NORTH CAROLINA.
Regular
mining for aquamarine and the beryl gems was carried or in North
Carolina during 1907 at Hiddenite. Scattered lots were brought in by
mica miners and prospectors in other parts of the mountain country,
chiefly in Mitchell and Yancey counties, though some were obtained in
Iredell County and at Barretts Mountain, Alexander County.
The
hiddenite and emerald mine, one-half mile west of Hiddenite Alexander
County, was reopened and worked during part of the year by Mr. Cary
Wright for the American Gem Mining Syndicate. At the same time Mr.
Wright opened a new prospect called the Ellis emerald mine, one-fourth
mile east of Hiddenite. The work was stopped in September, 1907,
pending the installation of a power plant for larger operations.
Aquamarine and beautiful specimen beryl, emerald, and hiddenite were
obtained in promising quantities. Mr. Wright mentions one beautiful
specimen of beryl, 2 inches long by 1-1/2 inches in diameter,
weighing over 750 carats, from the emerald-hiddenite mine. It was
translucent with prism faces highly polished. Many aquamarine crystals
of from 10 to 20 carats were found in the same mine. Several fine
crystals of aquamarine were found at the Ellis mine, two of which were
embedded in transparent quartz crystals, making splendid cabinet
specimens. Emeralds of fine color were obtained from both mines. At the
Ellis mine one dark-green emerald weighing 276 carats was found. About
200 carats of hiddenite were obtained from the emerald-hiddenite mine.
One crystal, weighing about 10 carats, was one-half colorless and the
other half a deep emerald green. . Jet black tourmaline crystals
associated with feldspar; clear, colorless, smoky, and rutilated
cpiartz crystals; rutile crystals, etc., were also found associated
with the beryls.
At
the emerald-hiddenite mine there are a large number of veins generally
striking north of east with high dips to the north. For a distance of
over 50 yards both to the north and to the south of the main workings a
number of pits and several shafts have been made on different veins. In
all of the veins opened quartz crystals were found, some very clear and
beautiful, with well-developed crystal form. Some of these openings
yielded beryl or hiddenite, occasionally of gem quality.
The
old workings at the emerald-hiddenite mine were made chiefly between
1880 and 1885, and consisted of a large open cut, with two shafts near
the western end, besides numerous smaller test pits in the vicinity of
the open cut. The open cut is situated near the top of a low ridge and
is probably 150 feet long, 20 to 40 feet wide, and 15 to 20 feet deep.
A haulway had been cut to the same level at the east end to the dump..
The new work in 1907 consisted of an open pit, some 12 feet wide and 18
feet long, near the eastern end of the old cut and at the north side of
the haulway. Two well-defined veins were found in this cut, and also
two less promising ones. These veins were nearly parallel, and the
strike measured on the best one was N. 70° E., dip about 85° N. Several
good, though small, pockets were found in this cut.
The
country rock in the region around the emerald-hiddenite mine and the
Ellis emerald mine is chiefly biotite gneiss, garnetiferous in places,
which has been much compressed and folded, probably while
