Alabama Paint Rock Agate Page ! Updated March16, 2018 @ 6:10 p.m. I'll be updating this page soon with a confirmed date as opposed to tentative. (refresh browser to check for changes) |
Cabochons cut from Paint rock agate. |
PAINT ROCK VALLEY WEATHER 10 DAY FORCAST |
Paint Rock agate is usually red and yellow . It can sometimes have other colors and even fortification lines . On occasion large agate nodules are found with hollow places that may have druse quartz crystals. Sometimes these crystals can be quite large , and can even be smoky or amethyst colored . The material is very good for making cabochons or any other type of lapidary processing and polishing , even tumbling ! Paint Rock agate is usually found in the Paint Rock Valley of Alabama and also in areas across the state line into Tennessee. This area is on the Alabama side & near the Tennessee state line . We'll be working in the Alabama portion of the valley in the general area of Trenton. This is an area of great beauty , with mountains that steeply rise up to 1,500 feet in elevation. While steep , it is not too steep to hike up the mountain. The best most scenic place to do this is up a stream or wash . There is plenty of shade on this tree covered mountain , so it is not as hot as most places . The limestone on the mountain side is like a mini "rock city" with natural bridges and rock formations. There is usually lots of fossils to be found too! DIG DATE : to be announced $40 This is event will be held rain or shine! The area that I will be taking people to has a large amount of agate on the property . While the area has plentifull agate , only a small percentage has the good carnelian intense red color . This will involve a lot of breaking rocks to find the good color. Here is what you will need to bring :
There is no digging involved in this hunt unless you just want to. Currently the ground has a good amount of agate on the surface . You'll simply walk along and break the agate to determine what has color . Remember :
11. Cost $40 per person. Children , if approved, are $15. B&B with rooms & cabins: I recommend the cabins. No cell phone service in this area ! Paint Rock Valley Lodge & Retreat Phone (256) 776-9411 3865 County Rd. 9 Estillfork, AL 35745 The nearest decent hotel is 20 miles away MICROTEL With online reservations and AAA discount the rooms are $55 and are really nice but you must book early. Whenever possible I stay here because it is NICE and the closest to the meeting place and has nearby restaurants. Warning : Not recommended to stay at any of the cheaper hotels in huntsville. * Edited: This place has been torn down which makes me sad* The nicest place to stay is the Holiday Inn Downtown. This is a former Hilton hotel so the building has a restaurant, a Star Bucks , and was built to Hilton standards. It is the nicest Holiday Inn I have ever stayed at. Expensive, but if you have priority club reward points, this is the BEST place to stay. Oddly enough , this place doesnt require a lot of points to stay here. |
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IMPORTANT : You must email me and register for the digs ! FOR THE dig , THIS WILL BE OUR MEETING PLACE : subject to change so check back on this! Hollytree Grocery 11620 Al Highway 65 Hollytree, AL. 35751 Sign-in at 8:45 and we will leave at 9 am CENTRAL TIME. If you are late you will miss the group and wont be allowed to participate. I will be doing a half-day dig on friday, email me for the details. |
Please help the local economy of the Paint Rock Valley ! There are nice places to stay , right in the valley. The Hollytree Grocery has great biscuits and sandwich's grilled to order - Hamburgers too ! |
Check out our paint rock agate rough, cabs, and animal carvings for sale on ebay, plus links to our rock shop in Georgia and our other online presences. Click the "Go To" drop-down menu below: |