Better-colored
stones than those seen at the time of examination are reported to have
heen found. The country rock is granite gneiss, decomposed near the
surface, inclosing streaks of mica schist. Hornblende gneiss saprolite
outcrops near the house and to the west. No vein has been located, and
it is probable that the surface specimens came from more than one
deposit.
Amethyst
has been found at many localities in Iredell County, N. C. Probably the
greatest amount of work has been done and the best specimens obtained
from the A. C. Cook place, 9 miles southeast of Statesville. No digging
has been done at many of the prospects and the only crystals found were
loose in the soil. Such prospects were seen on Mrs. M. G. Martin's
place, about half a mile west of the Cook mine; on the Burette Brawley
place, about 1-1/2 miles south of Cook's; on the J. S. Fisher place, 4-1/2 miles N. 75° W. of Moores-ville and 12-1/2 miles
south of Statesville; and on the Joe Cornelius place, 6 miles N. 80° W.
of Mooresville. Other occurrences have been reported in Iredell County
and in Rowan County adjoining, on the land of J. T. Eudy, at Mount Ulla.
The
amethysts on the A. C. Cook place were worked about 12 years ago by H.
S. Williams, of New York. The prospect had been located by a large
quantity of crystals loose in the light, sandy soil of a field. At the
time of examination, in 1903, there was a shaft about 12 feet deep with
other workings from it badly caved in. The crystals occurred in
veinlets and streaks, cutting decomposed pegmatitic granite. A quantity
of crystals were left around the workings and a few of gem quality were
found washed out of the dirt by rains. It is reported that only a small
quantity of amethysts of fairly good color were found, though many
crystals were suitable for cutting into less valuable gems. A large
quantity of amethystine quartz crystals suitable for specimens and even
"for cutting into cheap gems was obtained. Some of the darker-purple
crystals contained small rutile needles, penetrating them at various
angles. The crystals seen reached a maximum of an inch and a half in
thickness.
The
occurrences on Mrs. M. G. Martin's plantation and on the Burette
Brawley plantation are similar. At both places the crystals have been
found in coarse, light, sandy, soil formed by the decomposition of
granite probably inclosing pegmatite. At both places amethystine quartz
crystals measuring nearly 2 inches thick and fairly clear were
observed. Better specimens were reported to have been found.
The
amethyst on the J. S. Fisher plantation has been found scattered over
the surface on about an acre of ground some 200 yards northeast of the
house. The crystals are loose in the light sandy soil of a cultivated
held, and no location or direction of vein has been determined. It is
probable that there is more than one vein in the granite saprolite
underlying the field. Only pale-purple and colorless quartz crystals
were seen at the time of examination.
On
the J. Cornelius place amethyst crystals have been found on the surface
in a cultivated field. The field is on a north slope and has gray sandy
soil with blocks of partly weathered biotite granite gneiss scattered
through it. A ledge of granite gneiss outcrops above the amethyst
prospect with a strike of N. 65° E. and a dip of 30° SE. The position
and probable direction of the vein have not been deter-
