Sharpes Emerald Prospect - Hiddenite, North Carolina (M.A.G.M.A. Club Dig)

BurntBear · Feb 7, 2015

This will be a collection of photos from our M.A.G.M.A. Club dig in Hiddenite, North Carolina. The mine site is called "Sharpes Emerald Prospect". We found about 300 lbs. of just Smoky Quartz, some Citrine and Smoky Citrine alone. We just started cleaning our specimens; so who knows what else may show up! More photos coming after the cleanup! -Luke

austin · Feb 7, 2015

Man, that looks like a tremendous amount of fun. Good luck with the search...

G Freeman · Feb 8, 2015

Thanks BB for the photos. Seems as if I was right there with you. More more more.

BurntBear · Feb 8, 2015

Just starting to scratch the surface on cleaning. There are hundreds of specimens. Here is one my girlfriend found, probably 6-7 lb. Smoky Quartz with intergrowth going on. :thumbsup:

hvacker · Feb 8, 2015

Big hole.
Want to borrow this?

BurntBear · Feb 8, 2015

I think that machine may actually crawl through that muck, lol. It got nasty in some spots. I was digging in the dry side of an exposed bank where a creek forms underground. The layer of saprolite was pretty amazing. Not a rock in sight; only crystals.

huntsman53 · Feb 8, 2015

BurntBear... Are any of the mines in Hiddenite still open to the public! I can't seem to find much info on them anymore as many of the Websites have expired and have not been renewed. I hope to get over there someday and look for Beryls and Hiddenite!

Frank

MrLee · Feb 8, 2015

Looked like fun. Cleaning is always fun too, because while you pick stuff up you need to clean the muck off to reveal if it was worth it. Treasure hunting x2.

G Freeman · Feb 8, 2015

BurntBear said:
Just starting to scratch the surface on cleaning. There are hundreds of specimens. Here is one my girlfriend found, probably 6-7 lb. Smoky Quartz with intergrowth going on.

View attachment 1116858 View attachment 1116859

That is great------Just great. Bet that made her smile.

BurntBear · Feb 8, 2015

huntsman53 said:
BurntBear... Are any of the mines in Hiddenite still open to the public! I can't seem to find much info on them anymore as many of the Websites have expired and have not been renewed. I hope to get over there someday and look for Beryls and Hiddenite!

Frank

Simply put; not really. lol. There is the Emerald Hollow Mine where you can buy buckets and dig in the creek and on the grounds; but it's salted and I don't think it's worth spending any real time in because they aren't opening the ground up. You can only get so far surface digging. There will be more digs at this site that I visited. They hold digs there a few times a year now. They just bought the property last year. It definitely has potential! You can get in here. Lot's of Smoky and other Quartz, Rutile, Beryl, Muscovite, etc.

yakker · Feb 8, 2015

Man that's awesome! You guys must have had a blast :thumbsup:

Can't wait to see all the loot

Yakker

BurntBear · Feb 8, 2015

Slowly getting specimens cleaned and here's a random specimen:

Muscovite on Healed Smoky Quartz

BurntBear · Feb 9, 2015

Schorl Tourmaline on Healed Quartz/Smoky Quartz

BurntBear · Feb 10, 2015

A few more Smoky specimens:

This is one of many facet-grade specimens from a pocket. I have several that I want cut. Most are medium to dark; some have yellow mixed in as well. Very cool golden tones mixed with the medium browns. I think some of these will yield some brilliant cuts.