La Grange, Georgia (Hogg Mine) – Sunday, May 18th
On Sunday, May 18th, the club will be travelling to the Hogg Mine in Georgia for a machine dig. Chris Painter has clarified that the Hogg Mine will not be closing this summer. He is moving to North Carolina to open a new site, but Hogg Mine will remain open. The cost will be $50. The limit of 30 HGMS members has been reached, but if you are still interested, put your name on the waiting list by emailing hsvgems@gmail.com. We are sharing this opportunity with the Alabama Mineral & Lapidary Society in Birmingham. The Hogg Mine has beryl, tourmaline, rose quartz, and aquamarine. The site is approximately 2 hours from Huntsville, in the Eastern time zone (so to arrive before 9am, you would have to leave Huntsville around 4am).
YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO PARTICIPATE! Club members only. Reply to me if you would like to go, with the names of attendees and include your cell phone number. I will be collecting money ahead of time, after we determine how many people are going.
NOTE: This is an actual mining experience. This means that you do have to work, and you do have to dig. Be prepared to get dirty. All of the stones at the Hogg Mine are native to the property. They do not salt anything to make it easy, so come prepared to move lots of dirt. If you work hard and dig you will find material. Mining in general is not easy, and the stones are not as abundant as the YouTube influencers make it seem.
BRING: Bring all the tools you have: pick, shovel, screen, rock hammer, hand sledge, rock chisel, bucket, hand cart, etc. The Hogg does sale some tools in limited quantities. It would be a good idea to bring an extra change of clothes. The pit can be muddy and wet.
REQUIREMENTS: Arrive at the mine before 9:00AM Eastern (8:00AM Central) to pay, complete paperwork, and receive a safety briefing. The mine crew will direct you where to park. Follow directions of the on-site crew. All participants must sign a liability waiver, available at the site. For more information visit https://www.hoggmine.com
If, after responding, you decide you cannot go, please let me know so that I can reassign the spot to someone else.
Thank you, Anthony
Did You Know?
July: Ruby – Traces of chromium give this red variety of the mineral corundum its rich color. Long valued by people of many cultures, ruby was called “ratnaraj” or “king of precious stones” in ancient Sanskrit. Source: 
