SVGMS Field Trip - Dixie Mine

Dixie Mine, 2012 & 2013 [Contributed by & used with permission of Scott Steele]

We located a small pocket of the rare mineral Rockbridgeite (iron phosphate with manganese) on the side of a hill (apparently a dump site) and everyone came home happy. It was like ants on a sugar mound working in close quarters to see who could find the biggest piece. It wasn't easy to tell the difference between the local iron ore and Rockbridgeite. Potential rocks had to be scratched to elicit the tell-tale green streak. After 3 hours we all got pretty good and buckets were loaded for the trip home; don't let anyone tell you iron ore isn't heavy.

In addition to Rockbridgeite we found intricate brecciated rocks intertwined with iron ore. Some of the specimens are covered in black crystals and contain blue like inclusions. Lastly several of the members stayed late into the day to collect nice large specimens of psilomelane and rocks with skolithos linearis.

Shenandoah Valley Gem and Mineral Society

May The The Quartz Be With You!

SVGMS Field Trip - Dixie Mine