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Roger Weller, geology instructor                             

wellerr@cochise.edu
 

North Carolina
Johnny Petteway
Physical Geology
Fall 2005
                                                   Mining in North Carolina
 

http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/state/northcarolina.html

     North Carolina is well known for its mining.  Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are all found in North Carolina.  Minerals such as gold, emerald, granite, feldspar, mica, and pyrophyllite are found in North Carolina.  North Carolina leads the nation in the production of feldspar, mica and pyrophyllite.  Mining alone is a half-billion dollar industry in North Carolina.

Gold

    

 gold nuggets-http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/mineral/gold/gold3.htm
 

One of the first minerals found in North Carolina was gold, the chemical element (Au).  Gold was discovered in North Carolina in 1799 by a farmer named John Reed in Carrabus County.  North Carolina had a gold rush long before California.  Gold was found in Anson, Burke, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Rutherford, and many other counties in North Carolina.  Gold is a metallic element with a yellow color that can be used for: jewelry, dentistry, and electronics to name a few.  Dentists use gold for bridges and crowns; the use of gold in dentistry often preserves a tooth. 


gold crowns-http://www.doctorerickson.com/library%20crowns%20et%20al.html
 

gold jewelry-http://www.14kzone.com/

        Gold is also a good conductor of heat and electricity.  It is used to perform critical functions in computers, communication equipment, and aircraft engines.  Gold is used for plating silverware, gold trim on ceramic plates, and money/coins.  When gold is used for silverware, plates, and money, it's mixed with other elements such as copper.  Gold is mixed with these certain elements, because it’s too soft to be used alone, this method prevents the risk of breaking or damage.
 

gold trim on plates-http://www.libtiff.org/products/TA/885/14885.html

gold plate on dinning utensils-http://www.fingerhut.com
 

gold coin-http://www.goldinfo.net

Emeralds 

          The emerald is one of the most expensive and rare of all gemstones; it was also named the official state stone of North Carolina by the General Assembly in 1973.  The chemical elements of an emerald varies, the most common is Be₂Al₂SiO_6.  Emeralds are formed by rising magma and metamorphism. This gemstone is mined in North Carolina; the largest emerald crystal found in North America was from the state of North Carolina, at the Rist Mine in 1969.  The crystal weighed 1,438 carats.  The emerald is the birthstone for the month of May.  According to Wilkipedia, “In some cultures the emerald is the traditional gift for the 55th wedding anniversary.” Many ancients believed, “The emerald was a dedication to the Goddess Venus; they also believed that it was good for the eye.  The emerald brings forth faithfulness between lovers, and intelligence.”  
 

emerald crystals-photo by R.Weller

Granite  

Granite is another rock found in North Carolina.  The granite was named the official state rock in 1979.  Granite is used for monuments, and stones for buildings.  “The largest open-faced granite quarry in the world is located at Mount Airy, North Carolina.”  Granite is used for counter tops in modern homes, for a hard, polished, durable finish.  The most common and frequent use of granite is in street paving.

photo by R.Weller

Economic Minerals
          Other minerals such as feldspar, mica, and pyrophyllite (OH)₂Al₂(Si₄O₁₀) are mined in North Carolina.  Feldspar components are used in television pictures along with quartz.  It is also used in tiles, ceramics, and dinnerware, such as plates/china.  Mica is used in household items such as: toasters, glasses, and vacuum tubes.  North Carolina is the leading manufacturer of mica.  Pyrophyllite is another mineral that North Carolina produces, and leads the nation in the production of.  Pyrophyllite is commonly use in white, fabric marking pencils.  Sometimes it is used to replace talc.  This is a very soft mineral.


feldspar-photo by R.Weller


mica-photo by R.Weller


pyrophyllite-photo by R.Weller

Mines in North Carolina
 

North Carolina is well known for its mining.  There are over 300 minerals that can be found in the mines of North Carolina.  Mining is a great part of this historical state.  There are many places to mine in North Carolina. Below are places a person can mine if you are ever in the Tarheel State.

      The Famous Bon Ami Mine

                                                                    The Big Deal Mine

http://www.emeraldvillage.com/mines.htm

WORK CITIED

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/aawellerweb.htm
http://gw.ehnr.state.nc.us/faq.htm