More Henson Creek aquamarine.

I've attached several photos of a large specimen (9.3 x 7.8 x 5.8 inches) of Epidote, Albite, and Prehnite crystals from Mitchell Co.  The precise locality is: Snow Creek (Snow Hill), NC Hwy 226 construction, Ledger Community, Spruce Pine District, Mitchell Co., N.C.

Here is a short history of this find: in 1965-1966 during the construction of the NC 226 project, NCDOT cut through a large ridge (Snow Hill) near the Ledger Community between Spruce Pine and Bakersville. A large deposit of epidote was exposed. Large sprays of epidote crystals were found in association with actinolite var. byssolite, titanite (sphene), prehnite, stilbite, albite, and other mineral species. The project was suspended for two weeks so area mineral collectors, mineral societies and clubs, and universities could remove specimens.  Ref: Zeitner, J.C. 1968. Appalachian Mineral & Gem Trails. Lapidary Journal, Inc. San Diego, CA. 134 pp.

I was in high school in Spruce Pine at this time and I remember the many fine specimens that were collected there by the local mineral folks.  This is the largest piece I've ever seen, and I was fortunate to find it in a shop in Spruce Pine this past April and get it.

Photo 1: the whole specimen.
Photo 2: Epidote and Albite crystals.
Photo 3: Prehnite crystals.

Dennis

Yep, and there she is right there!
It was good talking with you today, Dennis. Not enough time to get to everything, so I wanted to ask you.......
You keep calling the Crabtree the "Big" Crabtree Mine? Where was the "Little" Crabtree?

Oh, I see. My fault, I just assumed if there was a Big one there would be a "Little" one.
Thanks for clearing that up. Very interesting as usual.
We may have had this conversation before, but being able to look at those topos with you is helping it sink in.
It was very good to get to see what you have been working on with your NC Beryl locations and great to catch up!
Thank you very much and I hope we can get up to the mountains with you some time soon.
Happy Thanksgiving.

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.adams.961?fref=photo

Historic Beryl

Color zoned epitaxial torbernite/autunite, Chalk Mountain Mine, Jason Smith collection and photo.

Here is another mineral specimen I thought had been lost over the years.  I found it a few days ago with the corundum crystals I posted on the Macon Co. page.

This is a Monazite-(Ce) crystal from the Deer Park Mine No. 2 near Spruce Pine.  The specimen was given to me by my 8th Grade teacher, Mrs. Charlie Mae Sproles.  Mrs. Sproles had a fantastic mineral collection and was responsible (as founder & director) for organizing the Spruce Pine Mineral & Gem Show held annually for 62 years now.  She died in 2009 in her 90s.  I always appreciated her for her support with my collection.

Below is the Monazite xl.  The top broke off many years ago, so I placed the top on the main crystal for the photograph.

Dennis