- IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
ABUNDANT MINERALS
ON THE EARTH'S SURFACE,
BUT QUARTZ IS ANYTHING
BUT ORDINARY.
MY NAME IS THOMAS NAGIN,
AND I'M A MINERAL EXPLORER.
FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS,
I'VE TRAVELED THE WORLD
IN SEARCH
OF THE FINEST GEMS,
CRYSTALS, AND MINERALS.
[laughs]
NOW I'M TAKING YOU
ALONG WITH ME.
OH, IT'S HUMID IN HERE.
WE'LL VISIT SOME
OF THE RICHEST MINES
AND DISCOVER JUST WHAT IT TAKES
TO UNEARTH
THESE NATURAL TREASURES.
IT'S GONNA BE ONE HECK
OF AN EXPLOSION.
[explosion]
IT'S OKAY.
COME ON.
MY JOB TAKES ME
ALL AROUND THE WORLD
IN SEARCH OF RARE AND NATURAL
GEMS AND MINERALS,
BUT MY FAVORITE STONE
IS FOUND RIGHT HERE
IN MY OWN BACK YARD.
HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS,
IS BEST KNOWN
FOR ITS HEALING WATERS,
WHICH HAVE ATTRACTED
NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES,
LEGENDARY BASEBALL PLAYERS,
NOTORIOUS GANGSTERS,
AND EVEN PRESIDENTS.
BUT IN THE MINERAL COMMUNITY,
THIS AREA IS
FAMOUS FOR PRODUCING
SOME OF THE WORLD'S
FINEST QUARTZ.
PRIZED BY COLLECTORS AND
DECORATORS FOR ITS BEAUTY,
IT'S ONE OF MY MOST
POPULAR MINERALS.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T
REALLY KNOW THIS:
THAT BECAUSE OF ITS
CHEMICAL STRUCTURE,
EVERY SINGLE QUARTZ CRYSTAL
NATURALLY GROWS WITH SIX SIDES.
THESE AREN'T POLISHED.
THEY'RE NOT CUT.
THEY NATURALLY FORM LIKE THIS.
I THINK THEY'RE AMAZING.
WHAT MOST PEOPLE LOOK FOR
IS A CLEAR CRYSTAL
WITH A NICE TERMINATION,
OR POINT,
AND NO DAMAGE.
BUT QUARTZ IS MORE
THAN JUST BEAUTIFUL;
WHEN ELECTRICITY PASSES
THROUGH QUARTZ,
IT VIBRATES AN EXACT NUMBER
OF TIMES PER SECOND.
THIS HIGHLY ACCURATE FREQUENCY
MAKES QUARTZ AN IDEAL MINERAL
FOR RADIOS,
WATCHES,
COMPUTERS,
AND MANY OTHER
ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
BUT IN THE METAPHYSICAL
COMMUNITY,
QUARTZ ENERGY IS USED
FOR A MORE SPIRITUAL PURPOSE.
TOUTED BY MANY CULTURES
FOR ITS HEALING PROPERTIES,
QUARTZ IS USED
IN A VARIETY OF TREATMENTS.
I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH QUARTZ
FOR OVER 35 YEARS,
AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANY KIND
OF QUARTZ TREATMENT.
MY FRIEND BRENDA
CONVINCED ME TO COME IN
AND GIVE IT A TRY.
HI, BRENDA.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO.
HAVE A SEAT.
HOP UP ON THE TABLE.
- OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
I'M EXCITED.
I'VE NEVER HAD A QUARTZ
TREATMENT BEFORE.
- I'M A REGISTERED NURSE,
AND I WORK FOR HOSPICE.
I ALSO AM A CERTIFIED
REIKI MASTER TEACHER,
I'M A CERTIFIED
HYPNOTHERAPIST,
AND I'M A CERTIFIED
CRYSTAL HEALER.
[laughter]
OKAY.
I WANT YOU TO START TAKING
SOME DEEP BREATHS NOW.
THAT'S RIGHT.
I BELIEVE THERE IS
A HEALING VORTEX HERE.
IT'S CALLED
THE VALLEY OF HEALING
BECAUSE,
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,
THE NATIVE AMERICANS
CAME HERE--
THIS WAS ONE
OF THEIR SACRED SITES--
AND THEY CAME
BECAUSE OF THE QUARTZ
AND THE HEALING WATERS.
THOMAS.
- MM-HMM.
- ARE YOU OKAY?
- MM-HMM.
YEAH.
REAL MELLOW.
- I COULD TELL.
YOU WENT TO SLEEP A LITTLE BIT.
- DID I?
- MM-HMM.
WHAT THE QUARTZ DOES
IS, IT AMPLIFIES
YOUR ENERGY BACK TO YOU.
IT HELPS YOU TO FEEL
WHATEVER ENERGY
YOU'RE HOLDING WITHIN YOU.
SO WHEN YOU FEEL SOMETHING
FROM THE QUARTZ,
YOU'RE REALLY FEELING
YOUR OWN ENERGY.
YOUR OWN SELF.
OKAY.
- THAT WAS REALLY RESTFUL.
REALLY--
- WAS IT?
- YEAH.
IT WAS REALLY NICE.
YEAH.
- I FIGURED
YOU WERE TIRED.
[both laugh]
- NO, I WASN'T.
IT WAS JUST--
- YOU WEREN'T?
- YEAH, I WASN'T REALLY TIRED.
NO, I WAS KIND OF ENERGIZED
WHEN I CAME IN HERE,
BUT IT KIND OF JUST
REALLY MELLOWED ME OUT.
- YOU HAD THAT SWEET,
CUTE LITTLE SNORE GOING.
DID WE GET
THE SNORE ON FILM?
THE BEST ARKANSAS QUARTZ
IS FOUND
IN THE OUACHITA MOUNTAINS'
SURROUNDING
HOT SPRINGS.
NEARBY MOUNT IDA IS DUBBED
THE QUARTZ CRYSTAL
CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
AND HOME TO THE ANNUAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
QUARTZ CRYSTAL DIG.
IT'S A COMPETITION DIG,
AND THIS YEAR,
THEY'VE ASKED ME TO BE A JUDGE.
THE COMPETITION
IS HELD IN CONJUNCTION
WITH THE QUARTZ, QUILTS,
AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL--
A SHOWCASE OF LOCALLY MADE
ARTS AND CRAFTS
AND ALL THINGS QUARTZ.
THE COMPETITION DIGGERS
HAVE TWO DAYS
TO HUNT FOR CRYSTALS
AT PARTICIPATING MINES
AND ARE COMPETING FOR THE BEST
CLUSTER AND POINT.
THERE ARE SMALL
FAMILY-OPERATED QUARTZ MINES
ALL OVER THIS AREA.
THE MAJORITY ARE OPEN
TO THE PUBLIC,
WHO CAN PAY A SMALL FEE
TO COME IN AND DIG FOR THE DAY.
THE TWO MINES
THAT ARE PARTICIPATING
IN THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION
ARE THE SWEET SURRENDER
AND THE WEGNER MINES.
- GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY,
TO SWEET SURRENDER.
THANKS FOR CHOOSING US.
WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST
TO GET YOU DOWN IN THERE
DIGGING SOME GOOD ROCKS,
AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
- THE MINE IS OPERATED BY AARON
SKATES AND HIS DAD, RANDY,
WHO'S OWNED SWEET SURRENDER
FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS.
DID ANYBODY DIG HERE
BEFORE YOU GUYS WERE HERE?
- YEAH.
RANDY SAID THAT WHENEVER
HE OPENED IT UP,
HE SAW SOME HAND DIGS.
SOME OLDER ONES, AND WHAT LOOKED
LIKE, HE SAID, WAS ANCIENT ONES.
PROSPECTORS FROM, YOU KNOW,
100 YEARS AGO OR SO,
AND THEN EVEN FURTHER BACK
WITH THE INDIANS.
YOU KNOW,
JUST POTHOLING,
JUST ALL OVER
THIS RIDGE HERE.
- FOR THE NATIVE AMERICANS,
QUARTZ WAS USED
TO CRAFT ARROWHEADS,
AND HAS EVEN BEEN FOUND
IN BURIAL SITES.
THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER,
PEOPLE ARE STILL CAPTIVATED
BY ARKANSAS'
FAVORITE MINERAL.
- THIS IS A POINT
THAT HAS HAD
TWO DIFFERENT KINDS
OF WATER RUN OVER IT,
TWO DIFFERENT
KINDS OF MINERALS,
AND THERE'S A LINE
RIGHT THERE
THAT DIFFERENTIATES
BETWEEN THE TWO COLORS.
SO IT WAS FORMED
AT DIFFERENT TIMES
DURING THE YEARS,
SO THERE'S DIFFERENT
MINERALS IN THEM.
THIS LOOKS SO COOL.
- THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION HAS
ATTRACTED MINERAL ENTHUSIASTS
FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
INCLUDING SEASONED ROCK HOUNDS
AND FIRST-TIMERS.
SO YOU'VE NEVER DUG
FOR ANY KIND OF CRYSTALS BEFORE.
- NO, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO IT.
I JUST COLLECT ROCKS.
- OH, OKAY.
SO HAVE YOU FOUND
ANYTHING HERE SO FAR?
- NOT MUCH.
I'M KIND OF DIGGING HERE,
JUST TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING.
- SO, AARON, IS HE DIGGING
IN A GOOD PLACE?
- YEAH, HE'S DIGGING
IN A GOOD PLACE.
ALL THAT HE'S--
- OH, LOOK AT THAT.
- SEE?
THAT'LL WORK.
- GUESS WHAT I FOUND.
- OH, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.
- SEE THAT LITTLE
RAINBOW IN THERE?
- OH, THAT'S A--
- THAT'S GONNA
TAKE A PLACE, HUH?
- OH, YEAH.
- THAT'S A NICE ONE.
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD CRYSTAL.
- YEAH.
RIGHT ON, MAN.
HOLD ON
TO THAT ONE.
IN FACT, LET ME
HOLD ON TO IT.
- I'LL HOLD ON TO IT.
[laughs]
- NO, I GOT IT.
I GOT IT.
- FOUND SOME GOOD
GLASS POINTS OUT OF HERE.
AND THERE'S A--
THEY'LL CLEAN UP NICELY.
THESE--
SOME DIFFERENT-SHAPED TABBIES--
THEY'RE THE FLAT CRYSTALS.
AND THEN THE NORMAL CRYSTALS,
AND SOME DOUBLES.
- THIS IS--I LIKE
THIS GUY RIGHT HERE.
- YEAH, THIS
IS A DOUBLE TERM ONE.
- YEAH. RIGHT.
- THIS IS A NICE, BIG
DOUBLE TERM WITH BOTH POINTS.
- YEAH.
NICE, BIG DT. YEAH.
- THAT'S A GOOD DT THERE.
- YEAH.
SO THIS ONE
IS TERMINATED ON BOTH ENDS.
THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT
A DOUBLY TERMINATED ONE.
DID YOU FIND
A POCKET OF THEM,
OR ARE YOU JUST
FINDING THEM HERE AND THERE?
- WE'RE IN A SEAM, AND IT JUST
KIND OF OPENS UP A LITTLE BIT
INTO SOME MINOR FLAT POCKETS.
WE'RE HOPING
FOR A WIDER POCKET, BUT...
IT BEATS THE OFFICE,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
- BEATS THE OFFICE.
- AND FINDING THAT
IN THE DIRT IS LIKE, WOW,
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
WELL, I JUST HIT THAT.
THERE'S A THRILL TO THAT.
- IT'S LIKE DIGGING
FOR TREASURE.
- I THINK SO.
I THINK SO. YES.
- ON DAY TWO OF THE COMPETITION
AT THE WEGNER QUARTZ MINE,
MANY PARTICIPANTS WERE FINDING
LOOSE QUARTZ CRYSTALS
RIGHT UNDER THEIR FEET.
YEAH, THEY'RE PRETTY NICE
AND GLASSY.
BUT FORMER STATE GEOLOGIST
MIKE HOWARD
EXPLAINS WHY THE BEST CRYSTALS
TAKE A LITTLE EXTRA WORK.
- THIS IS THE SANDSTONE,
AS OPPOSED TO ROCK,
AND THESE ARE FRACTURES THAT
HAVE INFILLED WITH QUARTZ.
A LITTLE LARGER,
A LITTLE SMALLER.
THESE FILLED IN RAPIDLY
AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY POCKETS,
BUT THIS IS THE KIND OF THING
YOU'RE LOOKING TO FIND,
WHERE THE JUNCTION,
OR THE INTERSECTION,
OF TWO OR MORE OF THOSE VEINS,
OR OPEN SPACES, CAME TOGETHER,
'CAUSE THEN YOU OFTEN
HAVE CRYSTALS
THAT ARE FORMED
IN THOSE LARGER OPEN SPACES.
- SO WHEN YOU GET TWO
OR MORE VEINS TOGETHER,
IT'S MORE LIKELY YOU'RE GONNA
GET A BIGGER SPACE.
- RIGHT, AND THEREFORE,
NICE CRYSTALS.
- SO WHAT THE PEOPLE
HERE AT THE MINE DO
IS THEY FOLLOW
THESE VEINS, RIGHT?
- RIGHT.
- THEY HIT ONE OF THESE VEINS,
THEY'LL FOLLOW IT TILL IT--
TILL HOPEFULLY
IT HITS ANOTHER VEIN.
ON THIS SIDE OF THE MINE,
MORE SERIOUS COMPETITORS
USE TOOLS,
TEAMWORK,
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
ELBOW GREASE,
TO FIND THE BIGGER,
HARDER-TO-REACH SPECIMENS.
- WOW, LOOK AT THAT THERE.
- THINK THEY'LL TAKE IT DOWN
AND PUT IT IN THE CASE?
- THEY COULD
WRAP IT UP RIGHT NOW.
- SOME OF THE RETURNING
CHAMPIONS
HAVE THEIR OWN TACTICS FOR
FINDING THE VERY BEST SPECIMENS.
ANYBODY WON
AS MUCH AS YOU?
- ME.
- OH, YOU?
BOY, THIS IS A SWEET PIECE.
LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS GREAT.
THIS IS A REAL NICE BATCH HERE.
- YEAH, A LOT OF TIMES,
IT'LL TAKE YOU A WHOLE DAY.
I MEAN,
THIS RIGHT HERE WAS...HERE.
SEE THAT CRYSTAL ON THE BOTTOM?
- OH, WOW.
LOOK AT THAT.
- THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER.
THAT'S WHY I JUST
MOVED THIS ROCK OUT,
AND I WAS TRYING
TO GET THAT.
YOU GOT TO GO AROUND.
I MAY GO
RIGHT INTO THERE
AND RIGHT INTO HERE.
- LET'S SEE.
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DIGGING OUT
OVER THERE ON THE LEFT?
- THAT'S ALL
PART OF THIS.
- OH, OKAY.
THAT'S PART OF THAT VEIN.
- OW.
- UH-OH.
DID YOU JUST STICK YOURSELF?
- I JUST MADE A HOLE. SEE?
- OH, JEEZ.
HE'S BLEEDING ALREADY.
- I HAVEN'T HAD BLOOD ALL DAY.
THAT TORE--WHEN IT'S RAINING,
YOUR GLOVES GET LIKE THIS.
IT'S LIKE WEARING
GLASS SANDPAPER.
WHEN YOU'RE GRABBING THESE BARS.
- BUT THOSE QUARTZ WOUNDS HEAL
UP PRETTY QUICK, DON'T THEY?
- I'LL HAVE TO USE THE CLAY--
YEAH, I'M FIXING TO TAKE
THIS ONE OUT RIGHT HERE.
IT'S DEEPER THAN I THOUGHT,
WHICH IS GOOD.
THERE,
IT'S MOVING.
- THERE,
IT'S COMING RIGHT NOW.
LOOK AT THAT.
WOW.
NICE.
- THAT'S A NICE PIECE.
TOO BAD THEY WEREN'T
HOOKED TOGETHER,
BUT THAT'S THE WAY,
A LOT OF TIMES,
IT COMES OUT OF THE GROUND.
- YEAH.
THAT IS A NICE ONE.
- THAT'S CALLED
A CHISEL POINT
WHEN IT'S SQUARE
ON TOP LIKE THAT.
YEP, THAT'S A PRETTY
DECENT ONE RIGHT THERE.
BUT--AND IT JUST
KEEPS GOING DOWN.
- THE VEIN DOES. YEAH.
- YEP.
AND SEE, EVERY TIME
YOU LOOSEN A HOLE LIKE THAT,
YOU COULD JUST OPEN RIGHT UP
INTO ANOTHER ONE.
- THAT'S THE BOTTOM
OF THE POCKET, HUH?
- YEP.
WHEN IT COMES OUT
WHITE QUARTZ LIKE THAT.
- WITH TIME WINDING DOWN,
WE CHECKED IN WITH A FEW
OF THE OTHER COMPETITORS.
YOU DUG THIS?
- I JUST DUG THAT. YEAH.
- THAT'S A SWEET ONE THERE.
- YEAH, THAT IS.
- YOU KNOW, THE POINTS
ARE COMING OUT THIS SIZE.
- THAT'S A NICE,
CLEAN POINT.
- MOST FOUND SOME
PRETTY GOOD ROCKS.
- I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA
TOTE THAT TO THE CAR.
- OTHERS, NOT SO GOOD.
- IT'S A BIG YARD ROCK.
- [laughs] YEAH.
- DIGGING FOR CRYSTALS
CAN BE REALLY TIRING,
BUT WITH A LITTLE BIT
OF PATIENCE,
AND A LOT OF HARD WORK,
THERE'S OFTEN A BIG REWARD.
DID YOU JUST DIG THAT?
- YES, I DID.
- OH, GREAT!
- HE'S BEEN DIGGING
FOR TWO DAYS.
- YEP, TWO DAYS
IN THE SAME PIT DOWN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE BEEN SEEING
THIS PART THE WHOLE TIME
FOR THE LAST TWO HOURS.
SO THAT I HAD TO PRY IT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S CRACKED
A LITTLE BIT RIGHT HERE.
- SO HAVE YOU EVER WON A PRIZE
AT A DIG BEFORE?
- NOPE.
EVERYBODY I BRING HERE WINS.
SO THIS TIME--
- WELL, YOUR LUCK
MIGHT HAVE CHANGED.
BELIEVE ME.
- I HOPE SO. YEP.
- I BELIEVE THAT'S
A NUMBER-ONE POINT.
- THAT'S A GREAT PIECE.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WIN OR LOSE, EVERYBODY LEAVES
WITH A LITTLE PIECE OF ARKANSAS.
- BYE.
- BYE.
- SEE YOU GUYS LATER.
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
THE MINERS TURN IN ONE CLUSTER
AND ONE POINT FOR JUDGING.
THE CHAMPIONS NOT ONLY
GET TO KEEP WHAT THEY FIND,
BUT ALSO WIN CASH PRIZES
AND BRAGGING RIGHTS.
BESIDES MYSELF,
THIS YEAR'S JUDGES INCLUDE
LOCAL MINE OWNERS JUDY MORTON,
WHO'S JUDGED THIS EVENT
FOR OVER 20 YEARS,
AND JEFF BURROW,
OF COLLIER CREEK.
EACH JUDGE GIVES THE CRYSTALS
A MONETARY VALUE
BASED ON FACTORS LIKE CONDITION,
CLARITY, AND FORM.
BOTH OF THE POINTS
ARE PERFECT.
THEY'RE LARGE, AND--
IT'S NOT AS CLEAR AS THE LAST
ONE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT,
BUT I THINK I LIKE IT
A LITTLE BIT BETTER,
JUST 'CAUSE OF ITS SIZE,
AND IT HAS GOOD FORM.
I THINK,
WHEN THIS CLEANS UP,
ALL THIS MUD
WILL COME OUT OF HERE
AND IT'LL BE
A REALLY NICE CLUSTER.
IT'LL LOOK TOTALLY DIFFERENT
WHEN THEY'RE CLEAN.
THE SCORES
ARE THEN COMBINED...
- 19.00.
- AND THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST
SCORES WIN.
LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE
THE HIGHEST ONE ON THERE.
- THAT WOULD BE SO COOL.
I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL MY BROTHER.
HE DIDN'T COME THIS YEAR.
GETTING TO DIG YOUR OWN THAT
HASN'T SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY
IN--
EVER, MAYBE--
IT JUST MEANS SO MUCH.
- NOW FOR WHAT EVERYBODY'S
BEEN HOPING FOR,
OUR FIRST PLACE WINNER.
ON POINT:
SUZY BLOSS.
[cheers and applause]
- CONGRATULATIONS.
- I DUG AT THE SWEET SURRENDER
MINE BOTH DAYS.
IT RAINED VERY, VERY HARD.
AND AS I WAS WALKING DOWN,
BACK DOWN FROM MY CAR,
WHEN IT QUIT RAINING,
JUST A LITTLE, TINY CORNER
WAS SPARKLING IN THE SUN
AND I GOT SO EXCITED,
BECAUSE THIS WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.
- IN THE CLUSTER FIELD,
OUR FIRST PLACE CLUSTER,
FROM NELSON, MISSOURI,
IS NATHAN LUDGEN.
[cheers and applause]
- CONGRATULATIONS, MAN.
- YEAH, I WAS DIGGING IN
AT THE WEGNER MINE,
AND I FOUND THIS--
THE TIP OF THIS ONE.
AND THEN I TOOK
ANOTHER TWO HOURS
TO DIG THIS OUT
WITHOUT DAMAGING IT AT ALL.
I WON FIRST PLACE--
PLAQUE,
AND THEN $250 CHECK.
AND THEN, PLUS, A BUNCH
OF FRIENDS AND SMILES.
- IT'S AGAINST THE RULES
FOR THE COMPETITORS
TO CLEAN THE QUARTZ
BEFORE THEY'RE JUDGED,
BUT ONCE THEY TAKE
THEIR TREASURES HOME,
THEY CAN REALLY
MAKE THEM SHINE.
TIM GODWIN HAS BEEN WORKING
WITH ME FOR OVER 20 YEARS,
AND HE'S A MASTER AT MAKING
QUARTZ LOOK ITS BEST.
THESE ARE QUARTZES THAT JUST
CAME OUT OF THE MINE
AND STILL HAVE
THE MUD IN THEM.
THIS PIECE HERE,
FOR EXAMPLE,
IS FULL OF CLAY.
THIS IS HOW IT LOOKS
AFTER IT COMES OUT OF THE MINE
AND IT'S BEEN RINSED
ONCE OR TWICE.
BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE,
THERE'S CLAY DOWN
IN BETWEEN THE CRYSTALS.
NOW, TIM, COULD YOU RINSE
THIS SUCKER OFF FOR US HERE?
THE CRYSTALS ALL GET
A HIGH-PRESSURE WASH
BEFORE GOING
INTO AN OXALIC ACID BATH
TO REMOVE
THE ORANGE IRON STAINS
AND THE BLACK BITS
OF MANGANESE.
- WELL, NOW THAT WE
HAVE THE BASKET FULL,
WE'RE READY TO PUT THEM
IN OXALIC ACID,
WHICH WE'RE GONNA HEAT UP
AND BOIL OVERNIGHT,
AND THEN, WHEN WE
PULL THEM TOMORROW,
WE'LL HAVE BEAUTIFUL,
CLEAR QUARTZ.
- A GOOD,
LONG SOAK--
UP TO A WEEK OR SO--
WILL ALSO
DO THE TRICK.
BUT THE INDUSTRY STANDARD IS TO
HEAT THE ACID ALMOST TO A BOIL
TO SPEED UP
THE CLEANING PROCESS.
THEN LET IT COOL
AND GIVE IT A GOOD RINSE.
REMOVING THE STAINS
REALLY SHOWS OFF THE CLARITY
ARKANSAS QUARTZ
IS FAMOUS FOR,
MAKING THESE PIECES
SHOWROOM READY.
LOOKS GOOD, HUH?
WHILE CLARITY IS KING,
FOR SOME COLLECTORS
AND DECORATORS,
IT'S ALL ABOUT SIZE.
AND THE LEGENDARY
COLEMANS' MINE IN JESSIEVILLE
PRODUCES SOME
OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST.
MOST VISITORS
TO THE COLEMANS' MINE
DIG THEIR OWN CRYSTALS
IN THE OVERBURDEN
THAT'S BEEN REMOVED
FROM THE MINE BELOW.
- OH, LOOK AT THAT ONE.
- BUT WE'VE BEEN GRANTED
SPECIAL PERMISSION
TO GO DOWN
INTO THE PIT
TO SEE HOW THE BIG BOYS
PLAY WITH THE BEST ROCKS.
THEY'VE RECENTLY UNCOVERED
A LARGE POCKET OF QUARTZ,
BUT IT TAKES
SOME HEAVY LIFTING
BEFORE THEY CAN
REALLY GET INTO IT.
HE'S KIND OF TAPPING
ON THE CRYSTALS NOW,
AND WHEN IT SOUNDS
KIND OF HOLLOW,
HE CAN TELL
THAT IT'S KIND OF LOOSE
AND IT'S READY TO COME
OFF OF THE WALL.
SO YOU'LL TAKE
THE LOOSE ONES OFF FIRST,
IS THAT RIGHT?
- YEAH.
THERE'S ONE
THAT SOUNDS DIFFERENT.
- YEP.
- AND BY TAKING THOSE ONES
THAT SOUND HOLLOW OFF,
IT MAKES IT EASIER
TO TAKE THINGS OUT
WITHOUT DAMAGING
ANY OF THEM,
SO YOU GET THEM
OUT OF THE WAY,
AND THEN YOU CAN
TAKE OUT THE ONES
THAT ARE SOLID-SOUNDING
AFTERWARDS.
LOOK AT THAT.
I CAN SEE--
THAT SUCKER IS REALLY CLEAR.
- LOOK.
THERE'S A REALLY NICE, ODD ONE.
- THAT'S TERMINATED
ALL THE WAY AROUND, RIGHT?
- YEP.
ALL THE WAY AROUND.
- IT BROKE AND RE-HEALED IT.
- THE COLEMANS HAVE BEEN
WORKING THIS MINE
FOR FIVE GENERATIONS,
BEGINNING
WITH CHARLIE COLEMAN.
TODAY, IT'S OWNED AND OPERATED
BY HIS GRANDSON, RON COLEMAN,
WHO CARRIES ON
THE FAMILY TRADITION.
THIS POCKET HERE--
IT WAS JUST TOTALLY
FILLED FULL OF CLAY.
WE'VE PULLED MOST
OF THE CLAY OUT OF IT,
DOWN TO HERE.
THIS IS
JUST SOLID CLAY,
BECAUSE IT'S
JUST A BIG POCKET.
THOSE KIDS YESTERDAY
UP IN MOUNT IDA,
THAT WERE DIGGING,
THEY'D HAVE LOVED THIS.
WOW.
- YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE TO EVER
GET TO SEE THAT ROCK.
- IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S
GONNA BE REALLY CLEAR.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS A GOOD SIZED CRYSTAL,
AND IT WOULD PROBABLY
WIN A PRIZE IN MOUNT IDA.
BUT HERE, IT'S JUST
REALLY A MEDIOCRE ONE.
BUT IT'S STILL
PRETTY NICE.
- ALL RIGHT.
- WOW.
THAT'S A NICE ONE.
IT'S GOT A LITTLE ONE
GROWING ON THE SIDE.
IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY
WHEN IT'S CLEANED UP.
WRAPPING THEM UP IN PAPER
HELPS THEM STAY PROTECTED
UNTIL THEY GET THEM
OUT OF THE MINE
AND THEY CAN CLEAN THEM,
BECAUSE JUST TWO
OF THEM BUMPING TOGETHER
WILL CHIP
BOTH OF THEM.
THEIR VALUE CAN BE
DIMINISHED BY 90%
JUST BY A LITTLE CHIP
ON THE TOP TERMINATION.
WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE LOOSE
CRYSTALS REMOVED,
THEY CAN NOW BRING IN
THE BIGGER EQUIPMENT
TO EXTRACT
THE LARGE CLUSTER.
HOW BIG IS THAT THING?
- IT'S GONNA BE
A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK.
IT'LL COME APART, THOUGH.
- IT'S A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK.
[laughs]
ALL RIGHT.
THEY'RE GETTING READY TO LIFT
THIS BABY OUT OF THERE.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
WOW.
OH, THESE ARE
FANTASTIC CRYSTALS HERE.
THEY'RE REALLY CLEAR.
[laughs]
OH, YEAH.
THIS IS GONNA BE
A FANTASTIC CLUSTER.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE
WHEN IT'S ALL CLEANED OFF.
YOU CAN SEE THE POINTS
STICKING OUT HERE.
ALL THIS MUD
WILL COME OUT--
SEE, THERE'S SOME
LOOSE CRYSTALS IN HERE.
LIKE THIS.
WHEN ALL OF THESE
COME OUT,
AND ALL OF THE CLAY
COMES OUT,
THEY'RE GONNA BE
REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THESE
LARGE CLUSTERS LOOK LIKE
ONCE THEY'VE BEEN CLEANED,
WE MET UP WITH RON.
NATURE IS THE WORLD'S
GREATEST ARTIST,
AND THE NATURAL
BEAUTY OF QUARTZ
WAS THE INSPIRATION
FOR OUR LAST DESTINATION.
A ONCE-POPULAR
TOURIST ATTRACTION,
THE CRYSTAL CAVE
HAS BEEN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
FOR DECADES,
BUT THE OWNER WAS
KIND ENOUGH TO INVITE US IN
TO DOCUMENT A PIECE
OF ARKANSAS HISTORY.
WOW.
WOW.
THIS IS AWESOME, MAN.
[laughs]
- I BOUGHT THE CAVE
BECAUSE IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO PROTECT IT
AND TO PRESERVE IT.
IT'S A PART OF HOT SPRINGS
THAT I COULD NOT SEE DESTROYED.
THIS IS A FIREPLACE.
THEY ACTUALLY HAD GAS HERE.
- LOOKS LIKE AN ALTAR THERE,
DOESN'T IT?
- YEAH.
THAT'S QUAN YIN.
SHE IS THE GODDESS
OF HEALING AND COMPASSION.
SHE'S LIKE THE DALAI LAMA.
SHE WENT TO THE GATES
OF NIRVANA AND TURNED BACK
SO SHE COULD HELP MANKIND,
AND I FIND IT FASCINATING
THAT SHE'S HERE.
- SO QUAN YIN
IS THE GODDESS OF HEALING.
HOW APPROPRIATE
THAT THEY SHOULD USE QUAN YIN
IN A CAVE THAT'S FILLED
FULL OF CRYSTALS,
BECAUSE CRYSTALS ARE ALSO KNOWN
AS BEING A HEALING STONE.
LOOK AT THESE CRYSTALS HERE.
THESE CRYSTALS
ARE INCREDIBLY CLEAR.
SOME OF THEM, ESPECIALLY.
YOU CAN SEE
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THEM,
AND YOU CAN SEE THE STRIATIONS
ON THE BACK SIDE OF THEM.
AND SOME OF THEM ARE LONG,
AND SOME OF THEM ARE THIN,
AND SOME OF THEM
ARE BIG AND STOCKY,
AND THEY'VE PUT THEM TOGETHER
IN A MAGNIFICENT WAY
THAT'S REALLY ARTISTIC.
THEY'VE MIXED THE CLUSTERS AND
THE INDIVIDUAL CRYSTALS TOGETHER
TO MAKE A ROOM
THAT'S REALLY A PIECE OF ART.
CAN YOU SEE
THROUGH THERE?
WOW.
NEAT.
COOL.
[laughs]
IT'S AMAZING THE NUMBER
OF REALLY NICE CLUSTERS
AND REALLY NICE POINTS
THAT ARE SET IN THE WALLS HERE.
WOW.
ONE THING I'VE SEEN
IS THAT QUARTZ BRINGS OUT
THE PASSION IN PEOPLE.
BUILT BY A FATHER AND SON
FROM THEIR OWN COLLECTION,
THIS MONUMENT
TO QUARTZ IS AN EXAMPLE
OF JUST HOW INFATUATED PEOPLE
ARE WITH THIS UNIQUE MINERAL.
JUST TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE 
MORE EPISODES
OR CHECK OUT OUR 
MINERAL COLLECTION,
CLICK THE LINK 
IN THE DESCRIPTION.
AND OF COURSE,
LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE
TO OUR CHANNEL.
THANKS FOR WATCHING
AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME
ON MINERAL EXPLORERS!
