A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains

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Item # MP-96159  ISBN: 1889596159




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Known for prized rubies, sapphires, and other gems, North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains hold rich treasure for rockhounds. This guide covers 30 rock and mineral collecting sites in 17 western counties. Visit the mine where the 1,445-carat "Star of the Carolinas" star sapphire was discovered; explore creeks and streams to screen for almandine garnet; and experience the glow of Chalk Mountain hyalite opal, said to be the most highly fluorescent opal in the world.

Geologist Michael Streeter includes everything you need for your rockhounding adventure: clear, concise directions to each site, a list of rocks and minerals to be found there, recommended tools, color photographs of mineral specimens, and a glossary of geological terms. Guidelines for safe and responsible collecting, along with information on the region's colorful mining history, make this a very useful and educational guide.

Table of Contents

Introduction | How to use this book | Rockhounding tools | Conduct in the field | Permission to collect | Safety

COLLECTING SITES BY COUNTY

Avery County:
Cranberry Iron Mine

Buncombe County:
Black Mountain Kyanite | Goldsmith Mine

Cherokee County:
Hitchcock Mine | Murphy Limonite after Pyrite | Vengeance Creek

Clay County:
Behr Corundum Mine | Buck Creek | Corundum Knob

Haywood County:
Chambers Mountain Kyanite | Wood Creek | Old Pressley Sapphire Mine | Redmond Prospect

Jackson County:
Ruby City | Sheepcliff Mine

Macon County

Madison County:
Little Pine Garnet Mine | Shut-In Creek Unakite | Stackhouse Mines

McDowell County:
Woodlawn Limestone Quarry

Mitchell County:
Abernathy Mine | Bandana Dolomitic Marble | Sinkhole Mine, Chalk Mountain Mine | Crabtree Emerald Mine | Deer Park Mine | Hootowl Mine

Swain County:
Nantahala Talc & Limestone Quarry

Transylvania County:
Grimshawe Mine

Yancey County:
Mas-Celo Kyanite Mine | Ray (Wray) Mine

Appendix: Glossary | Resources | References | Index of Minerals and Collecting Sites | Field Notes

A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains