The old spots are sometimes the best spots.

Last Updated: 27th Mar 2011

By Steve Hajdu

Please note that articles on mindat.org are contributed by members and are not peer reviewed. This unverified article may contain incorrect or unverified data and does not officially represent the views of mindat.org or any of its management team.

This specimen was collected from an Old State Road 37 road cut in Harrodsburg, IN. a few years ago. This spot seems to be a very good place to find large baryte crystals, especially at the lower levels. There are almost no loose specimens to collect here though, so extracting them from the solid matrix is the only option. I have some good baryte pics from here that I'll add shortly, with some very large singular crystals. (Note- the article that was here was supposed to be my home page article, sorry!)

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23rd Mar 2011 11:26 UTCTomasz Praszkier Manager

Is that really an article?

24th Mar 2011 22:30 UTCAndrew Johns

I think it's an article on what NOT to do if you break your elbow!! LOL!!

26th Mar 2011 01:22 UTCKeith Wood

This is a worthwhile read whether it is an article or not. This is a good cautionary tale for all of us. I have caught myself doing stupid stuff on quarry highwalls and other places, all for minerals. Since then I have worked for a mining company that has very high standards of safety and I have gained some better perspective.

How much is a mineral specimen worth? Is it worth brain damage? Is it worth depriving my family of their father? Is it worth weeks in the hospital, lost work, physical therapy, and diminished capacities for the rest of my life? These are the considerations that I make these days and I am grateful for the cautionary tale we have from Steve.

Thanks, Steve for sharing this story, at cost of your own embarrassment, so that we can be warned to think twice, or more, before doing foolish things.

26th Mar 2011 22:36 UTCDavid Bernstein Expert

Whether this is an article or a blog entry is irrelevant. It is a real world collecting story from someone who should be commended for posting it. Anyone can make a mistake in the field-I got disoriented once because I hadn't had any food for too long and almost walked straight into a open pit with a winze leading to parts unknown. And I've had two ledges disintegrate from under me pitching me backwards-thankfully into rose bushes.

Bottom line is collecting season is here for many of us and this helpful reminder to be safe does no harm to anyone.

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