Nyel, Obsidian Prospector

According to Wikipedia (a site with which I concur in this particular case), I believe that Nyel and Cate Gable and I have been rock hunting.  They say: Amateur geology (known as rockhounding in the United States and Canada, and regionally known as rock hunting in southern Oregon) is the recreational study and hobby of collecting rocks and mineral specimens from their natural environment.  We have actually been on a Great Obsidian Hunt at a place called Glass Butte, not far from Bend, Oregon.

I’m more inclined to think of Bend as being in central Oregon but… no matter.  The three of us have been on a trek to gather obsidian and, luckily for us, one of the very best sources of obsidian on the hoof is just five hours and change from the Peninsula.  Shiny, sharp and perfect for making spear and arrowheads, obsidian is formed from lava flows.  In the case of Glass Butte, the eruption was about 4.9 million years ago.

And, who knew that obsidian comes in a variety of colors in addition to basic black?  At Glass Butte there is plenty of gem quality obsidian readily available for collection on the ground surface. Rainbow, black, pumpkin, mahogany, midnight lace, gold sheen, silver sheen, fire, and double flow varieties can all be found in the area.

Apparently, many serious rockhounds choose to dig for preferred material and our Expedition Leader (that would be Nyel) included a pick axe and several crowbars in our equipment cache.  But we did little digging.  As State Parks Interpreter Aaron Webster had told us, there is plenty for the taking right along the roadside.  The area is owned by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and individuals can collect up to 25 pounds per day or 250 pounds per year without charge.

Lunch Break for Rockhounds

It was Aaron’s flint-knapping demonstration last spring at a Community Historian’s class that prompted our interest.  I was entranced by the process (which, of course, he made look SO easy!) and told Nyel all about it.  He talked to Aaron and got more information and then mentioned it to Cate who, it turns out, just loves rocks.  I thought I’d just go along for the ride and take a few photographs.

But, once we got there, my old rock hunting memories kicked in from the summers of my childhood – all those excursions to look for agates over on Willapa Bay’s Long Island.  I remember that I could hardly tear myself away when the tide dictated our return to the Peninsula.  I just knew that there would be a more perfect agate just a few steps farther on.  Fast forward seventy years or so and I knew that the ultimate hunk of obsidian was just on the other side of that clump of sage brush.  So did Cate.  So did Nyel.

It was a good thing that we were in our little Prius-C.  Space availability probably kept us honest.  It certainly wasn’t any natural restraint on our part!  Wow!  You had to be there!