Dials' Rock Shop	Gold in Quartz	Agua Fria Creek

Dials' Rock Shop is typical of rock shops found in the Mother Lode. We talked with Ralph Dials and quickly found his sense of humor and story telling a must to be included in this History of the Mother Lode course. Ralph lived in the area for 35 years, and delights in visiting with his customers. He tells of panning and dredging on Agua Fria Creek, just behind his rock shop; Joseph F. Marr, the tax collector and the missing $50 gold coins he was said to have had in his possession; Slate Hill, and the uses for slate. Ralph shows us numerous gold specimens and tells how to determine the value of gold contained in quartz; how much to pay for gold nuggets which people want to sell. He is a colorful and entertaining gentleman to listen to.

Click to listen to a short
review of this Stop.