In Search of a Gemstone - Gem Quality Garnets!

[@angelakimbrell1214]

That was great to see the extreme amount of garnets on that shoreline. I LOVE garnets. When I was 16 I found one in my grandmothers driveway. She lived in North Carolina and I found out the place it came from was just 2 miles away. It is the size of an extra large chicken egg and it is perfect in its color of black cherry. I have left it in its natural shape and cherished it all of these years. Thank you Dan Hurd for sharing all the videos with everyone.

[@rockhoundssharp3128]

What a amazing find

[@bassmanbilly1969]

do you have a photo of your garnet, :)

[@jayvan4353]

Bringing Dan on a garnet hunt is like bringing a Jeopardy champion to a friendly game of Trivial Pursuit

[@cliffordkelly5327]

😂😂😂

[@leeann233]

coming from you the expert?​@zion-cs6lb

[@JognPorc]

😂😂😂

[@EyesWideOpen2]

Facts and he's probably still win 😂😂😂

[@olliehunt79]

Dan, have you thought about hitting up a decent backpack company to test their products? You don't have to go for bigger than you carry currently, but you can get backpacks that will make carrying what you are much easier. A good backpack will take the weight away from your shoulders and back, putting it more towards your hips and therefore much more comfortable. And testing their bags that are only the same carrying capacity will ensure you're not going over a safe weight for you! Just a thought about how much better a good backpack was for me over the kind I used to use, which was the same as the basic type you use. They changed my life, far easier to walk with loads, no back and shoulder issues really compared to before. Just having adjustability on all aspects and the weight being distributed down made walking with loads easier, and I've found myself carrying more without even realising I am! I love your videos, keep doing your amazing work showing us all how wonderful the world is! ❤

[@CindysGems]

Great idea‼️👏🏻‼️👏🏻

[@LostLeftyLimb]

What kind of backpack do you currently use?

[@angrylittlespider4593]

Heck yeah! Dan's knack for locations alone makes this look like a win for everyone.

[@olliehunt79]

@@LostLeftyLimb I live in the UK and use a UK company's backpack but it's a hiking backpack with air movement around the back, and hip straps. Makes any walking with weight in it so easy and comfortable and I thought a similar kind of thing would help Dan!

[@mikeakaspike]

"I hope to earn your subscription today" I thought, now finally. That's the right way to ask. Most youtubers ask you to subscribe before you even watch any of their video. Like, why would I right now? Anyways, just on principle, I've subscribed.

[@robmelanson4420]

I know he's so humble and real. Great channel

[@me-qx2rp]

Never fails to make me smile when I see a Dan Hurd video in my notifications! You have more than earned my subscription my friend!

[@SirHumboldt]

Dan, I fall asleep to your videos man, cant get enough! About to go on my first prospecting trip at the end of the month and you have taught me so much! Thank you! Much love from Wyoming, hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

[@danielimpett1277]

Good luck for your trip dude, you lucky bastard 😋 I'm from England no where near anything so find some for me too 😂

[@wesblood3620]

Dan, you bore this American...lol.

[@jlt131]

@@danielimpett1277 there are a ton of things to find in the UK that aren't in other places! one i'd love to find some day are the star-shaped crinoid stems

[@소나무-f1y]

멋진 호수와 보석.그곳은 어디 인가요?

[@소나무-f1y]

루비.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Nice! I asked to see a gem garnet video not long ago. Much appreciated!

[@Nighthawkinlight]

@@zion-cs6lb Jealous huh?

[@terrybrady1644]

Thank you for taking me along 😊

[@robdedrick2052]

Hey Dan Great Video . When I was about 6 yrs old when my Gramma would take my Mom and I to search for very tiny ones on White Rock Beach . When I was about 8 yrs old my Dad and I were out looking for Boulders to make a Rockery for my Mom . One of the Boulders we brought home was a Cluster of small ones . Every couple of yrs I could go out to the Rockery and gather those that had fallen loose off the Boulder . I would wash and bag them . Give them to Gramma . So Cool . Tks For bringing back those Special Memories .

[@Sammythat_B]

These videos have been helping my cabin fever. Thank you Dan for being Dan.

[@SuperNetSpyder]

I was just thinking of how much I would LOVE to be there - and you panned forward looking for your friend. I realized at that moment I could never come along and walk on a surface like that. I just had foot surgery because of walking on stuff like that. Living vicariously through you, Sir, is a lovely experience. Thank you for sharing your passion and positivity with the world.

[@John-ir2zf]

I used to prospect garnet and kyanite from metamorphosed schist in western Massachusetts. The only method I was able to find that somewhat worked to get the matrix off of facetable stones was hot oxalic acid, and it takes a while. I believe the oxalic acid attacks the the bonding cement between the schist layers (probably aluminum carbonate) and let's the schist peel apart and off of the stones but it is a slow process and probably not economically viable. You can't use hydrochloric or nitric acid because while they do attack the schist, they also attack the aluminum in the garnet.

[@Alondro77]

I found some inch-diameter garnets in Little Gunpowder Falls, MD, in the valley of a tiny side-stream that cuts through a vein of schists that abuts more igneous rock and created a fault for the stream to form in. Like most garnets in the northeast, these are heavily cracked from the repeated crushing and grinding of the continental plate edges in the region before the mid-Atlantic ridge formed. Another tiny deposit of garnets is in the northern part of the Pennypack Creek in eastern PA just above Philadelphia. One deposit is concentrated to a single upthrust of rock that created a highly localized hill right beside the creek in Lorimer Park. In a small cave near the top you can even see the spear-point-like tip of the igneous upthrust piercing through the other material.

[@withpeacelove366]

Wow this is a dream. I'd love to go there. Garnets are my favorite stone in jewelry. I especially love the vintage bohemian garnet jewelry because they used to cut the stones in very specific shapes; they were like rose cut or something. It just makes the gems look way better imo then the regular shape they do now.

[@Emeraldwitch30]

Oh my. That sounds beautiful. Now you make me want to go find one. I'm a January baby so it's our birthstone ETA. I just paused and googled. Oh my thry are beautiful 😍

[@bananonymoussupreme3345]

Garnet is my birthstone and wedding ring stone! They're so lovely!

[@ameliadiaz8040]

The garnet, the carnation and the snowdrop are associated with the month of January. ⛄️

[@mike-carrigan]

It's great you just posted this. We were camping in the mountains of North Carolina and found a bunch of river tumbled rocks with garnets in them. They are so tumbled the garnet doesn't look great and nothing bigger than 1/8 inch.

[@matthewalmosa3557]

Chlorite,biotite **garnet, staurolite, kyanite** sillimanite- that is known as the barrovian sequence in geology which is the metamorphic indicator minerals at increasing pressure and temperatures inside of a mountain towards the core of the mountain. The fibrous appearing mineral would most likely be sillimanite. Great video!

[@SarahHanna-s2c]

Thanks Chris for having Dan there and make us a great video to watch. Very interesting and enjoyable

[@gafairbanks2434]

I sure hope that you are THANKFUL and giving LOVE to Mother Earth for all her precious work for you to harvest. All stones are beyond beautiful!

[@AmyBG88]

Love when you hunt for gemstones. That is my fantasy life!!! ❤

[@independencestnola]

Great to see you’re alive and kicking Dan!

[@Dark_Nemesis4300]

You are so lucky to live in a part of the world where you can just go out and find amazing mineral specimens. Sadly, here in the UK, it is pretty much impossible. Cornwall used to produce world-class minerals, with its mining heritage, but they are all gone now. I trained as a mining geologist, and miss these adventures.

[@almostthere2516]

It is so weird to hear anyone have a claim to the area. Unless it is your own garden, no one have claims here. Everything is public propterty so you can do whatever you want, dig and hatch your way unless you are doing something that leads to danger or nuisance for others or the animal life. But what a GREAT find! Amazing to see so many garnets! A highly underrated crystal!

[@ericmaclaurin8525]

Picking up rocks as you walk away from the car is always funny... to watch.

[@SnarkasticSunny]

I don't hunt gems, but in OR walked the beach collecting pretty rocks to polish. I just LOVE rocks! I often didn't return until last rays of light & stopped at the bar for a "hot drink" to warm me up - in this small town it's the social spot (by 8pm everything else closed). I keft most of my finds in mesh tote in car trunk ~ can really relate to you having to carry heavy load back... Cuz' "can't just leave them there!" A friend there was kind enuff to tumble my best rocks for me. (Love that guy!) I'd walk into bar, most rocks in trunk, but the tiny, or "special" ones I'd put in my pockets to keep separate & once ordered food & hot drink, would empty my front pockets on the bar to look at "special ones". Freezin' cold & wet to the knees (beach wash rocks), emptying pockets of rocks onto bar... They said my Indian name would be "Rocks In Pockets" cuz' never did I not have some rocks in 'em, little or a lot. The name stuck! I'm now getting my own tumbler to shine them up, since I had to move back to CA. Just went up to empty my storage unit & shipped 2 boxes of rocks home. (USPS was thrilled...) A 15lb box & a 25lb box of rocks ~ didn't think I had so many! "If it fits, it ships" boxes - 50lb ea. weight limit. (Too much added weight for rental car.) "Rocks In Pockets" still fits - can't go anywhere w/o finding pretty rocks to slip in my pockets & soon, my own tumbler to polish as many as I want to find! Hope it's not hard to learn...now, if I just knew of a good brand to get cuz' I have a LOT of rocks to do! Only about 1/5 are already polished. Ideas??

[@IttoAppreciater]

​Might recommend a rock garden! ​@@SnarkasticSunny (unrelated to the rock tumbling bands you want someone to recommend btw)

[@trumpatier]

​@@SnarkasticSunnyVery awesome! I can't wait for the day I can afford a tumbler and lapidary machines.

[@symons666]

Fantastic scenery !!

[@josephmedina6403]

SCHIST HAPPENS ! 🤣

[@danfish4life249]

Dan you are the best. Love your great attitude and zest for life. Be well and rock on sir.

[@dethaddr]

13:00 What a beautiful Kyanite!!! That's one of my fave gemmy stones!

[@smmmokin]

"They've been hammered on the beach a little bit" Dan the Man.

[@michaelanjin1327]

When I was in Alaska the Boy Scouts had access to na site that had Garnets up to 1” in diameter, the scouts sold them to raise money. I was surprised at how heavy they were.

[@benjaminrapp7418]

I grew up in Alaska as well and they always got stuck in our sluices while sluicing for gold. I wish we had saved them.

[@gavincutler5421]

P.s that' lease that you has. If not ok keep up the good work 👍

[@1Waarheid]

Hangman

[@1Waarheid]

1128 behind the name

[@drhexagonapus]

What a place to rockhound! Amazing rocks everywhere you look!

[@frankchandler6647]

Dan, thank you so much for sharing your adventures. I love your field trips. Take care and keep up the good work.

[@laine80]

My 12yo and I are going to hunt garnets, rubies, and sapphires in North Carolina next week! Last time I found two huge garnets and he found an 84 carat and a 45 carat rubies last time. Garnets are one of my favorites too 😊

[@kaboom4679]

Good luck , been there more time than I can count . I remember the Cowee Valley in its glory days . All the mines I once frequented are long gone unfortunately . It is one of the very few areas in the world where all 4 precious gems have been found . Ruby and Sapphire of course , a long with Emerald . The 4th is Diamond , and a few have been found over the years .

[@laine80]

@@kaboom4679 thank you. Yeah,it’s really cool! We live in Atlanta and are so lucky to not live far.

[@dawndixon402]

😁👋👍👍👏👏💕🙏🏻 Thank you Chris for sharing your claim with Dan. So he could have all sorts of fun. And share it with us. Way awesome such beautiful stones and the scenery what a blessing.

[@bobsagate8614]

Cool video. One thing you got wrong though Opal is a mineraloid. It doesn't actually have a crystalline structure and is considered an amorphous gel. It does not get its play of color from being dried or mineral inclusions. It is due to the arrangement of the silica spheres it is made of. Larger spheres create blues, smaller spheres create reds. Hydrophane is a great example as it is very porous and you can visually experience it's structure because of the porosity allows water to penetrate the stone. I assume this is Tecopa? I've wanted to visit for a few years now. This was a very informative video because I haven't found any others visiting the site. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@Rodbar22]

Another great video Dan!

[@cx7sleven369]

I always thought that staurolite always just looked a rock cross I didn't know that they can get clear and shiny. Would like to see some of that aquamarine that Chris gets! Thanks again Dan!👍

[@chrismuskett6867]

The kyanite in this locality indicates that the schist formed somewhere near the bottom of the crust

[@kaboom4679]

It's a pretty definitive thermometer / barometer , and , the iron and aluminum plus the silica tells us a lot about the chemistry as well . Another indicator is staurolite . This you have most of the recipe and the correct P/T conditions for producing corundum , IF you can find a location where the silica content is much lower , such as a contact with a low silica rock type such as amphibolite or peridotite .

[@lucimeirematos2652]

It's great! It's marvelous!!! Wow! Thank you so much, and Good Lucky Dan Hurd.

[@ellenmacarthur9669]

I just love watching you prospect. I am 75 yr old granny, but have love treasure hunting since I was a girl. Every thing that is pretty, love finding feathers shhhh😉 to rocks and drift wood. I have watched you treasure hunting with your family. What fun. God bless stay safe, and now that I have heart trouble, be careful filling up that back pack.

[@shyPandemonium]

Dan I agree, I really like garnets too. Something about them has always caught my eye. Great video

[@Clarence_13x]

Dan Hurd! May he live for one thousand years.

[@maineiacts]

So Fun Dan!! LUCKY U!!!! Happy Trails and Hunting!👍👍🏞🙋‍♀️

[@wolfeyez77]

Hey Dan, I love staurolite, so great to see them in the video :) But back to garnets, I love them as well, largely because I love crystalline structure. A nicely-formed dodecahedron makes my day! The staurolite-garnet combo you're holding at 18:30 looks to have some garnets in the staurolite crystals itself, which is rare I believe. I think there's only a few locations worldwide that produce that.

[@MadDogTor_]

Gneiss and schisty does it, does it every time... 😂 Hey that's metamorphic! You might find something else. 😄 Awesome starlight. I was thinking diamonds. 🤭 How about doing a saruca run? 🤔 Guess there's too much, and big stuff you can just pick up. I love the garnets, though. Don't get me wrong. Fun times! (Also, I think I see gold around 8:33. You were distracted by the gemmy boulder. jk🤫) Mmmm kyanite. Wow, those garnets clean up nice. Keep up the great work and videos, Dan Hurd!

[@toothpickmining]

A legend that continues to show why he is a legend….

[@DoobyDubNCG]

Another wonderful video! I have always enjoyed red garnets

[@lydiaharman4557]

Thank you so so much for sharing your journey with us. I don't think I would be able to see this part of nature any other way.

[@williamogilvie6909]

I collected a lot of big green garnets outside of Bancroft, ON a few years back. They occur on a hill about 20 feet above a hiking trail. Easy pickings. There was a large glacial erratic, about 6 feet in diameter. near my home, that had red garnets stickjng out all over it. Back then I knew they were garnets but didn't know how to extract them.

[@cabinmike1474]

you are so great dan

[@christopherwelden1296]

I can remember when my grandma and I used to open up bags of meow mix cat food for the kitties and they had a promotion with gems inside each bag! All garnets though but so much fun.

[@crazy86753]

There is a place near where I live called Fairystone that you can fined a ton of Staurolite crystals. It is neat finding them especially when you find one in a perfect cross shape.

[@svenlauke1190]

18:51 I found one just like this years ago (in germany). the geometric shape is nearly perfect but it's obviously not very polished. partly embedded in rock. what can I do to make it look more precious? cut it, tumble, or other methods?

[@richarddavies7419]

Really nice staurolite and unusually large kyanite specimens! Kyanite is an indicator of extreme pressure when the schist was miles below the surface. I have faceted dozens of flawless garnets; so far no facetable ones shown here. Garnets are usually found in rhombic dodecahedrons (isometric system) and don't twin, just form clusters at times.

[@chuckarmitage6091]

Thank you for bringing such wholesome content in these uncertain times. "Holy schist" made me laugh to tears. I had to pause I was laughing so hard!

[@JK65321]

OMG. Garnet is one of my favorites - I want to go to this lake and just roll around in all of them. 😂 adding that to bucket list for sure

[@katrinalodge6055]

I'm a nurse, and all I keep thinking of with those big garnets is how much they look like big gallstones 😂😂😂

[@ilaril]

I've been watching the older videos as I've started to look to do some gem cutting (faceting) myself. Just as a hobby to try to use my hands as much as they still work. I hope I'll get my setup ready in the spring and get to order some stones from you to make pretty for myself.

[@geradkavanagh8240]

Had the fun of picking up crossed Staurolite crystals years ago halfway between Mount Isa and Cloncurry in Queensland Australia. Garnets were there as well but rice grain size. The real finds were the 'fairy crosses or cartwheels ' where 3 or more staurolite crystals intersected to form a 'wheel'. Whole area was very arid and you carried in everything you need for survival in case your car broke down.

[@bassmanbilly1969]

Garnets are my favorite, love this video. garnets always in my pockets, they really keep me grounded.:)

[@freedom4all581]

That looks like great fishing 🎣🎣

[@patchvonbraun]

I remember when I was around 10 years old, coming back from the Bancroft rock and gem show (when I was a rock hound), making my dad stop at the side of the road, and exploring a promising-looking rock-cut for about 45 minutes. Found a few interesting pieces, including a garnet, slightly larger than a pea. I was so proud of myself....

[@beansdad70]

Nice long video, love it! I could have sat through an hour of watching. What beautiful scenery, those snow-capped mountains!

[@theauthenticcanadian9002]

So this lake is 1 of 2 arms that is was created by the Mica Hydro Electric dam in Revelstoke BC. Pretty neat seeing BC in youtube videos that have a ton of views. Keep at it!

[@stewartpalmer2456]

Once again sir, thank you for taking us with you. Sincerely, Akerace Drill.

[@laurat5143]

Dan 😮 Wow . I've been watching your videos off and on for a little bit now. This one was the first on a hike that you had to use a rope to go see those fabulous gems. What a great day. ❤ I love it.

[@averieldeathrider8407]

I love your content, man!! I remember my prospecting days!! Good times.

[@pedraspreciosas6515]

Caçador de pedras do Brasil 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷 Te desejo sucesso infinito Incrível seus vídeos aqui no meu país forte abraço nobre

[@IndusRiverRock]

Beautiful place so many beautiful stones thanks for sharing 😊

[@GypsyAlex]

Nice King George dime there, that's silver.

[@stanleysanders3977]

Dan....as usual...well, mabe more than usual...I am so...I don't wanna say 'jealous'...but........mabe JONESING, would be the correct term! Would have loved to have been on that trip catching breakfast for the camp and pickin rocks!!! You always take me on such great adventures! I'm in Arkansas, and we're pretty limited as far as minerals; Diamonds, Quartzs, Jaspers Pyrites, Selonites, Agates...but...not a lot of "exotic" stuff, other than the Diamonds...and they're pretty much confined to a pretty small area... Keep the vids comin!

[@38tacos95]

I got my first panning kit in the mail today! Didnt get to try it as the water was too high but i wanna thank you Dan the Man for getting me into it! Dont know how high the chances are to find something where i live in Norway but that wont stop me from trying 😅

[@CindysGems]

I wished this video was longer‼️‼️‼️🙃

[@MichaelMyers3000]

I am so jealous of you Dan. Garnets are my favorite gemstone and I’d love to be out there with you guys getting some. This would be heaven to me

[@amandapittar9398]

The water is the most beautiful colour. What a great day out rock & gem hunting, yes, I’m jealous 😊😊😊 I can only imagine the garnets that have tumbled down the hill and into the bottom of the lake…. P.S. you definitely have working man’s hands! They have seen some hard work.

[@IttoAppreciater]

We sure do love a good gemstone hunt

[@BettyRobinson-gg5tz]

Oooooo 😲😲😲😲😲 so pretty!!! Garner is my moms birthstone.

[@marktemplin1159]

Hey Dan, I love your videos, and on this one, I have a question 🤔? Is there any way to use an acid or base tobdisolve the shist off of the Crystal's to see if in the cluster's if they are growing from a common base network, maybe find some still in matrix with out the host rock

[@Danhurd]

We have not found an acid that works well on the schist

[@f1nch1312]

Some guy will be THRILLED to hear 2 inches is a big one! You just made someone's day! 🤣🤣

[@themoreyoustoop3906]

Hey Dan, where did you get your hat? I've been looking for a good sun hat like that for years, and haven't found anything I've liked. Thanks for your time

[@kylegaines9677]

THANK YOU DAN HURD

[@tobiasfrey2793]

Heh, coincidentally I'm also currently looking for garnets, on a small 4 day vacation in the Czech republic. The garnets here in the area are about 99 % facet grade, really, really gemmy pyropes. However, here the size is much more of a factor than where you were. You're lucky if you find a garnet 5 mm (1/5 inch) in size. They are super abundant and high quality... but most are only 1-3 mm or so, so you can't really do anything with them. Still really fun, and if you find a big one it's a serious find! I've also found a teeny tiny sapphire here (1 mm).

[@jeniglace]

LOVE the kyanite you've found - it's my favorite!

[@LisaEggleston-kd6ur]

Nice Dan. That looks like so much fun. Always look forward to your videos.

[@TBMAvenger]

I enjoy the beautiful scenery and variety of geological subject matter you put forward. When are we going to see your follies and funny out-takes? BC is such a gorgeous province. Though north of the Soo in Gaver Lake sure is nice with a string of trout to cook. Someday this Michigander will head west.

[@marktemplin1159]

As for sorting, it might be worth the time to set up a glass top table , with a light underneath, one can change the color of the light wave,, ,most newer led lights are selectable color, idk seems not to hard to set up, a d can roll the stones around to get diffent angles of light pass threw

[@Danhurd]

I have a glass light table, but I find it does not work nearly as well as the gem light by itself.

[@oldmanuserphan]

Isn't there a spot that's less of a hike where you can drop a canoe into the lake? Could get a few more bags filled that way and also keep your heart happy

[@jameslund2658]

Looks cold there Dan.

[@GeoFitz4]

I really like that Black Opal cutter videos and I would really love to see more videos of you processing gem material, especially in the winter when you're stuck inside.

[@jayc6572]

great video Dan! love some good gemstone videos

[@christopherwieland1196]

Great content Dan!

[@cptnkaos5994]

this is going to be a great video

[@ThatOpalGuy]

kinda schist-y, but still a great video.

[@billyjojimbob5814]

best video ever!!! plz do one with faceted ones too!!!

[@Tyler_Gold_Rush]

Hi Sir Dan, Big fan of you

[@tobiasfrey2793]

One question - what are those starlight crystals? What mineral family are they and what are their properties? I can't really find any useful info on them online. Could it be that they're staurolite? Looks a lot like it and that you mentioned that they often form crosses indicates to me that that's it.

[@Nocure92]

Gems, gems are truly outrageous.

[@darwinsmonkey5440]

Thank you, Dan. I have a couple claims in Applegate Valley in Oregon. Your videos are teaching me what rocks I have, and what to look for. 👍🏼💛

[@outdoorloser4340]

You guys have some incredible serpentine down that way.

[@harpintn]

When I think of garnets I think of sandpaper. I am having trouble thinking of them as a gemstone. Is there some sort of acid that will dissolve the rock quickly yet leave the garnets unharmed?

[@danielharling1460]

Some places a crystal called Staurolite grows in the mica schist and they tend to be found in smaller sizes and on the fragile side.

[@RareGems22]

Beautiful Garnet 🔮💖

[@kb104]

Crackin' video Dan, thanks, keep up the good work