It has been a while since our last blog post, but we have a pretty good excuse: we’ve been busy mining!
The season started at full speed right out of the gate. Early on, we had a major washout that needed to be repaired. We brought in our equipment, rolled up our sleeves, and spent about a week getting everything fixed properly.
The job required our John Deere 892 excavator, John Deere 310SG backhoe, Changlin ZLM40 loader, truck, and dump trailer. It meant plenty of long days, but we got ’er done!
A big shout-out goes to Mitchell "Nuclear Norton" Noyes for helping us repair the washout. We also want to thank those who contributed in a meaningful way. You know who you are, and your support was truly appreciated. 👏
Maintaining the Road to the Mine
Along with operating the mine, we must take care of much-needed road maintenance.
So far, we have invested approximately $18,000 into the road, including the washout repairs. Maintaining reliable access is a major undertaking, but it is essential for our visitors, our equipment, and the continued operation of the mine.
Planning this work takes more than simply ordering materials when they are needed. Half-load restrictions come into effect during the spring and usually remain in place until well into June. Since we open for the season on May 15, we need to anticipate the following spring’s roadwork and preorder our materials during the previous fall.
There is a lot of planning and behind-the-scenes work involved in opening the mine each year, long before our first visitors arrive.
Refurbishing Our Roadside Billboards
Before opening for the season in May, we also spent time repairing and refacing several of our roadside billboards. The sign pictured here had blown down, so we brought it back to the mine, refurbished it, and gave it a fresh new face before putting it back up. We completed similar work on several other signs as part of our preparations for opening day. It’s another one of those behind-the-scenes jobs that takes time and effort, but these signs help visitors find their way to our mine and let everyone know we’re ready for another season!
A Close Call During the July Wildfires
July also brought the threat of wildfires to our area. It was a stressful and uncertain time, and we were very thankful the situation wasn’t worse. The experience was a strong reminder of how quickly conditions can change and how important it is to respect the land, follow fire restrictions, and remain prepared. We’re grateful to everyone who worked to keep our community safe.
Our Incredible Team
We were fortunate to hire five employees who helped us with daily operations, customer service, and creating a welcoming visitor experience at Diamond Willow Amethyst Mine and the Amethyst Country Rock & Gift Shop. Their hard work, friendly service, and willingness to help made a real difference throughout the season.
They played an important role in keeping everything running smoothly and ensuring our visitors felt welcomed and well cared for. We’re truly grateful for everything they contributed. They were a tremendous help to our family and our business.
Back to the Pit
Once the washout was repaired, we were off and running.
As an active amethyst mine, our days begin at first light. We head into the pit and get started with drilling, blasting, digging, sorting premium amethyst pieces, and collecting rock for our visitor picking piles. So far this season, we haven’t missed a single day working in the pit.
We’ve also completed several upgrades around the mine. We added water throughout the site with a new water tank, pumps, and hoses. We built a new sheltered area for washing rocks, giving visitors some much-needed shade on sunny days and protection when those sudden rainstorms roll through.
Our new interpretive geology tour has been a hit. We’ve loved sharing the geology, history, and story of the mine with everyone who has joined us.
Our Visitors Make It All Worthwhile
Of course, one of the best parts of every season is our visitors. They are truly amazing.
This year, Sam and Sheena returned for their tenth year in a row. Congratulations, and thank you for continuing to make Diamond Willow Amethyst Mine part of your annual adventures! 2016-2026
Below are some happy visitors with their finds!
We also met visitors celebrating their sixth year with us, and they told us how much they enjoy seeing the upgrades we make each season. Another visitor mentioned that she enjoys reading our blog, including the off-season posts. I told her I would write a new one soon.
Well, the season became so busy that “soon” took a little longer than expected, but here it is!
We’ve pulled some incredible amethyst pieces from the mine this season, and we’re very proud of what we’ve uncovered. The best part is that we aren’t finished yet. We’ll be mining right into the fall, and we can’t wait to see what else comes out of the pit.
Thank you to everyone who has visited, returned year after year, followed our progress, helped with the road, and supported our family mine. We may not always have time to write about what’s happening, but you can be sure we’re out there at first light, working the mine and getting our hands dirty.
Stay tuned. There’s still more mining to come!