Field trip Hiddinite,NC Emerald Mine southeastern GSA Charlotte,nc

1. Field Trip to North
American Emerald
Mine, Hiddenite, NC
April 9, 2008
Donald R. Privett, Ph.D.,
Professional Geologist
South Carolina and North Carolina

2. Introduction
nA G.S.A. field trip lead by Ed Speer
nI was one of 19 attendees
nBreakfast and talk by Ed Speer
nOff to the mine.

3. nPurpose to examine a newly discovered pocket
(opening in the host rock) for crystalline minerals
maybe an emerald.

4. General View

5. The mainstay operation is a crushed
stone quarry. Host rock is folded felsic
and mafic gneiss, emeralds are in the
dark or mafic rock.

6. Washing blasted wall face.

7. A blasted rock face is washed in
search of pockets, our group looking
at the only pocket found along 200
feet of rock face.

8. The druse lined with crystalline
quartz, calcite and siderite (iron
carbonate).

9. Quartz crystals removed from cavity

10. Smoky quartz crystals.

11. Side of exposed pocket. Shiny plates are
muscovite mica crystals.

12. Close-up of druse (pocket opening).

13. Owner plans to break open the druse.

14. Percussion hammer used futher
open pocket.

15. Still working - no emeralds
today. Only one in 4 to 5
pockets contain any emeralds.

16. Cut emerald from this mine.

17. Another necklace and earrings.