is the Hot Spring in the Spruce thread. That gets far fewer views than Spruce.

22nd Jan 2016 22:31 UTCBob Jackson Expert

Posted on the Goldmyer Hot Springs location, http://www.mindat.org/loc-23955.html which is not a mineral location, just a good spot for a bath! Deleted from my thread entry.

Bob

22nd Jan 2016 22:38 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

Thanks so much Bob. That's the only real Goldmyer photo we have.

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