Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines
Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines in Mount Ida, Arkansas, is a family mine where visitors can dig their own crystals, shop quartz and gems, and learn about a zero carbon, community minded way of working the land.
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Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines in Mount Ida, Arkansas, has been welcoming people to dig their own crystals and sharing quartz with the world since 1979. Founder Richard Wegner describes the business as a zero carbon business, and the family grows organic food to give to food banks and sells excess carbon credits.
Meet Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines
In 1978, Richard J. Wegner discovered the Ouachita Mountains in west central Arkansas. In 1979 he found land in a boxed-in valley near Lake Ouachita and began what he first thought would be a horticultural business. When he found broken clear stones in his garden, and then quartz crystals in shallow trenches around the mountainside, he felt a deep connection to the land and changed course. In 1980 he started Wegner Enterprises, Inc. and Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines.
From the beginning, Richard's intention was to protect the environment, contribute to the local economy as an employer, and grow spiritually through a grounding connection to the earth. He studied the metaphysical aspects of the stones as well as traditional Native American uses, and he invited local Ouachita Indians to hold their Pow-Wow on the land. The mines have produced clear quartz, manganese included Phantom crystals, smoky crystals and large clusters, with specimens donated or sold to museums including a permanent display at the Royal Ontario Museum's Dynamic Earth gallery in Toronto. His sons, Eric and Steven Wegner, are part of the family story he tells on the site.
Dig your own crystals
Visitors can collect crystals at more than one site. The Crystal Forest Mine is a large 40 acre open pit surface mine, regarded for its abundance of clear crystals suitable for jewelry, as well as clusters, garden rocks and larger points. Collecting can be as easy as picking up crystals exposed on the surface, especially after a good rain, or more challenging hard rock mining. Safari style trucks leave Tuesday through Saturday at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The trip is around 2.5 to 3 hours roundtrip. The fee is $19.00 per person for 2 hours of on site collection, with transportation included, and you keep all you find. Reservations are not needed for this trip, with a 2 person minimum for safety.
The World Famous Phantom Mine is the most popular and productive mine, with advance reservations and deposits required. Visitors can dig clear and Phantom quartz crystal points and specimen grade clusters. The Phantoms have manganese inclusions that look like a smaller dark crystal trapped within a larger clear crystal. There are no hidden fees, and you keep all you find. Fresh tailings digging only, with no direct vein access, and a 15 person minimum per trip. Departure is at 8:30 a.m. on scheduled days. Other activities include the Tailings Pile, a shaded 100 foot Gemstone Sluice, a Diamond Collecting Adventure, and a geode cracker. Tools and buckets are available to purchase on site, or you may bring your own. The mines are pet friendly, and group visits and educational lectures can be arranged for schools, scouts, churches and other groups.
A zero carbon, community minded mine
Richard wrote to us that Wegner is a zero carbon business, that they sell excess carbon credits, and that they grow organic food to give to food banks. Their website describes a long commitment to a sustainable future and to the social, economic and environmental well-being of the community, including education, food bank contribution, job opportunities, clean water protection, mine reclamation and reforestation.
Wegner has planted over 150,000 trees and is a member of the Tree Farm Association. The Arkansas Forest Service later used Wegner's Wheeler Mountain mining plan as a reclamation business model. In 2009 the business installed two Skystream 3.7 wind turbines, and it has a net metering agreement to send excess electricity back to the grid. In 2012 it installed a 5 kilowatt solar array, with a further 7 kilowatts added in 2019. An organic, chemical free garden is watered with pond water, and excess non-genetically engineered fruit and vegetables are donated to a local food pantry.
There is also a 10,000 square foot warehouse and a retail shop, with wholesale relationships that Richard dates back more than 30 years. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Visit Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines
The mines are at 82 Wegner Crystal Ranch Road, Mount Ida, Arkansas 71957. Call (870) 867-2309 or email wegner@ipa.net. You can also find them on Instagram at @wegnermines, and explore more at wegnercrystalmines.com.
Visit Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines
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With love, Infused Lights. This spotlight is part of the Infused Lights Light Network, a free directory of friends doing light filled work. Photos courtesy of Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines, used with credit and a link back to their site.