Clay
County, North Carolina
Big Shaft Mine
The
Big Shaft Mine, sometimes called an old ruby mine by the locals, is located
in the Nantahala National Forest on Buck Creek Road in Clay County, N.C.
This mine was opened in the late 1800's and worked into the early 1900's
for abrasive corundum. Some gem material was found but most of the material
was abrasive and specimen grade only. In 1944 the Bureau of Mines came
to the Buck Creek area to do research and examine the possibility of reopening
some of the old mines. The original Big Shaft Mine was an open pit mine,
the Big Shaft tunnel was driven 250 feet into the mountain to intersect
the original mine.
Me
outside the entrance of the Big Shaft Mine.
Starting
into the mine.
Notice
the rotted and collapsed timbers.
Page
2
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