For a month and a half she dug seven days a week, first one in, last one out. Shirley once dug for two days and took out 90 buckets of good gravel. It takes three or four months to work the gravel down to what is called a pad. Rock hunting in the crater is great for many other stones too. Jasper, agate, quartz, amethyst, calcite, barite, mica, and kimberlite are found in abundance.
Mica has a bad reputation of course and is known as Fool's Gold.
To help the beginners tell the difference, the admissions desk of the mine has samples of diamonds and the other gems likely to be found there. Many people studying the stones are dismayed though. When you find a diamond you will immediately know it is a diamond. She should know. Shirley was raised hearing diamond mine stories all her life.