Alright, the quiz has ended. I am getting ready to head out of town on a project tomorrow in Transylvania Co. so I wanted to let Joe know that he is the winner (since no one else tried to ID the kyanite specimens.
Great job, Joe, you got 3 of the 5 correct, missing only the first and last. I'll have to see what I have to give you as an appropriate prize. I have a whole back yard full of Azeztulite, but I think I will save it for an ultimate grand prize for a future quiz.
Here are the IDs:
1. Mas-Celo Mine, Yancey Co.
2. Meeper Mine (Walker Creek), maybe Balsam Gap Mine (Luther Thomas Mine), Buncombe Co.
3. Macon Co.
4. Stony Hill, Wake Co.
5. Cattail Mine (Isom Mica Mine), Yancey Co.
Here is an explanation for the slight confusion I have for specimen #2.:
I acquired this specimen from Terry Ledford in 1989 and he told me he collected it in Buncombe Co. near the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was not familiar with any of the Buncombe Co. kyanite sites at that time, but was familiar with the Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey county sites. When I started to research it years later I found out about the Meeper Mine (Walker Creek Kyanite site), which is just north of, and very close, to the parkway.
The mineral list I found for this site listed Schorl as an associate. This specimen has a 1.4 x 0.8 inch Schorl crystal (see photo below) on the backside, so I was convinced it came from the Meeper Mine.
Well, it was not too many years later that I started reading about the Balsam Gap Mine just south of, and very near to, the parkway on Glassmine Creek. This site is listed in Dana as having Emeralds (green beryl?); Schorl is, also, an associate. Luther Thomas started collecting at this site extensively many years ago, pulling out incredible and large kyanite specimens. Years later Terry Ledford, also, collected kyanite at this site; a fact that Rick Jacquot reminded me of a couple of months ago.
It is strictly forbidden to collect at this site today. It is part of the Asheville Watershed and highly protected. There are signs on the parkway that says No Parking, Standing, or Walking along this area of the road.
I plan to contact Terry at some future date and see if he recognizes the specimen in question. Here is a photo of the Schorl on the rear of the Kyanite specimen (Kyanite crystal is 3.1 x 1.7 x 0.5 inches):
I will come up with future quizzes if that is something the forum members would like to see. It would be great if we could get Laurie and others to come over to this forum and join in the fun.
Peace,
Dennis