Desert Messenger

14 www.DesertMessenger.com February 18, 2015 READER'S OASIS BOOKS 690 E. Main - Quartzsite (one block east of Family Dollar) 928-927-6551 Stylists: Wilma, Lonnie & Lois Headhunters II "The Best Little Hairhouse" in Quartzsite! Cuts - Styles - Perms Colors - Walk-ins- Early Appointments WELCOME BACK SNOWBIRDS & Lonnie! 395 N. CENTRAL (Hwy. 95) Quartzsite "Where getting your hair done is fun!" 928-927-3543 "The Best Little Hairhouse" Wilma Mon. Tues. Wed. by Appointment Lois Wed. & Thurs. Lonnie Tues. & Thurs (starting Nov. 11th) ADVENTURES WITH ROCKS Between 60 and 90 miles northeast of Quartzsite, as the crow fl ies along Highway 60, are the Harquahala, White Tank, and Vulture Mountains. These mountains are full of minerals and exciting Wild West-type history. The towns of Aguila, Tonopah and Wickenburg form a triangle around an area also rich in unique geology due to an abundance of hot springs in the area. A local legend says that the name Tonopah derives from the native Yavapai word Tu Nohwa, which means "Hot Water Under a Bush". The topography in this triangular area is full of springs and wells which range By Jenn Jedidiah Free for RocksInMyHead™ You're in hot water, way out Wickenburg way... from warm at 70 to 95 degrees to hot at 110 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, Wicken- burg was booming due to the rich soils along the Hassayampa River and the wealth of gold found in the Vulture Mountains. In 1896, Castle Hot Springs near Wick- enburg became the fi rst "resort" boasting a long list of ailments that would be cured by a soak in the springs. During its height in the 1920's and 30's many famous and wealthy people visited the resort, including families such as the Vanderbilts and the Rock- efellers. The area known for one of the richest gold mines in Arizona also gained notoriety for its hot springs, debutantes, and celebrities. People fl ocked to the region. Explora- tions to the south and west of Wick- enburg into the mining areas around Aguila, and the Federal Highway Program completion of US Highway 60 in 1922, brought more settlers to the Harquahala, White Tank, and Vul- ture Mountains. With the discovery of many rich mineral deposits and several hydrothermal veins in the mountains, Tonopah was born in the early 1900's and became a center for hot spring resorts by 1911. During its boom, there were as many as fi ve hot springs re- sorts operating in Tonopah. One of the most popular and well known of these is El Dorado Hot Springs. But the wealth and uniqueness of this area encompasses more than the occurrence of hot springs and large deposits of precious metals. In fact, the unusual combination of these two features creates a ripe environment for the mineral fl uorite to occur. Flou- rite is found in hydrothermal veins containing lead, zinc, silver and other metallic ores. Fluorite occurs in all col- ors, including colorless, white, purple, blue, red, pink, orange, yellow, brown, green, gray, and black, and may also be multi-colored and banded. It is one of the most varied colored miner- als in the mineral kingdom, and the colors may be very intense and almost electric. Pure Fluorite is colorless, but color variations are caused by various impurities, like hydrocarbons. Fluorite is one of the more famous fl uorescent minerals and many specimens strongly fl uoresce with a great variation of color. In fact, the word "fl uorescent" is derived from the mineral Fluorite. Fluorite occurs throughout the world, with some of the most notable North American locations found in the Niaca Mine in Mexico, the Rock Candy Mine in British Columbia, Canada, and here in our beloved desert Southwest. Though Fluorite was fi rst discovered in Germany in 1529, one of the fi rst ore bodies found in Arizona to contain Fluorite was in 1890 at the Diamond Joe and Purple Passion Mines near Wickenburg. The U.S. also produces numerous fi ne occurrences in loca- tions like the Blanchard Mine in New Mexico, and the highly collectible specimens from Hardin Co., Illinois. Beautiful teal blue, green, and purple fl uorite is also found in the Bighorn Mountains between Tonopah and Aguila, just off Eagle Eye Road. There are plenty of old mines, hot springs, and an abandoned Flourospar mine in that area so allow extra time to explore while there. For more information and maps to the fl uorite collecting areas near Aguila, come to RocksInMyHead. We are located at A37 in Rice Ranch, 605- 376-8754, and we are open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm. We have the beautiful blue and green fl uorite from near the Eagle Eye Rd. site, and some very pretty purple and rainbow fl uorite from New Mexico available, as well as lots of great rocks, fossils, minerals, and gemstones. We have everything you need for rockhound- ing, prospecting, and lapidary, as well as books, maps, and more. Like us on Facebook or visit us online at RocksInMyHead.com. 585 N. Central Quartzsite Open Mon-Fri 8-5 928-927-8787 Johnny DelPino, Owner BEST AUTO RV & TRUCK REPAIR SERVICE YOU CAN DEPEND ON! We sell U-HAUL BOXES

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