FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[am mizunaka]

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[am mizunaka]

An etched smoky quartz crystal.

[am mizunaka]

A high resolution version is available here: https://www.mindat.org/xpic.php?fname=0731474001363945167.jpg

[John S. White]

I am afraid that there is no way this amethyst is from Grandfather Mountain, N.Carolina. There are no known amethyst localities on the mountain or, for that matter, anywhere even close to the mountain. In the museum at the nature center on the mountain there is a group of quartz crystals undoubtedly from Arkansas that is labelled as being from Grandfather Mountain. In my opinion, and I know the area very well, this is not possible. In fact, I am very certain that this specimen is not even from N. Carolina, it does not resemble other amethysts from the state.

I would further like to see the description of this piece changed from "quartz and amethyst." Amethyst is quartz, as we all know.

[Jordi Fabre]

[am mizunaka]

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[am mizunaka]

[am mizunaka]

This find was from a pocket that yielded five substantial specimens. Three large crystals (1225, 600 & 700 carats) ended up in the natural history museum in Raleigh.

[am mizunaka]

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[Rich Olsen]

In April 2011, Terry Ledford made a remarkable emerald find on the Wren Adams property near Hiddenite, NC. Five large emerald crystals were found with the largest weighing 1225 cts. I was fortunate to see and handle these on site shortly after they were found. The accompanying photo shows me holding the two best. My friend Eric Fritz and I discussed the significance of these treasures with Terry and Mr. Adams and they were quickly persuaded to give us a chance to find a purchaser who would donate them to a North Carolina museum.
After a long and frustrating process, this was accomplished and the three largest crystals now reside in the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.
Terry and Mr Adams kindly offered me one of the other two which appears in the next post

[Rich Olsen]

Here is the one from Terry's 2011 find now in my collection

[Tobi]

Really interesting specimens!

As a European collector who likes to collect U.S. minerals (but only knows the rather common localities), it is really thrilling to see what comes out of the several states. And North Carolina seems to have a lot of beautiful treasures (i only knew the wonderful emeralds before).

Please more :)

Tobi

[Rich Olsen]

The Foote Mine in the Kings Mountain District, Cleveland Co.,North Carolina is famous for an assortment of rare and fine microminerals. The next two posts of specimens in my collection show that larger specimens of great beauty also occur

[Rich Olsen]

Another Foote Mine specimen

[Rich Olsen]

The following posts show the color variations of gem spodumene v. hiddenite found in Stony Point-Hiddenite area of Alexander Co., NC. This dark one was found in the area of Hidden's initial strike.