Went to Mason Farm on Sunday.
Fantastic time,ten to thirty x's every screenful!
Pat the owner/caretaker is a very gracious host,very friendly and helpful.
This is a must go to event with plenty of variety,beautiful scenery and a scenic drive through Nantahala Gorge.
                                           Scott(sandrose)

My two sons, my brother and I went there about 3 weeks ago to check it out for our club. (Gaston Gem, Mineral and Faceters Club).  We were there about an hour and a half, gathered about a ½ gallon of "fairy stones" each using only ½ inch bucket screens and gardening tools.  Lots of "X"'s and a couple of nice 90° crosses.  I have cleaned the matrix off of several pieces. 

There you go, Gramps! Very nice find!
Thanks for the pic.
It's good to know that they need a little work to get down
to the surface of the staurolite.

Joe

I borrowed my son's microscope camera.  I'm going to try to look at that "garnet" up close before the weekend.

Anything's possible, Gramps, but you got to know what you're doing!

Just messing with you there, Gramps.
Thanks for the pic. Glad to see you playing with that
scope camera. I've had a time with mine, (as you have
probably seen). Some things they will picture great and
other things you can give up on, but it's always fun to take
a closer look.

As far as polishing that garnet goes, I'm not sure what
would be the best way. It would be very hard to do on a
standard cabbing machine. You could get the top of it fine
but you wouldn't be able to do the sides and edges where
it meets the staurolite.
You could use a dremel, but would have to have several
different grit bits with water, so the set-up wouldn't be simple.
I'm kind of thinking tumbling might be the best way to go.
But to do that right you would have to have a little
experience at it. But that would probably be the easiest route.

Really great piece the way the garnet is positioned so nicely
on the cross staurolite crystal.

Joe