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(text and pictures by Petr Sulc)
Southern Cambodia Ta Keo (Ta Kaev) Province is well known for giant quartz and smokestone crystals and beautiful druses (available in Phnom Penh shops and markets). Nice pieces of topaz and aquamarine originate from Ta Keo too. Interesting specimens of quartz crystal together with topaz also could bee seen from over there.
More informations about concrete locality is not easy to get and identifay, nobody know it or don’t want disclose it. Petr Sulc visited Ta Keo town in September 2010 and asked his friends from local Angkor Khemara University for help. They took him to place named Phnom Bachieu with local guide.
Phnom Bachieu (Phnum Pracheav) Hills is not very wide (radius only some few kilometers) part of Phnom Kiriwong Mountains. It is located some 40 kilometers south from Ta Keo town near Vietnamese border ( about 120 km from Phnom Penh, 3 hours driving). National road number 2 to Tinh Bien boarder crossing is not bad but after turn to short distance ways to hills are not very comfortable. Accommodation is available in Ta Keo town.
To search for minerals there is possible only with experienced local guide. Its necessary wear good boots and to have drinking water . I was informed that in that area never were landmines (not same like in “rubbyland” Pailin northern at Thailand border where some places are still dangerous). But aware of snakes, of course. At the entrance to waterfall area checkpoint collect 2000 riel (05 USD) per person. Another probably very interesting similar Cambodian locality is in Kampong Thom (Kampong Thum) Province (probably in Phnum Chi Mountains), some nice specimens originate from there, mostly amethyst.
Petr with Cambodian friends have had only half day time for their trip. They visited Chru Phauk (Chruos Phaok) Valley which is only something like entrance to the hills where people dig for stones. There are probably one or two guarries somewhere in Phnom Bachieu but its difficult get more indications. Maybe Petr or anybody other will visit it in future and will give report about it.
More on Petr´s visit to this area and some pictures can be found on forum.
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