Thanks for the post guys. You have entered a realm we can call
"Raleigh Historical RockLore".
These are great examples of a couple of "rocklore" questions
asked again and again about the rocks of Raleighwood.
I may not have a definite "answer" for you but by jingo neddy I got an opinion.
First let's talk about the graphite.
I've never seen a conglomeration like the mass of metal(?)
and garnet(?) you've posted above. Very Interesting!
I don't see how all those "garnets" could end up in a piece of slag
or other by-product of the graphite mining industry and have to agree
it looks natural to me. But what is it?
Further tests on the dark metallic looking area are needed.
Given the history of the area where the piece was found,
and all the past graphite mining, the geologist may be right.
The confusion inherent in graphite mines producing pencil "leads" has always been the case,
since the days of mining right up to present.
ie; there was a graphite mine off Lead Mine Rd.
and there were other graphite mines in the area, along House Creek
between Glen Eden and Lake Boone for instance.
The problem really gets acute when the oldtimers swear that
during the Civil War there were lead mines there where
the troops would make ammo. Some swear they used to be
able to walk the creek and find all kinds of musket balls and what not.
These "camps" were supposedly too temporary to be well documented.
One problem with that whole idea is that graphite is not an ore of lead.
Here is a link to another forum I found where they are briefly
talking about the graphite "belt" in this area.
It's good info until you get down to the part where they start talking about
the old Lake Boone being a millpond. The lake started as a
building stone quarry and many of the old houses in the area
are built from it.
Some of the quarry workers "signed", with chisels, the walls
when the quarry closed.
It has since been filled in and homes have been built in the old lakebed.
http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php/topic/19040-the-history-of-the-triangle/page-2
NOW, The question of beryl, and specifically emerald, in Wake County
is about to drive me Crazy!!!
Yes, there is one recorded site. Thompson Mill Rd off Hwy 98, Wake Forest.
I have been there. There is nothing to see but a lot of private property.
The old mica mine has been filled in.
There are also claims of Morganite found in that area.
There are several "unrecorded" claims in Wake County.
I have been looking for a Wake County Beryl for 20 years and don't have one.
I have seen one almost yellow green beryl called an emerald that
was reportedly found around Umstead Park,
and, ofcourse, all the claims of emeralds found in Crabtree Creek and quarry.
Just as graphite mines are confused with lead mines because of pencils,
I have to wonder how much confusion there is in the Raleigh rocklore
between the Crabtree Emerald Mine in the mountains and
the quarry here on Crabtree Creek?
I've spent enough time on this subject in the past and here and now.
I've heard it is possible to find emeralds in Wake County, yes,
but my guess is going to be that the piece you found in Bent Creek
is from the Crabtree Emerald Mine in the mountains and
somehow, by some one, at some time, found it's way to where you found it.
I know. Call me an old scrooge and skeptic. But there you have it.
Beryl in Wake County, it's killing me.............
Thanks again for a great post. I hope we get some answers
about the first piece.
Joe
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