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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 15, 2004 22:26:42 GMT -5
Anyone (Jeff maybe) familiar with this place.? My husband loves the gem aspect of this hobby (He just had a stone we found, a star saphire or ruby, we're not sure, but it's purple and has a wonderful star, cabbed and mounted in a ring, it's beautiful ) and now he's hooked. We've decided to go to Shefield Mines in NC in Sept. for vacation. They claim to have the best corundum mines this side of India and we found a bed and breakfast place that seems really nice and reasonably priced about 7 miles from the mines. It's mostly the ole "gem grubbin" (salted buckets) but they use stuff from their own mine. I read were Jeff said there were some great mines in NC and if anyone has info on this place, please let me know. Regardless, it'll be gem grubbin fun!
cookie
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Post by Cher on Aug 16, 2004 1:29:58 GMT -5
[glow=green,2,300]WOW[/glow] That sounds like so much fun!!! I'm green with jealousy. Hope you find "tons" of really nice stuff.
Cher
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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 16, 2004 1:50:27 GMT -5
Well seeing as how I am in NC and only about 40 minutes from the mine itself I can tell you a little about it. If all you want to do is sit and sluice their salted dirt then this is the place for you, but if you want more I would suggest Emerald Hollow Mine. They have a lot more to offer, you can find a bigger variety of stones for starters. They also have more hunting options. They allow you to dig, walk the creek or the feilds. Shefield Mine only allows you to sluice thier dirt as I said. Here is there web addy. hiddenitegems.com/index.htmlIf you would like to here about my experience at Emerald Hollow Mine I will be glad to share. PS. Emerald Hollow Mine is the only emerald mine in the US that is open to the public. |
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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 16, 2004 2:23:44 GMT -5
Ok I did a little diging for you. There is 1 mine near Franklin, NC that allows you to dig as well. Mason's Ruby and Sapphire MIne is the name of the place. The book(Sountheast Treasure Hunter's Grm and Mineral Guide, 1999) I have here gives info on the mine. Thier stone selection it limited, Sapphires (all colors) Pink, Red Rubies is all you will find. If you want more info on this mine I will be glad to give.
Still I suggest Emerald Hollow Mine. It is the best in the state in my humble opinion.
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 16, 2004 19:15:18 GMT -5
Thanks Jeff! Maybe we'll stay another day and hit all of them> I'd really like to dig my own stuff, that would be more fun. Kinda like to sluice, too. Let them do the work  Thanks again for all the info, cookie |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 16, 2004 19:18:29 GMT -5
PS, If you go to the Shefield mine web site, there is a mans ring pictured on there that is exactly like my husbands. (But his setting is nicer ;D) www.sheffieldmine.comcookie |
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Post by connrock on Aug 16, 2004 19:31:34 GMT -5
Hi cookie,,,,,, Here's a link to some info on the area you're going to. Hope it helps,,,, www.franklin-chamber.com/frmst_gemmining.htmlTom |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 16, 2004 21:18:42 GMT -5
Wow Tom, my husband will go into siesures when he sees all those mines. Maybe 3 days?
Thanks so much!
cookie
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scooterin73
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2004
Posts: 10
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Post by scooterin73 on Aug 16, 2004 21:55:14 GMT -5
WOW.. these mines look soooo cool.. wish I could get there.. but its a ways from iowa... I see most of the mines have buckets you can buy by mail....I am so wanting to get one as I am sure others will too.
-scott
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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 18, 2004 1:40:44 GMT -5
Cookie, you asked so here goes. I have never been to Mason's, but I have been to Emerald Hollow Mine. This is the One I suggest. The last trip there produced a lot of rocks, and the money I spent was nothing compared to what I found. One stone more than paid for the trip. I found a Pegion Blood Ruby that will sell for around $210 once cabed. I also came home with Red Jasper, Moss agate, Amethyst, Blood Stone, Green Aventurine, Green Jasper, Citrine, Emerald, Garnets, Lapis Lazuli, Moon Stone, Hematite, Sapphire, Sodalite, Tiger Eye just to name a few. While dinging I found myself a nice little vein of Ruby's that produced about 15 or 20 small ruby's about 5 to 10 carats a piece. The dig also produced many of the stones listed above. Also I found a piece of Red Jasper in the creek that was so big I had no way to get it out. Next trip I need to take the mule LOL. The creek also produce a lot of stones, it just takes some work. I also found a lot of the same stuff in the salted buckets at the flume that you buy to sluice. Emerald Hollow Mine has the widdest range of stones in North Carolina. This is the mine that is only 40 minutes from my home. I was thinking that all of them where but come to find out there are 2 count'em 2 different towns named Franklin North Carolina. The other is only 40 minutes from here LOL. Every time I go to Emerald Hollow Mine I have a blast and come home with what old Black Beard himself would be jealous of. Here is the haul of Rubies and Sapphires with some of the Garnets mixed in from the last trip. The two at the top of by them selves are Pegion Blood Rubies the small one is the one that will go for $210 cabed. Hope you enjoy and drool ;D  |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 18, 2004 21:32:47 GMT -5
Thanks JOHN (forever burned in my mind)
I waited till my husband could read your post to reply, he's having convultions right now, but that's a good thing ;D That sounds like exactly what we are looking for. We have booked a bed and breakfast in Franklin for 3 days, 2 nights and originaly we were just going to spend the night. Thank you sooo much for the info!
cookie
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Djinjuice
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 47
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Post by Djinjuice on Aug 25, 2004 22:30:51 GMT -5
Where exactly is the Emerald Hollow Mine? I hadn't heard of that place and my curiosity is peaked. I went out to the Old Pressley sapphire mine in Canton and dug around out there for hours, unfortunately I didn't come back with much but it was still fun. Didn't really know what I was looking at most of the time, but it was interesting. I have become spoiled by the buckets. I usually go to Gem Mountain up in Spruce Pine, NC. I live in SC so the drive isn't bad. I have alot of sapphires of all colors from that place, alot of rubies, amethyst, topaz, aquamarine (had one cut, 2carat stone!), emeralds, ametrine, rose quartz, amazonite, garnets, sodalite, kyanite blades, and smokey quartz. That reminds me, I need to go up there again and go through a bucket. May as well hit the casino in Cherokee while I am there.
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Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Aug 29, 2004 22:53:11 GMT -5
Cookie, Here's a link I found of Georgia commercial mines you can go to. We've tried Ivey Farms...and really had a great time there. We were filthy after the trip...but brought home buckets of material to tumble as well as some very nice mineral samples that I wouldn't dare tumble. www.gamineral.org/commercial-sites.htmIf all goes well, my son and I are going to try to take a trip to Graves Mountain next. From what I understand, it's not far from Ivey Farms. Happy Hunting.... |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 30, 2004 20:17:25 GMT -5
Thanks Emerald!
Had no idea there were these great mines in GA! We will be sure and check them out on our Next vacation.
Thanks again,
cookie
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