Rock, Gem, and Mineral Collecting Sites
in Western North Carolina

By Richard James Jacquot, Jr.

Host of the "Mineral Minute" on "Nature News" radio
(WISE 1310 AM, and WTZQ 1600 AM)
Professional Miner, Photographer, and
lifelong gem and mineral collector

Rick has had numerous articles published on mining and mineral collecting in Rock & Gem magazine, and many local mineral club publications. He has also appeared on North Carolina television discussing mines and minerals in Western North Carolina.

His most recent review was published in Our State magazine, which features the best resources for North Carolina. The article's author had this to say:

A Jewel of a Book
Perhaps the most valuable resource in rockhounding is found in Richard James Jacquot Jr.'s book, Rock, Gem and Mineral Collecting Sites in Western North Carolina. An experienced, well-traveled rock hound from Leicester, Jacquot thoroughly covers 55 of the best collecting sites in the region and gives detailed information about what to look for and what restrictions or fees apply, with excellent maps and directions. The book is an indispensible reference sure to help any rock hound uncover hidden treasure.

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Packed with over 100 specimen and site photos to help identify minerals in the field. With a lifetime of field experience (15 years in Western North Carolina), I have included all of the "honey holes" that produce the best material and have been kept secret by local rockhounds here in the Western North Carolina Mountains for years. With so many sites being closed to collecting, I have listed the best quality sites that are still accessible to serious rockhounds. This book covers twice the sites and contains twice the information of any other guidebook available, and it will lead you to find valuable gems and minerals and educate you on how to identify them, whether you are new to rockhounding or an experienced collector, this book is for you and your whole family.

I have listed as much about ownership information as possible for private property, even to giving owners phone numbers when permitted. I also spent years researching the sites and creating precise site maps.

If you have any questions about my book, gems & minerals, or collecting sites, feel free to contact me at any time, either through email: rick@wncrocks.com or phone at 828.683.1048.

Featured on News 13 WLOS-TV as "the most complete rockhound guidebook for the Western North Carolina area," written by a professional,experienced miner/prospector, this book is not full of repeated, outdated information from old geological surveys and reports, many of which are no longer accurate and have been available to the public for decades. Published in 2003 by Land of Sky Books, the largest and highest quality locally owned book publisher in Western North Carolina, with directions and maps to 55 collecting locations covering 21 counties in the Western North Carolina area. The maps and directions are user-friendly, you won't need a masters degree to read the maps or find the locations. With GPS coordinates to sites including: the Walker Creek Kyanite site that produces some of the best facet-grade gem-blue kyanite crystals in North America (some are over a foot long and over an inch thick); several locations at Lake Chatuge that have been kept secret for decades; locations to find giant garnet crystals as big as grapefruits; visit Chalk Mountain to collect specimens and view the most fluorescent hyalite opal in the world and much more.

Also listed are points of interest such as museums, rock shops, etc. wtih each site description. This guide covers safety in the field, old mines, children's safety, which sites require permission to collect, a history of North Carolina mining and a brief history of each collecting location with the site description; a list of all tools and equipment you will need to make your rockhunting adventures a success as well as individual tool and equipment lists by site. This book is an excellent tool to educate people about the rocks, gems and minerals to be found in our great state.

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
SAFETY
TOOL AND EQUIPMENT LIST
RULES FOR ROCKHOUNDING ON NATIONAL FOREST LAND IN NORTH CAROLINA
LIST OF MINERALS FOUND IN THIS BOOK
SITE MAP AND MAP LEGEND

(link to photos of locations & specimens)

SITE 1: LITTLE PINE GARNET MINE
SITE 2: NEWBRIDGE RHODOLITE GARNET
SITE 3: GOLDSMITH MINE
SITE 4: WALKER CREEK KYANITE
SITE 5-A: RAY MICA MINE
SITE 5-B: LITTLE RAY MINE
SITE 6: SINKHOLE MINE
SITE 7-A: ABERNATHY MINE
SITE 7-B: MITCHELL COUNTY MARBLE
SITE 8: CRABTREE EMERALD MINE
SITE 9: CHALK MOUNTAIN
SITE 10: PINEY FLATS MINE
SITE 11: HENSON CREEK AQUAMARINE
SITE 12: WOODS CREEK SAPPHIRE MINE
SITE 13: OLD PRESSLEY SAPPHIRE MINE
SITE 14: REDMOND MINE
FRANKLIN AREA MINES
SITE 15: MASON'S RUBY AND SAPPHIRE MINE
SITE 16: CHEROKEE RUBY MINE
SITE 17: MASON MOUNTAIN MINE
SITE 18: CORUNDUM HILL MINE
SITE 19: BUCK CREEK GARNET
SITE 20: BUCK CREEK RUBY MINE
SITE 21: HERBERT CORUNDUM MINE
SITE 22: CHUNKY GAL MINE
SITE 23: CAT EYE CUT
SITE 24: ROCKING CHAIR RUTILE
INTRODUCTION TO LAKE CHATUGE
SITE 25: PENLAND POINT CORUNDUM
SITE 26: ELF SCHOOL CORUNDUM(BEHR MINE)
SITE 27: JACKRABBIT RUBY
SITE 28: JACKRABBIT LIMONITE
SITE 29: JACKRABBIT RUTILATED QUARTZ
SITE 30: LOWER BELL CHALCEDONY
SITE 31: LOWER BELL CORUNDUM
SITE 32: EPWORTH GARNET
SITE 33: HACKNEY FARM STAUROLITE
SITE 34: COLES CROSSING STAUROLITE
SITE 35: COPPER BASIN
SITE 36: ALLMON CREEK STAUROLITE
SITE 37: VENGENCE CREEK STAUROLITE
SITE 38: NANTAHALA TALC AND LIMESTONE
SITE 39: GRIMSHAWE MINE
SITE 40: SHEEPCLIFF AQUAMARINE MINE
SITE 41: BLACK MTN KYANITE AND SAPPHIRE
SITE 42: RIDGECREST KYANITE
SITE 43: WOODLAWN QUARRY
SITE 44: EMERALD HOLLOW MINE
SITE 45: POOVEY GARNET MINE
SITE 46: RAT TAIL CORUNDUM
SITE 47: LINCOLN COUNTY SMOKY QUARTZ
SITE 48: PROPST CORUNDUM MINE
SITE 49: YATES BROOKS FARM
SITE 50: PORTER LIMONITE
SITE 51: CARTER CORUNDUM MINE
SITE 52: ERWIN CALCITE
SITE 53: BALSAM MICA MINE

FACTS ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA ROCKS,GEMS,AND MINERALS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Field Notes

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This guide will direct you to collect rubies, sapphires, beryl, aquamarine, emerald, gem kyanite, giant garnets, azurite, malachite, apatite crystals, spinel, calcite, amazonite, marble, moonstone, quartz crystals, rutile, staurolite crosses, chlorite schist, rare aluminum rich schorl (green tourmaline), columbite, fluorite, thulite, torbernite, tourmaline, actinolite, cerussite, pyromorphite, nickeline, olivine, phenakite, pyrite, serpentine, vermiculite, zoisite, zircon, microminerals, flourescent minerals, numerous rare North Carolina minerals and much, much more.

The superior rockhound guide for this area! All specimens are from the author's private collection unless otherwise noted. Photos are taken by the author, who has seven years of professional photography experience and training. 196 pages, softcover or hardcover.

Note: my book was published in 2003, since that time a few of the sites have been posted off limits to collecting, always ask permission before entering private property to collect, collecting status changes and property is bought and sold, respect the wishes of the current property owner, if a site is posted "No Trespassing", do not enter that site.

17.99 for softcover OR 24.99 for hardcover to

(Note: currently out of hardback copies)

RICHARD JACQUOT
P.O. BOX 542
LEICESTER, N.C.
28748

OR PAYPAL AT: rick-at-wncrocks.com

BOOK SHIPS NEXT BUSINESS DAY AFTER PAYMENT IS RECEIVED!

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