field trip hiddinite,nc emerald mine southeastern gsa charlotte,nc

Field Trip to North American Emerald Mine, Hiddenite, NCApril 9, 2008

Donald R. Privett, Ph.D.,

Professional Geologist

South Carolina and North Carolina

Introduction A G.S.A. field trip lead by Ed Speer I was one of 19 attendees Breakfast and talk by Ed Speer Off to the mine.

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

General View

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

Washing blasted wall face.

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

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

Quartz crystals removed from cavity

Smoky quartz crystals.

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

Close-up of druse (pocket opening).

Owner plans to break open the druse.

Percussion hammer used futher open pocket.

Still working - no emeralds today. Only one in 4 to 5

pockets contain any emeralds.

Cut emerald from this mine.

Another necklace and earrings.