asukawashere

Quick vote, guys: I have two locations in mind for possible collecting trips this weekend:

1 - Old Mine Park, Trumbull, CT
This is a former tungsten quarry that supposedly yields some cool rocks. Rock collecting is allowed. There is a stream/pond on the premises, but I have no clue how it rates as a plant/critter collecting location.

2 - Lake Mohegan Cascades, Fairfield, CT
This place won't let you steal the rocks, but there are some plants to collect and some lovely hiking trails. If anyone wants to try seining, it's an ideal place to come up with some small fish and crayfish. Plants include Hornwort, Elodea, Vallisneria, pickerel rush, Callitriche terrestris, and Ludwigia palustris. Also, we may be able to swing by the fishing creek on nearby Brookside Rd., afterward. It has a better selection of plant specimens to explore and may offer another chance at seining.


So, which will it be? Rock collecting at the mine, or seines away? Whatever gets the most votes in the next 24 hrs. will be our trip this weekend.

Also note that fishing season is open now, if you want to go harvesting fish you should get a license.

Storms

I vote for #2. I have enough rocks and would prefer to enjoy the (hopefully) nice spring weather where there are green things growing, as opposed to a rock quarry...

asukawashere

XD Don't count out the first option if you want to get out and see some greenery - Old Mine Park spreads over something like 72 acres, and only a portion of that is the former mine. The rest of it contains hiking trails, a river walk (turns out it's a small river, not a stream...), grassy fields, etc.

The Mohegan Cascades are more hilly, forested terrain, great if you like mountain hiking, but most of the forest is fairly similar. Similarly, I expect the aquatic fauna will mostly consist of rapids species - minnows, shiners, river crayfish, trout, etc.

My point is, both have plenty of nice scenery, and there are bodies of water on both. The rocks are more of an added bonus, IMO.

Anyway, the vote is tied (my choice would be #1) - anyone care to break the tie?

Storms

Just looking at the web page. I'll change my vote to #1. "Rock quarry" - I was picturing a hole in the ground with rocks and cliffs.

khanzer22

Sorry won't be able to come tomorrow... Wife swapped schedule for work so I have to watch the kiddo... Have fun and take snaps of nice specimens and I might come back there to pick them up


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asukawashere

Oh, there are holes in the ground (or perhaps a slices would be a better description), just no real cliffs to speak of. Like I said, it was a tungsten mine, and tungsten ore typically occurs in veins within pegmatites, formed from crystallized lava flows way back when. When they found an ore-bearing vein, they followed it, and thus ended up with a bunch of narrow channels in the bedrock. Interestingly, vugs (cavities in rock containing crystals) found in the park and its vicinity have yielded a bunch of really interesting minerals - fluorite, aquamarine (beryl), topaz, garnets (grossular, almandine), and so on.

Sooo, anyway, Old Mine Park it is (Mimi also voted for the location).

And who says we won't take all the nice rocks for ourselves? BTW, you still have to stop by sometime to pick up your prize and certificate from last month's convention show. Also your picture frames, if you want those back.

Storms

Are we meeting at the park or at your house? Thanks.

Riverboa

How did it go? Pics to share?

khanzer22

Yup, also waiting here


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