| Fort Drum Crystal Mine (formerly Rucks Pit) Fort Drum, FL US Uploaded By Scott (webmaster) Uploaded on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 01:58:35 PM Viewed 16081 times |
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| The website link below didn't work as of 1/22/2021. I found another good info site here: https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/things-to-do/attractions/fort-drum-crystal-mining-florida.html. It says: "Tips for happy hunting:
Wear comfortable clothes that you won’t mind getting dirty. Because they will.
Boots – or other shoes with ankle support – are a good idea. Loose rocks can give you a twist.
Wear gloves. The tiny, fossilized shells that make up the rock can have rough edges.
Bring a hammer, chisel, hoe and flathead screwdriver. The driver is a valuable tool for carefully loosening the dirt and rock around your fragile finds.
Bring buckets. For adults, the mine charges $30 for a five-gallon bucket. For kids under 12, it’s $15.
Bring newspapers. Calcite is “soft” crystal and easily scratched. Wrap your finds before they go in your bucket.
Bring a cooler and plenty to drink. You’re in the middle of nowhere. ‘Nuff said.
Wear sunscreen. While there are shade pavilions, when you get the “crystal fever,” you’ll forget how long you’ve been standing in the sun.
Ruck’s Pit is in the midst of a transformation and will eventually become a full-service campground. There’s already a swimming beach at the lake, so if you get too hot, you can take a dip. The lake is also stocked with bass, bluegill, catfish and tilapia for catch-and-release fishing.
It’s a pretty informal operation, and its owners are not always on-site. So it’s a good idea to call ahead and let them know you’ll be there. They’ll stop in to collect the mining fee. Bring cash. Exact change is best. It’s that informal.
The mine is typically open seven days, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (863) 634-4579" OLDER INFO BELOW OLDER INFO BELOW This is a fee pay site that costs $30/day for a 5 gallon bucket maximum according to the gamineral.org website page about it. Go to the website for details and up to date information. You can find calcified and fossilized clamshells here mainly of great quality. Here is some of the information from the website: For current collecting information and fees contact: Eddie Rucks fortdrumcrystalmine@yahoo.com 863-634-4579 TURKEY CREEK CAMPGROUND Overnight Camping - $25 Fishing Available - open 7 days Calcite in Clams & Fossilized Shells - $30 a day - 5 Gallon Limit 6645 NE 304th St., Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-634-0691 ITEMS COLLECTED: There is an abundance of well-fossilized and calcified marine shells. The sand and shell matrix rock is in the Nashua Formation (Pleistocene) and is composed of well-calcified shells. Any cavities within these fossils may contain calcite crystals. Honey colored calcite crystals up to 1" in length can be found within large fossilized clamshells. Small calcite crystals within shells are very common. Fossilized bone and teeth, although rare, can also be found at this location. WHAT TO BRING: Pants, sturdy shoes / boots, gloves and protective eyewear are recommended. Bring tools, buckets / cloth bag, and newspaper to collect, carry and wrap fragile specimens. The collecting area can be extremely wet and muddy. Bring a change of clothing along with plenty of water and a towel. SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Spring, Fall, and Winter are the preferred collecting times at this quarry. It is recommended that you wear sturdy shoes or boots and gloves. Daytime temperatures can vary as much as 40F, in the winter so layered clothing is appropriate. This is an active quarry and the sand/ rock along the quarry walls can collapse without notice. Be extremely careful working next to steep walls. Some areas may be marked off, so do not go into these areas for your safety. Go to the website for informa | Here are the directions from the website given: "DIRECTIONS: Ft. Drum is on Hwy 441 approximately 15 miles south of the intersection of Hwy 60 and 441 (Yeehaw Junction). Go south of Ft. Drum General Store about 0.5 mile and turn east on 304th St. Go about 2.75 miles to the quarry entrance (north side of the road). " |