Any groups in the kansas city area?
I would love to join something like this too! (Have thought about it
many times. Thank You, Ellen, for bringing the subject up!) I am in
northern Bergen County, NJ.
Mary, Fairfield County, CT feels a little far to me. but maybe? Or
maybe there are others in-between who would also be interested?
Nan
A note on sapphire, ruby and emerald mining in W. NC- first I lived
there for over 25 years off the grid, near all the good and bad
metals schools in the area- I too am prejudiced to the wealth of
things available in the area - However, as for sapphires, it’s N. Ga
around lake Chatuge (fieldstone Inn) when the lake is drained
(winter) and their quality is low. As for the fee mining places
nearby- forget it, its all scam:Bags of imported salted dirt.
particularly around Franklin., where hundreds of years ago they found
a bit of hiddenite- but you have to have permission to go on the
lands that are now owned by mining companies taking out kaolin- and
individual’s in those parts don’t want anyone poking around on their
land- particularly uninvited, and particularly if they know what
there is on their land or claims- so check with the local BLM for
current laws and unless you know exec’s at the mines forget about
digging anything like hiddenite.
Jackson’s Crossroads in Georgia is not close by any stretch of the
imagination but there is an “amethyst” mine there- they lie though-
We went there with our regional AFMS mineral club- a four hour drive
one way, high fee - even for a group and they told us they had
"dozed" the area for us to uncover some “new material”- It had rained
the night before, not a track in the mud- but plenty of wet mud, and
they watch you the entire time with their guns in the racks in their
trucks- they don’t want you to stray off the paths where they want
you to mine- for nothing- the good material is literally right off
the paths in the scrubby area around the mine- good being a few small
amethyst crystals- definitely not worth the drive nor the 25 dollar +
fee. they may offer a piece of citrine imported from Brazil to you or
your group- but by far cheaper to buy a piece on ebay or at a rock
shop, etc. The owner mines the decent material as a sideline. and
sells it on ebay so forget about finding a thing there- I know at
least 100 people that have gotten taken by the scam artist. It’s
definitely a scam- believe me. and I don’t like liars at all!!! the
owner is not nice and dishonest to boot! period. Dahlonega, in N. Ga
has gold-Panning for it in the streams below geologically researched
areas can be productive- if you have weeks. the laws and “law” won’t
let you park under a bridge on the rivers and streams and set up a
portable anything so forget that in N. GA.N. Carolina has some gold
but its far up in the mountains and trespassers aren’t welcomed -AT
ALL!!! If you don’t know a person with a good prospect for finding
gold, forget about it- and don’t even consider it in national or
state parks. Even picking apples off the ground in a N. C.State park
is illegal (as their argument is it’s food for the wild animals- yet
it’s really food for yellow jackets. so weigh that one and only when
starving !) One main / major old orchard in the area is at the head
of part of the Appalachian Trail at a place called Burningtown Gap in
the Nantahala gorge - i have been caught with 5 gallon buckets full
of old variety apples there -many times in autumn.-.apparently the
bears, etc. aren’t interested in wading ankle deep through the
stinging things. nor going near hunter’s trucks parked in the lot at
the site. go figure! And it’s Most Definitely NOT SAFE FOR WOMEN
ALONE HIKING in that region so go where there are people unless you
wish to arm yourself.
Nonetheless, there is no emerald, or ruby or sapphire in the main or
any accessible areas around Asheville, Unicoi,N. Ga, or N. Carolina
- it has been mined out. There is a place in N. Carolina where DeSoto
passed in the 1700’s, one can still see their holes where they dug
for mineral material- and you may find a chip of ruby or sapphire
deep in black dirt, otherwise it’s a legend these days -Sorry John,
but, Lake Chatuge is the only sapphire rich area there that is
naturally occurring. One can find the remnants of copper mining in
Ducktown TN, on the W. NC border - you can dig through tailings at
the mine museum (Burra Burra Mine) but otherwise, you won’t find
much, and definitely no precious mineral material, occasionally some
copper related minerals and garnets along the rail road tracks near
Ducktown and the copper mine- they look like big black octagonal ball
thingy-s. but are increasingly rarer. All other mines in the area are
salted dirt bags(literally!!!) from Brazilian mines and occur as
chips -if you get a piece of anything cutable it’s been purchased at
a rock shop in the tri-state area or sapphire found on lake Chatuge.
in summer by the way, the lake is a snaky hang out in a grassy area
adjoining the lake. and snakes are a real danger anywhere and
everywhere in the mountains so be cautious around W. NC and N. GA
all through the smokies and up to grandfather mountain areas- then
the population drops off preferring the mountains and deep woods. rer
There are studios available in Asheville that are reasonable in the
River Arts District. Go Google it. I have a jewelry and lapidary
school here in Arden just a few miles away from downtown Asheville.
The Mountain Metalsmiths School of Jewelry & Lapidary.
Come check the area out if you get a chance. The Folk Art Center on
the Blue Ridge Parkway (mile marker 382) is the headquarters of the
Southern Highland Craft Guild, over 900 members strong.
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep7zy4
The John C. Campbell Folk School is only about 2 hrs drive from here.
Come on down. it’s warmer here but you will still see four seasons-
just not as rough as where you are now. BTW did you check out the
Anderson Center in Red Wing?
Good luck in your search.
Ruthie Cohen