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Here’s your chance to dig the world famous Rucks Pit crystal clams!
at The Rucks Pit Crystal Clam Festival
Incredible! – is the most common term used when people see this unusual combination of crystals and fossils. Discovered in the 1990s in Rucks Pit, an aggregate quarry near Lake Okeechobee, Florida, these fantastic crystal-lined fossil clams quickly became famous in both the mineral and fossil world. Alas, ten years after they were discovered, the mining played out, the quarry flooded, and the site was closed for good.
Several years later Pacific GeoLab researched this rare occurrence and arranged exclusive rights to the fossils at the old Rucks Pit quarry. Since then, we have discovered and opened several sites on the old quarry property where we excavate the crystalized clams that made Rucks Pit world famous.
Now you have a chance to dig your own!
CLICK HERE to view the introductory video
The Digging – Pacific GeoLab staff will assist you throughout the day. The digging is not difficult – any able-bodied person can do it. You will use hand tools – mostly rakes and trowels – to dig through the sediments. As you find specimens, you’ll wash them off with one of the several water hoses we provide. There are also matrix pieces which contain multiple clams. You are welcome to split them apart and pare them down using hand mallet and chisels.
We will have tables and water hoses at each dig location for your use. There will also be sun canopies, and a stock of cold water and sodas provided. For your convenience Porta Potties will be on site. Once full registration opens in March you will be provided more details on what to bring and what to expect. Payment is not due until you complete the full registration in March.
What You Can Take – You may keep whatever you find, except scientifically important specimens, which will be donated to Florida Museum of Natural History. (For reference, this refers to only very rare specimens such as vertebrates, not to crystal clams. The museum has plenty of them.) In terms of volume, each person will be allowed to keep one 5-gallon bucket worth of specimens, plus up to 30 pounds of matrix each day. Keep in mind that you can fit a lot of clams in a bucket. For reference, on a recent trip in December 2024, we collected multiple buckets of 20 – 30 clams each. The photo at the start of this announcement was one of them.
The quarry will never reopen, and the property remains closed. However, we periodically arrange very limited opportunities for clients to visit and dig at our site once or twice a year. Only a few dozen people will be allowed, and only for a few days. The next festival dates on the calendar are:
October 23 – 25, 2025
March 19-21, 2026
If we get enough people signed up, we will run the festival in both October and March. If there’s a shortfall in the sign-ups, we will not hold it in October, but will run it in March instead.
This is the REAL Rucks Pit – Make no mistake – this is the REAL Rucks Pit! Not some place where you pay to sift through dirt that other people have been combing through for 20 years. This is the real McCoy! You will be working in sediments never-before explored at the original Rucks Pit Quarry mere yards from the actual hole in the ground. This is an exclusive fossil and mineral digging opportunity open to only a few dozen folks. You can be one of them! CLICK HERE (goes to sign-up page)
Cost – The cost is $550 per person, per day with significant discounts for those who have previously participated and for those who sign up for multiple days. Here’s the best part: It comes with our exclusive Make-You-Smile Guarantee:
Our exclusive
MAKE-YOU-SMILE GUARANTEE
We absolutely guarantee you WILL find crystal clams!
But, if you are not happy with what you find,
your money will be refunded!
Here are some photos of our recent excavations
SIGN UP
The REAL Rucks Pit – This is the real McCoy! You will be working in sediments never-before explored at the original Rucks Pit quarry mere yards from the actual hole in the ground. This is an exclusive fossil and mineral digging opportunity that might never happen again.
Cost – The cost is $550 per person, per day with discounts for those who sign up for multiple days. Here’s the best part: It comes with our exclusive Make-You-Smile Guarantee (see below) where you are guaranteed to go home happy.
Our exclusive
MAKE-YOU-SMILE GUARANTEE
You WILL find crystal clams!
But, if you are not happy with what you find,
we will REFUND your entire fee!
Fill out the form below to be notified when
Registration opens for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
VIDEOS
RUCKS PIT CRYSTAL CLAM FESTIVAL REVIEWS
Below are reviews by participants in past Crystal Clam Festivals:
The inaugural Rucks Pit Crystal Clam Festival was held in April 2025 to rave reviews. It went so well we are scheduling it for two times this next year. Sign up before the spaces fill up!
A survey of our past clients shows an incredible Rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars! Check out these quotes from past Rucks Pit Crystal Clam Festival participants:
By far the most well organized and best digging opportunity I have ever paid for. Well worth the price! Can’t thank you all enough for such a tremendous experience!
Geoff from New Mexico
The best digging event I’ve ever been to! Beginning to end, everything was exceptional.
Stephen from Florida
The Ruck’s Pit Clam Digging Festival exceeded my expectations in every way! The event was well organized, from the excellent information packet at registration to Jon’s introductory talk at the beginning of the dig. I was very impressed with the way the physical dig was set out, which provided more than sufficient space for multiple diggers to easily access the fossil layer material. Jon and staff were generous with their time and expertise and were readily helpful and encouraging to all diggers, providing information, tools, water, support, etc. throughout the dig. I felt the dig cost was very fair considering the rarity and beauty of the fossil specimens recovered. I loved the whole experience, feel fortunate to have had this amazing opportunity, and look forward to next year! THANK YOU!
Leah from Alabama
5 Stars all the way! Would come back again.
Linda from Maine
You may have heard the expression “its in the details”. This dig, which I have been on many, was great. I never expected to have shade tents, wash stations, and a staff that made sure you kept hydrated with water or Gatorade and warned of too much sun. Even a staff member extended the reach of a fire hose to make sure my digging area experienced the hydro-mining. Very much appreciated. Thank you Jon and all your excellent staff!!
Wayne from Virginia
I had the most amazing time. The entire staff were helpful, informative, friendly, and provided an overall wonderful experience. Would definitely do again, and would be willing to volunteer in the future.
Susan from Florida
The dig was excellent! The communication and what to expect was very good. The initial talk and history was very worthwhile as well as the cleaning of people’s specimens at 1pm. The water and fire hoses were extremely helpful and would recommend the continued use of them. The staff was great! Thanks again for all of your work and staff to make the dig a success!
Steve from California
I am a newbie to rock hounding, but have been on about 15 trips. This was the most organized, informative, helpful trip I have been on. It exceeded all my expectations, was enjoyable , and I learned a lot. Jon and the whole crew were extremely knowledgeable and exceedingly helpful. I would highly recommend this to any level of rock hound and crystal collector. Thanks so much and I really look forward to going back!
John from Vermont
I had the best time! You guys are truly awesome. The site was pretty, the search area well prepared, and the weather perfect. I found such beautiful things. The staff was attentive, helpful, kind and wonderful. Thank you! And please thank the landowners for being so gracious and allowing us this wonderful experience. I can’t wait until next year!!!!!
Veronica from Florida
