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"Gem miner Terry Ledford said the deep-green crystal he dug up in Hiddenite last August was so big it "looked like an empty 7-Up bottle." About 2 inches square, it weighed 310 carats before being cut. Its hue made it even more desirable.
"I was saying a prayer, literally, just thanking him," Ledford said. "I held it up to the sun, and it was so dark you almost couldn't see any light through it."
My heart’s fluttering.
“The Carolina Emperor, said he expects selling the emerald to be “completely life-changing.”
Once the government tax-thugs get a hold of him it will really be life-changing.
Hiddenite is named so because it is the only known location of hiddenite. I have been there to the mines and bought some hiddenite for my collection.
My dad used to take us to the Cowee Valley to “mine” for rubies, sapphires and garnets back in the 60’s. It was near Franklin. $1 for a bucket of mud and a place at the sluice. Still have my treasures in a box around here somewhere.
I’ve read recently that a gemstone called, “tanzanite” (violet to purple in color) is more rare than diamonds and can only be found in one place on Earth. Geologists say that the mining of it will run out in 1-2 years. Is this true?
Cue: "Now listen to a story 'bout a man named Led..."
: )
Love these stories!
I’m wondering:
Did he find it on his own property or that of someone else?
Did he own the mineral rights? If not, can he legally claim ownership ?
/mark
IIRC, that part of NC has igneous rocks, and also has uranium and thorium. Our state doesn’t have much coal, oil, or natural gas, but thorium could meet our energy needs for decades to come. Of course, the government won’t let anybody build any thorium reactors.
http://news.discovery.com/earth/north-carolina-emerald.html