Wow, you did go wild. FYI We can find most of those gemstones here in Cali.
The gobstoppers are Argonite from Morocco. Love them.
Red & orange quartz, yes there is red and orange quartz.
The yellow/orange after the blue lace is probably calcite.
I've gotten garnets and tons of black tourmaline there. Two friends have found aqua and golden beryl.
Black is most likely Schorl, black tourmaline. All over So.Cal. Check this out, http://wheretofindrocks.com/collecting-minerals-from-cross-hill-nuevo-california/
As far as good deal goes, I guess it depends on what you plan to do with them. The "Gem Faire" or should I say Beads Faire, is not the best place for picking up gems & minerals. The best places are the local rock club shows. Most of the dealers at those shows are rock hounds and collectors and have good deals.
Since you guys are where you are check out http://www.palagems.com Owner is world renowned Bill Larson. The Pala Mining district stretching all the way out to Lake Henshaw still has a lot of gemstones buried underground. I actually found some tourmaline in the wash near Pala Casino.
I'd really love to take you guys out hunting when I get back from Japan. Maybe early May.
I have been searching the internet for little gems such as that post you linked me to - thank you! Most posts I find are telling people that its over, the location has been picked through. I'm always down for an adventure though, and I have no problem telling people public roads are free for me to travel on, haha. YES. You said it exactly, the BEAD fair. If I were a meditation bead necklace maker, it would have been perfect, lol. The mark-up on jewelry is incredible though, maybe I'm in the wrong business....Ive passed that place numerous times, but with the FINE JEWELRY sign outside, I always figured it wasnt for me. We are definitely in for a hunting trip when you're back, our schedule is pretty flexible so May or whenever sounds good! I'm really looking forward to learning more from you. Ive heard that if the pretty rocks at the farm we work at had another 100,000 years to form they would have been amazing. I've always been drawn to collecting pretty rocks, but Id love to find something really special. Just once! Doesnt have to be valuable, just...special. :D Safe travels!