Ch. 7: Garnet, Zircon, Rutile, and Octahedeite

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	52 HISTORY OF THE GEMS FOUND IN NORTH CAROLINA. hundredth of their former prices. The best zircon localities in North Carolina are on the Old Meredith Freeman estate, and the Jones estate, Green Eiver, Henderson County. It was leased for 25 years by Gen. Thomas L. Clingman, who, as early as 1869, mined 1000 pounds of zircon, and during that whole period never lost faith in the incandescent properties of zirconia; but when these were finally proved and acknowledged, through some legal difficulties General Clingman had forfeited his leases, and hence failed to reap his reward. The zircon industry has been quite important in North Carolina; and as far back as 1883 Mr. W. E. Hidden mined 26 tons in that single year. The chemical composition of zircon is shown below in the analysis of a sample of this mineral from Buncombe County.



	RUTILE. This is one of the most interesting minerals found in North Carolina, although not one that is very conspicuous. In composition, it is pure oxide of the metal titanium, and varies in color from deep red or reddish-brown to black, the crystals being modified square prisms. Specimens from Alexander County rival any that have ever been found for their perfection of form, wonderful polish, and fine color (PL XIV, A and B, and PL XV). At Graves Mountain, Georgia, elegant rutile occurs with lazulite usually imbedded in a compact red oxide of iron that can be readily removed by hydrochloric acid, or with a sharp instrument, leaving on the surfaces a mirror-like polish. The crystals vary in length from 1/2 an inch up to 5 inches, and are either single, twins, or vierlings, often in fine groups. The rutile from this locality has realized at least $20,000 for cabinet specimens, and has supplied the collections of the world through the perseverance of Prof. Charles IT. Shepard. It occurs in a similar association with lazulite in North Carolina, at Crowders Mountain, in Gaston County. The finest small brilliant geniculated crystals are found at Millholland's Hills, White Plains, near Liberty Church, and near Poplar Springs, in

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