noob
having dreams about rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 51
|
Post by noob on Jun 24, 2014 7:21:44 GMT -5
The last weekend of the July I am taking my wife to North Carolina for a rock hounding trip. It is her birthday present this year. When I told her what I was planning for her birthday, I made her cry. Joyous tears, not sad ones. I am planning on taking her to the Cherokee Ruby Mine and the Mason Mine. I would appreciate any tips or suggestions.
Are those two good ones to go to? Any place good to eat around there? What to look for? Might there be anyone in the are that could meet up with us for some pointers? Stuff like that.
Thank You, Jonathan
|
|
QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
|
Post by QuailRiver on Jun 24, 2014 14:27:21 GMT -5
It's been over twenty years since the Mrs. and I have gone screening at any of the Mines in the Franklin area and since then we've heard that a lot of them are salted now. Have also heard that the Franklin Chamber of Commerce has more current information on the mines in the area and can probably tell you which ones are not salted.
As for hunting tips it's a good idea to take a very strong battery powered light to shine upward from underneath your screen before you dump it. A good back lighting can help you spot anything you may have missed. The yellow Sapphires and the white sapphires often at first glance look like dirty quartz and are easy to miss too.
Also there are at least five separate Gem Shows that I know of held in Franklin the last week of July. The Macon county Gemboree held at the Macon county Community Center July 24-27. The T&D Gem Show held at the corner of 441 and Lake Emery Rd July 21-27. The Highlands Rd Gem Show held at the corner of the 441 bypass and Highland Rd July 23-27. The Franklin Facetor's Frolic held at The Factory July 24-26. And the G&LW Gem Show (This last one is a wholesale show and requires a State resale tax number to enter) held at the Watauga Festival Center July 24-27. You can Google any of these shows for more specific locations, times, and dates.
If you have trouble finding a hotel room in Franklin there is a town about a twenty minute drive south of Franklin and across the Georgia border called Clayton that has a few decent motels.
Larry C.
|
|
|
Post by kap on Jun 24, 2014 15:43:06 GMT -5
All you need to get in the wholesale show is a copy of your business license I go there every year. The show across the road from it always has some good buys on rough,
|
|
marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 813
|
Post by marinedad on Jun 24, 2014 16:43:11 GMT -5
noob, I now live in Pisgah forest, close to many of the mines. orrum and I went to a place in spruce pine sifting material this last weekend, nice stuff, some facet grade. pm me if your in the neighborhood, mark.
|
|
noob
having dreams about rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 51
|
Post by noob on Jun 24, 2014 16:46:18 GMT -5
Thank you for the information. Mark, I will pm you when we are out there.
|
|
garock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,168
|
Post by garock on Jun 25, 2014 19:31:19 GMT -5
The Mason Mine out beyond the airport is a pretty good place to go. Not salted, dig your own, and the folks that run it are pretty good at showing you what to look for, at least the last time I went. Don't remember what the fee was, might could find it on the internet. Still Diggin' in the Georgia Red Dirt, Frankie
|
|
noob
having dreams about rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 51
|
Post by noob on Jun 26, 2014 8:44:47 GMT -5
We definitely need someone to show us what to look for. We are looking forward to the trip. I pray that the weather will cooperate with us. Jon
|
|