COLLECTING DRAGON'S MOUTH SPECIMENS
PART ONE
We had to take a moment of silence, staring at the again exposed pocket. Now the fun of excavating and filling flats would truly begin.
Three pieces were removed and then Tim pulled out an intact combination amazonite and smoky quartz group! That had been the missing element. All aspects were now in place. We knew the pocket would produce quality combination specimens!
The feelings of such an incredible discovery are hard to imagine or put into words. All of us were jumping up and down, giving high five slaps, and shouting in joy. Several times we cautioned each other to keep the shouts down. We didn't want to draw attention to the find and invite high-graders in.
We worked carefully, taking turns. Each specimen was wrapped and placed in order of excavation in a marked flat for later reconstruction. Every piece which showed euhedral faces was also saved.
 |
 |
 |
| I'm not believing what I'm seeing | Tim is carefully removing specimens. I'm wrapping and storing in flats | Most of the loose material is removed, making room for our heads and shoulders and revealing an incredible sight |
 |
 |
 |
| One of the very first specimens | Looking inside the cavity | We knew we had a good pocket when we discovered this combination specimen |
By now the shape of the pocket was apparent. It was big, and it had quality. We had to use caution in sticking our heads into the growing cavity for fear of hitting the crystals on the ceiling. I told my sons, "I never worried about you guys cutting your scalps on the crystals, but I did worry about you breaking off a crystal!" We decided the most appropriate name for such a pocket was the Dragon's Mouth Pocket. This was the distinct feeling one had while inserted inside the pocket staring at all the smoky quartz crystals jutting down.
 |
 |
 |
| The hammer is sitting on top of loose crystals | After the loose crystals are removed there is room for our heads and shoulders | Reaching back into the back part of the pocket |
 |
 |
 |
| This was the ceiling plate which broke apart | Dragon's Mouth Pocket, an appropriate name | One of the best groups, attached to the ceiling |
 |
 |
 |
| The ceiling towards the back | A typical piece which was loose in the pocket and was removed to allow access | Another view of the rear of the pocket |
Much of the pocket was loose and had dettached from the ceiling and sides. As we pulled these pieces out, we washed them and placed them in flats in the order they were removed. Whenever possible, we fitted crystals to the matrix pieces and wrapped these together. A few of the pieces which were on top of the loose pile were truly remarkable combinatin pieces and groups.
 |
 |
 |
| A nice amazonite with smoky quartz | One of the best amazonite clusters, found near the pocket mouth, upside down in the mud | An intact smoky with a great amazonite cluster |