Rocks & Rock'n @ Ironstone Museum

Just in! A fantastic collection of specimen rocks and minerals. We are still going through the boxes and discovering one treasure after another. It's like Christmas in here. OK, I said the "word" before our other sacred holiday, Thanksgiving, so that's a few dozen cookies I have to bake ... but, it really is! Check out the photo and the mountain of boxes.

These new specimens are going up for sale this weekend here in the Museum. With prices ranging from $1.00 to $250.00 there is bound to be a treasure for you novice collectors as well as our seasoned rock hound friends out there.

This process is taking longer than usual, but we are finding that each specimen requires extended ooo's and ahhhh's as well as delving into the "Encyclopedia of Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones" for much needed information and enlightenment.

Such beauty sends my mind wondering... I don't ever remember seeing such beautiful specimens when expected to learn about minerals in high school. If these had been presented as part of the learning process, I honestly believe it could have changed the direction of part of my life interests.

How lucky are the students here in Calaveras County! They have the wonderful Russ and Pam Shoemaker at the Stories in Stones Learning Center downtown Angels Camp. Here, students young and old can learn hands on about how the earth was formed and how these unique specimens fit into the science of Mother Earth.

On your next trip up to Ironstone Museum, stop by their shop and give yourself a treat or check out their website at http://www.storiesinstones.com/learning.htm.

Meanwhile, come in this weekend and check out the lovelies! While they last... here are a few photos of some of our favorites....

Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz Concert warming up. Waiting for a chillin evening coming down from a sm0ky, 100 degree day. Band is warming up while the lines are starting to grow. The Jason Mraz Merchandise tent was setting up this afternoon with early day customers already. Looking forward to a fun sing along evening here at Ironstone. Glad to have Jason back with us, this time as the headliner. He deserves it!

Save our Parks!

Our last big three day weekend is fast approaching. If you want your state parks to remain open VISIT! Spend quality time in any of these beautiful locations. A walk through the North Grove of Calaveras Big Trees State Park will send your soul soaring to the unseen heights. Our Parks provide the space to find yourself, to focus and get yourself grounded. Take a reality check and visit one of our Parks while you still can. Just one organization that is working hard to preserve our opportunity to visit mother nature at her finest is at http://www.bigtrees.org/.

Mario's Gold Nugget

As he prefers to be called, the "World Famous Gold Prospector Mario" is here at Ironstone this weekend teaching all interested how to pan for gold. He even promises you will find some!

Mario is quite proud of his newest Gold nugget. He wears this one around his neck. It is quite a bobble or Gold Panners Bling! We don't think you will find one this big in the gold pans. It was hard rock mined in one of Mario's claims over in Tuolumne County, just on the other side of the river from us here in Murphys.

Come on out and meet Mario. He is after all the real thing! Made a living panming and mining for Gold here in the Sierra. Mario hails from Italy and if you ask, he has quite a story to tell about how he left Verona, Italy as a young boy during the war and made his way to America. It is quite a story. He will also teach you the right way and the wrong way to pan for gold. He does have the touch.

Barb knows what she wants for Christmas!

Not every day you find the perfect gift... for yourself! But Barbara Zimmerman did!

Barbara is a member of an RV Club that in turn is part of the Redding Elks Lodge #1073. Up to Murphys on one of their monthly outings last Thursday, May 14th, Barbara, Richard Richards and the rest of the RV Club made their way to Ironstone Vineyards. After lunch, they headed over to us here in the Ironstone Museum to check out our Gold! And there you go! Love at first sight! Leaving the Gold Vault, Barabara explained to her fellow travelers that she knows what she wants for Christmas! 44 pounds of it! Or any chips or flakes that happen to find their way off the big piece!

The groups next outing is a "Chili Cook Off" at McCloud, with 85 rigs heading out for what Richard calls "the big on for the year". We wish the group a great time and hope they come back and check up on Barb's Christmas gift!

Huge Catch! Ready for Adoption!

The Catch is in!

From Fossil Lake, the fossil fish are ready for new homes. Adoption Fees range from $7.00 to $ 85.00. While the catch is fresh, make a fossil fish an everlasting family member by offering a loving home.

Make great backsplaces too!

The Fish comith to Ironstone

The Fish comith...

Our little friend pictured here is a diplomystus dentatus. This is the second most common fish in Fossil Lake from where he hails. The highest concentration of articulated fossil fish in the world is located at Fossil Lake, Wyoming. Discovered in the 1870's, Fossil Lake covered almost 930 sq. miles about 50 million years ago, with only 230 sq. miles of sediment now remaining. Still, more than a million perfectly preserved fossil fish have been recovered. Preserved with the fish in the laminated limestone is a complete ancient aquatic ecosystem: cyanobacteria, plants, insects, amphibians, alligators, turtles, birds and mammals, including the oldest pantolestid (otter-like animal).
Our little friend has come to us along with about 75 of his closest buddies and all are available for sale from $15.00 to $95.00 here in the Ironstone Museum. According to their discoverer Stuart Grieve, there are several species of fossil fish within these various limestone blocks. Come by and take a look. They are fascinating.

Can't get enough!

Boots,
getting what he loves the most!

ATTENTION!