The Sleeping Princess Mine

ChucksRocks.com

The property is near Crystal Peak and is at 9,200 feet elevation.  The area is underlain by the Pikes Peak Batholith, an extensive intrusive unit that is cross-cut by several pegmatites.  This particular area of the batholith (near Crystal Peak) is known for producing some of the finest amazonite in the world.

The crystals are found in “pockets”, or open cavities within the pegmatite lenses.  This photo shows a small pocket (and small crystals) uncovered in the Blind Faith dig.

Most of the digging is done by hand.  This photo shows me cleaning up a nice pocket of amazonite and smoky quartz before removing it. 

This photo nicely demonstrates the pegmatite vein cutting through the host granite.  The pocket sits right on top of the large dipping pegmatite slab.

A closer look at the same pocket shown above.  This pocket, like many found in the area was “collapsed”.  Many pockets are collapsed due to tectonic activities associated with the building of the smoky mountain range.  Other near-surface pockets (like this one) are collapsed by weathering coupled with frost action and biologic action (tree roots).