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Post by RickB on Dec 23, 2019 16:04:03 GMT -5
Vintage video of Ted Ledford, former owner of the Crabtree Emerald Mine near Spruce Pine, NC
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 23, 2019 16:35:13 GMT -5
Vintage video of Ted Ledford, former owner of the Crabtree Emerald Mine near Spruce Pine, NC My sister went and did some NC gem hunting. She got some nice Crabtree emeralds, too. She had one cut for a ring. Faceted very clean and is gorgeous. She went to Gem Mountain back in the day. www.gemmountain.com/ They had spiced buckets. At one point, they either sold out and someone reopened or something because there was talk about the high insurance costs and having to shut down. |
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Post by toiv0 on Dec 23, 2019 19:21:11 GMT -5
so can you still dig for a fee there or are the mines closed?
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Post by RickB on Dec 23, 2019 21:55:34 GMT -5
so can you still dig for a fee there or are the mines closed? You can still dig there. The old mine has been flooded for many years but everyone digs, screens, crack rocks and washes material that was brought out of the mine. Good time to look is after heavy rain. Mindat has some info. You can dig for $20. per day. Currently managed by MAGMA, info below. You can go through them or Emerald Village which is a tourist place at the old McKinley mine. Both sources have release forms. I have a few single crystals and pieces I've found. Might look for them and post a photo or two tomorrow. www.wncrocks.com/resources/Collecting%20site%20crabtreemine1.htmEmerald Village: www.emeraldvillage.com/mines-activities/crabtree-emerald-mine/ |
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Dec 24, 2019 13:24:37 GMT -5
Yeah I knew Ted Ledford when I was young. I first met him in 1975 when he was running Ledford's Rock Shop. Someone else ("Bill" something - can't remember the last name) owned the Crabtree Mine at that time. I don't remember when Ted Ledford aquired the mine but I know he owned or was leasing it by the mid to late 80s.
Mr. Ledford was always really good towards me and everyone else I ever saw him interact with. I miss those old Depression era southern men. So many of them I knew, like Mr. Ledford, had such a friendly and humble disposition and would likely give a stranger the shirt off their back if they thought the stranger really needed it - and I do mean that literally.
Ted Ledford's sons both continued in mining gems. I met them a couple of times but never really knew them that well. I think Daryl still owns the Jackson's Cross Roads Amethyst Mine and Terry was killed in a Mining accident in Hiddenite a few years ago.
Larry C.
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Post by RickB on Dec 24, 2019 13:45:06 GMT -5
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2019 14:53:05 GMT -5
Those pieces in matrix are really nice for specimens!
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Post by RickB on Dec 24, 2019 15:07:38 GMT -5
Yeah I knew Ted Ledford when I was young. I first met him in 1975 when he was running Ledford's Rock Shop. Someone else ("Bill" something - can't remember the last name) owned the Crabtree Mine at that time. I don't remember when Ted Ledford aquired the mine but I know he owned or was leasing it by the mid to late 80s. Mr. Ledford was always really good towards me and everyone else I ever saw him interact with. I miss those old Depression era southern men. So many of them I knew, like Mr. Ledford, had such a friendly and humble disposition and would likely give a stranger the shirt off their back if they thought the stranger really needed it - and I do mean that literally. Ted Ledford's sons both continued in mining gems. I met them a couple of times but never really knew them that well. I think Daryl still owns the Jackson's Cross Roads Amethyst Mine and Terry was killed in a Mining accident in Hiddenite a few years ago. Larry C. Never met Ted but I did meet his son Terry Ledford a few times. It was very sad news when I heard about the cave-in in Hiddenite. I have a photos and videos of him bringing me up a boulder from the Jackson's Crossroads pit - sounds like he had a big heart like his dad. Boulder was too big for me to do much with but I have found some nice material there. Terry's son Christopher and wife Rachael moved back here after Terry passed away and he is running the digging at JXR. I don't keep up with the JXR news but I do believe there are several partners owning the mine now. |
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Post by RickB on Dec 24, 2019 18:39:50 GMT -5
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Post by RickB on Dec 29, 2019 17:57:55 GMT -5
Photo I took of the Crabtree Emerald Mine in the winter of 2008.  Mining equipment - old truck.  |
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