i would love to hear others thoughts about arkansas quartz. i'm on a quest for crystals and there doesn't seem to be any rock shops in my area, i'm somewhat opposed to buying one online without being able to touch it or see it in person first. i've been doing a vast amount of reading on the crystal subject and one of the things i see alot is that the strip mining process they do in arkansas has some adverse effects on the crystals. anyone here know if the damage done is reversable or is it permanent? would clearing the crystals do away with their bad experience in arkansas? :d i ask because i'm planning a weekend excursion to dig for some quartz and i'd hate wasting my time doing so for "damaged goods". there are quite a few mines in the hot springs/mt. ida area that'll let you dig all day for a small fee and i'm dying to go. and for those who don't know, it's not just limited to arkansas...google "dig your own quartz". alter your search and you can find places all around the world where you can mine your own minerals. the price you pay is fairly cheap compared to what you may find if you are determined. tia for any replies