Thursday 19 June 08: The weather again was hot and clear. Today a group from the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society visited along with Mike Wise from the Smithsonian.

We finished collecting 08-024. It produced a few more amazonites, but nothing of significance. The pegmatite also petered out. There could have been more; however, it would have been cut during earlier operations. In summary, this pegmatite produced five pockets, most of which had quality specimens.

I allowed the visitors to help with 08-024 and then work the pockets we had discovered along the newly exposed pegmatite, 08-025 and 08-026. We also discovered a side pocket, 08-027, which appeared on a smaller, separate pegmatite. These were exciting looking pockets. Each showed a very heavy pegmatite rind, very reminiscent of the Dragon's Mouth Pocket. As the visitors worked on these pockets, they quickly began finding a few nice amazonites.

After a short time, I had everyone step out so I could take off more of the wall to their left. When I did this, the continuation of the pegmatite was exposed. It descended from the surface at about a 45-degree dip. A small seam of incredible color began to show about 8 feet deep from the surface. This small structure did not trend with the dip of the main pegmatite but ran horizontally across the pegmatite.

Tim began working it, and it soon began to open. It again appeared to be similar to the other pockets already found on this pegmatite--good color, but nothing but broken rubble. We collected it all, with the hopes there would be one or two single amazonites with single smokies. Both Tim and I were disappointed. The color was outstanding, but again, the pocket appeared to be a total shambles.

Tim had diligently removed about a foot deep of shards from the left side of the pocket before he found a couple euhedral amazonites. The sides of the pegmatite were also now taking shape. It had a distinct rind about 6 inches thick--all very good signs. He pulled out a few more fragments and suddenly, we were looking into a thin, but open cavity. Finally, some euhedral smoky quartz crystls began to show.

I brought the water into the hole and we began carefully washing the pocket. Smoky tip after smoky tip began appearing, rising from the pocket floor! We potentially had a good pocket.

At this point I grabbed the video camera and began taping. Our visitors, including Mike, had paused from their collecting efforts and were watching as Tim began finally pulling some good crystals out of the pocket. I remember announcing as I videotaped, "Well, here we are at the Smoky Hawk Mine where Tim has just opened up a terrific pocket. We've got club members from the Colorado Springs Club here and Mike Wise from the Smithsonian. Guess we'll call this the Smithsonian pocket."

I noticed Mike shaking his head. "I'm not sure about that."

I continued taping, commenting on other aspects and documenting the pocket, similar to what we do for every significant pocket. It looked like this one could be significant.

We still had not recovered any groups. Tim pulled pieces from the pocket; club members wrapped. Chuck photographed and recorded. I ran the water to wash out debris and I labeled the boxes as we filled them with now, excellent singles.

We were pleased with the quality of crystals. With breaths held, we watched each piece as Tim pulled it out and turned it over. We waited anxiously for the next crystal. Soon, Tim pulled out a nice amazonite cluster and after washing, set it aside. He pulled out several fat smokies and then began patiently trying to fit them to the amazonite. To me it didn't look like they would go.

"Got it," he exclaimed happily, and held up a beautiful, long smoky now expertly fitted to some nice amazonites. Our first good group!

I suggested to Tim if he spotted any plates that he should allow one of our visitors to remove it.

He replied, "I've been looking. There might be one along this side." He pointed to the right edge where it appeared the bottom of a plate was exposed. "Let me get some more of it cleared off and make certain it's loose."

I brought in the water and sprayed off the plate, washing away the broken fragments. It appeared to be about 4 inches across. The sides of a couple amazonites showed so we were fairly certain there would be at least a partial plate. We hoped if there were smokies we could find them and reattach them. Our experience taught that almost without exception the smokies would be detached so we were prepared for this. I carefully raked through the rubble, pulling out any smoky quartz fragments. There were very few.

"Okay, Mike," Tim finally said. "I think it's loose. Here, you can pull it out. Just make sure you pull it straight out and don't wiggle it. You've probably collected a ton of pockets, but I tell everyone the same thing. You don't want to chip a tip." He demonstrated the angle at which to pull.

Mike agreed and carefully reached into the pocket while Tim backed away.

"Hold it," I hollered. I had nearly forgotten to get the camera. "Okay, now you can pull it, Mike." Many times I had taped what looked like a good specimen only to have it a complete dud. No telling. You just had to take a chance and tape everything.

Like a saber being unsheathed, Mike carefully pulled out the plate and turned it over. The sound of everyone cheering told me it was good. I couldn't see it well, trying to hold the camera steady and get a good shot.

Mike laughed, holding up the specimen in his hand, smoky quartz crystals projecting from it. "Well, maybe you can call it the Smithsonian pocket."

Chuck pulled over the bucket of water, took the piece, and immediately began washing. Soon, dripping wet, gleaming blue green in the sun, he presented it to the crowd of folks who had gathered around. This was an incredible plate. It showed five smokies nested amongst numerous amazonites with a ball of cleavelandite nestled amongst them. The smokies ranged up to 2.5 inches and showed, glossy black. The amazonites ranged to 1.5 inches and showed bright blue green. The plate proved to be 5 inches by 4.5 inches. It was completely intact-no damage, no missing crystals.

Mike had probably pulled out the most perfect plate found in the district to date!

Tim continued pulling pieces. Volunteers washed and wrapped. By the end of the day, we still had some pocket to work, but sadly had found no more plates.

With tomorrow being the Colorado Springs Mineral Show, we called it quits. I had Tim bury the pocket under 6 feet of dirt, and we closed up the site. I worried about claim jumpers but felt better knowin I had a gate at the bottom of the hill that I could lock.

Monday 23 June 08: We had been anxious to return to the Smithsonian Pocket. Everyone at the show, naturally, had heard about it, and when I arrived to set up, I was met with numerous congratulations. It made me so nervous that word had gotten out that I sent Tim back out to further bury the pocket. If certain people knew I was at the show and that a good pocket had been found, they would take the opportunity to dig down through 6 feet of dirt. I didn't want to take the chance.

I almost laughed when I saw the spot on Monday morning. Tim had buried it under at least 12 feet.

Today, we had another group of visitors. Kevin Dixon and his 13-year old son Sean came by to help and watch. Four people from one of the Denver clubs had also come down to see the operation and drop of John Rowe, a high school senior who had arranged to work with us for a few days. We drilled and shot two boulders just to the right of the Smithsonian so we could cut deeper behind the pocket. Then, removing the rubble and dirt, we resumed collecting.

George and Robert did some repairs on the 992 while we collected. A hydraulic line bracket had broken and the lines were flapping loose. They welded a new plate onto the boom, securing the lines, then Robert returned to the excavation to assist.

We finished the Smithsonian rather quickly. Only a few single smokies and amazonites remained. However, immediately behind the Smithsonian, along the same pegmatite we hit 08-031, and afterwards, almost at the surface, another pocket, 08-032.

These pockets both contained amazonites of incredible color. Unfortuantely, 08-031 was mostly rubble. It did produce a few outstanding amazonites. We named it the Robin pocket due to the great robin-egg blue. Pocket 08-032, despite its open cavity and great looks, held nothing but rubble.

In summary, the "Smithsonian" pegmatite had five well-defined pockets along its length and a couple areas that bulged out and produced a few singles. The pegmatite ran a length of about 25 feet from surface to excavation floor before it petered out into a few marginal stringers.

By day's close, the material from the Smithsonian pocket filled 16, 4-inch deep flats. A hose also broke under the control box on the 992, late afternoon. I made a parts run to Woodland Park while Robert opened up the gear box. Fortunately, we were able to make the repair before sundown.

Thunderstorms rolled in during the late afternoon. It was good to finally get a bit of moisture, albeit, the sky was pretty wicked. I worried Chuck and I might need to spend the night in the car, but the clouds eventually moved away. It was then a beautiful evening-golden light angled across the pines on the northern ridges--spent with Chuck and Baxter on Smoky Hawk mountain.