JFisher
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2004
Posts: 14
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Post by JFisher on Aug 14, 2004 12:44:26 GMT -5
It would seem that most of you are in the California area. If you ever make it east, North Carolina is the place to go for rocks. I find all kinds of quartz just about anywhere I go. Amethyst is the most popular. North Carolina is also loaded with Gem mines that harvest a wide assortment of stones. I went to one a few weeks ago and came home with a Pigeon Blood Ruby that was estimated at $210. I also found lots of Red Jasper, Amazonite, Sapphires and Moss Agates just to name a few. Most of the mines here you can do nothing but sluice their dirt (Salted), but the mine I go to you can dig, walk the creek or the fields to find rocks as well as sluice their dirt.
If you would like some info on the Best mine in North Carolina (in my opinion) Email me and I will get you some info and links.
Happy Hunting
John
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Aug 14, 2004 13:23:44 GMT -5
I'm in Texas and have been wanting to go to NC for at least a year to check out the gem mines. I would love some info on it. Sending you an email!
llanago
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Aug 14, 2004 17:46:46 GMT -5
Welcome to this fantastic board John,
I feel that you live in Rockhound paradise , gem mines galore and great rocks aplenty.
Hope you post us some pics here one day
Love to see what you come up with.
Jack
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Aug 22, 2004 14:02:47 GMT -5
I was in Muphy, Western North Carolina last year visiting some friends that moved from California. There are several salted mines along Hwy 64 (I think, its the main road). Also, there is a tiny rock shop somewhere in between Murphy's and Franklin about a 1/2 mile off of Hwy 64.
The rock shop is run by a very friendly old gent who used to be a miner. This guy likes to talk and share his mining stories. I bought a piece of Illinois flourite that the guy had mined, along with several nice slabs- dryhead, leopard skin and a couple that we didn't know the names. One had red orbs, the other was a creamy pink.
Also, while stopping at a lake east of Franklin and north of the big tourist town (can't remember the name), we found garnets along the lake shore.
I wish I could say that we did more rock hounding, but I haven't gotten my friends hooked on rocks, yet. They have visited some of the ruby mines in the Franklin area. My friend doesn't have the patience for the unsalted buckets, but like the salted buckets. His wife has found some really small red rubies.
Cal
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 22, 2004 20:43:51 GMT -5
Cal,
In 2 weeks I am so there! We're going to Franklin on vacation and hit as many mines as possible. Thanks for the info on the rock shop, have to check it out! What lake was it you found the garnets? We want to dig, but the salted buckets will be fun too.
I need a vacation soooo bad, and now that I've gotten my hubby hooked on emerals and corundum, this is goig to be too much fun.
cookie
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Aug 23, 2004 23:59:49 GMT -5
Cookie,
I can't remember the name of the lake, so I looked at a couple of maps at work. The lake is north of Highlands (the ritzy area I talked about earlier.
There is a highway northish out of Highlands towards Cashier. But, the name doesn't ring a bell. There is a lake pretty close to Cashier.
Let me call my friends tomorrow and ask. I would call now, but it is midnight in NC. With a newborn in the house, I don't think they need any phone calls in the middle of night (I am sure they have better things to do-like feed the baby).
Cal
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JFisher
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2004
Posts: 14
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Post by JFisher on Aug 24, 2004 5:00:32 GMT -5
Cal,
Could it be Thorpe Lake? Cause If it is I know where I am going this weekend LOL ;D.
John
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Aug 24, 2004 19:49:49 GMT -5
John,
You are right, its Thorpe lake aka Glenville Lake, which is north of Cashiers.
I found the garnets on the little penisula where the boats are moored. It is private property, but the handyman did not have a problem with us walking around. He was the one that showed us where to find the garnets.
It is on the tip of the penisula, there is a picnic area and boat piers.
The garnets looked like little round balls of rust (1/4 inch or so). The garnets were sitting on the shoreline, no digging, just picking them up.
Good Luck,
Cal
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Post by Cher on Aug 24, 2004 19:59:30 GMT -5
Get out! You can just walk around the lake and pick up garnets? I wanna go toooo!
Cher
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 24, 2004 20:28:32 GMT -5
OK, gotta do it.. Yummy! ![]() pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/WhoaMan.gif [/img] It has been decided. We can't afford to stay 2 nights so we might as well stay 3  Quiting smoking is begining to look easier all the time. Thanks for all the info everyone! I'm stoked  cookie |
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