ohmandyb
starting to shine!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 43
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Post by ohmandyb on Apr 15, 2009 8:56:28 GMT -5
Has anyone been to Sheffield Mine or Emeral Hollow Mine in NC. Thought I would take the boy somewhere these places looked like fun.
Thanks
Tink
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daveaohio
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2009
Posts: 8
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Post by daveaohio on May 14, 2009 22:13:23 GMT -5
I can't recall going to Emerald Hollow but I've been to Sheffield. I personally like the Mason Mountain Mine & Cowee Gift shop better. At Mason MTN you used to pay $25.00 a day to sluice buckets full of raw dirt not salted. The dirt at Mason is also sandier so it washes off easier. Sheffield has a clay soil and I realy had to work to get the dirt off. PLEASE don't confuse Mason Mountain with Mason's Ruby and Saphire Mine which I honestly found a little scarry and the gems were smalllllll and few. Good Luck hope this helped
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oldgrouchy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 240
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Post by oldgrouchy on May 21, 2009 9:49:45 GMT -5
I have been to both! I NEVER recommend emerald hollow (no caps intentional), EVERYTHING is salted. Even stuff in the creek is put there. I had a guy demanding that I believe a London Blue Topaz chunk came from there and had formed naturally. I tried to explain that is not possible in our local strata and he STILL believes he found it without any outside help. The Sheffield is not one I would go to again. Check out The Mason Mine for ALL NATURAL corundum. It will not likely be very big, but it is pretty. For a good time go to Chunky Gal Mountain in the National Forest, it is a designated rockhounding area so no problem collecting there. Just off Hwy 64 west of Franklin , NC with LOTS of ruby in Smaragdite. In Buck Creek you can find lots of rhodolite garnet SAND size at the same area. You take Buck Creek Road to get to Chunky Gal. Check in with Dale at the Sapphire Inn in Franklin about other area attractions.
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Post by rockmanken on May 25, 2009 19:27:37 GMT -5
Hi, just found this thread. DO NOT go to Sheffields or Emerald Hollow. Only 2 ruby/sapphire mines in Franklin, NC NOT salted. Mason mine(out by the airport, not Mason Mtn.) and Cherokee mine. All the rest are salted with stuff from Brazil, Mexico, India and Columbia. The Chunky Gal area is also ALL native. (see oldgrouchy's thread) Dale is a MAGMA member and will help you anyway he can. Also will give you a discount if you tell him you are with MAGMA. It is FREE to join, see www.magmarocks.com. A good place for emeralds is the Crabtree Emerald mine in Spruce Pine, NC. Native emeralds in matrix. Before going into the National Forest, check with the Rangers FIRST. They are confiscating tools and equiptment and fining. They are in limbo about rules for digging so they are going to the extreme. Go to www.dirtyrockhounds.com for the latest info on NC digging. Just ask on there like on here to get up to date info. Over 3000 members on MAGMA and they will help you any way they can. Dirtyrockhounds is a discussion board for MAGMA(Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association) based in Asheville, NC. Weekly digs in NC, SC, VA, GA, TN, KY, FL, and ARK. Hope this helps. Ken |
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
