Oil-Mountain

-Gotta get out to this place.

I still can’t handle the heat very well. But it’s early fall now—cooler, and oh my goodness, I need an adventure.

There’s a spot with easy access off a two-track road. A gentle slope, only an 800-foot climb to the top. The geology is perfect for opal and chalcedony. I’ve found some of my best fluorescent specimens on the flats below.

-Like this one.

I’d planned to ride the bike out here for a night hunt before experiencing the disaster. But not now. This time it’s the SUV, during the coolest part of the day. I’ll take my time—maybe give it the whole day. Contour the slope. Hunt carefully. Find something lovely. And certainly have an adventure.

Probably my last chance this year.

So, Oil Mountain—here I come.

Oil Mountain

-This is the way.

Oh my gosh. Even just steps from the road, there’s so much goodness here. The lichen. The desert aromas. The wildlife. The silence. The solitude.

-So close to the road, yet worlds away. This is beyond therapy—it’s heavenly.

I’m older now. A little weaker. Moving slower. Still slightly dinged up. But just like that adventure before, I can still move freely. Breathe deeply. Think clearly.

It feels so good to be alive. So good to be here.

The Rocks

And oh my… this place is full of opal, chalcedony, and druzy quartz vugs.

-Rocky delight.

Many are in situ—far too big to carry. And far too dense to mine, even by a foolish yahoo. This five-foot-tall, vuggy opal-and-chalcedony monument should guard its lichen forever. I couldn’t even ding it with my rock hammer. Even lightning barely scarred it.

-It’s a monster!

I don’t need many rocks—just the right one. A druzy, botryoidal beauty with pink and white lacy opal and clear chalcedony banding.

-And this is it.

Will this lovely daylight specimen fluoresce? Oh, I’m sure it will. But will it glow like that earlier one? Impossible to know in daylight. It could be a fluorescent dud. I’ve been fooled before.

If it’s a keeper, I’ll add it to my specimen images this winter.

Either way, the rocks are only part of why I’m here. They’re just an excuse, really—a small token of what I’m actually gathering in abundance.

And that gift? It’s far greater. ✨

Cheers,
D 🪨🔥