Ray Mica Mine North Carolina Aquarium Gem Mining Facet Beryl
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 มิ.ย. 2021
- This is a intro video to Ray Mine with many more detailed trips to come. This spot is open to the public to gem mine. Ray mine is a great place for a novice to a expert gem miner. This video is intended to be helpful for a person on their first time trip to Ray Mine in Burnsville North Carolina. This mine will turn you on to geology. Growing up in this area I am very familiar with this mine. With so much mineralization being part of the Spruce Pine pegmatite system the " Mineral Kingdom " and so much to collect. I wanted to create a quick video giving an overview on how to collect and where to collect so that this place remains open for future generations. there is a ton of opportunity breaking the pegmatite if you know what you're looking for. I wanted this video to be out there to inform people that you do not need to dig and break rules to enjoy this place. There is so much potential on the surface. Make sure to abide by the rules so that we have it available to us in the future.
Don't Dig
The Ray Mica Mines are located on Hurricane Mountain, 4.0 km (2.5 miles) SSE of Burnsville N.C. in the Bolen's Creek area, on National Forest land.
Workings include 10 verticle shafts, which remain open. Tailings surrounded the shafts. this is one of the best locations in North Carolina to find facet grade aquamarine beryl. The pegmatite system at Ray Mine includes tourmaline muscovite mica columbite appetite quartz feldspar moonstone with the blue refraction to light.
*****Collecting at this site could be on it's toes right now with the Forest Service, and installing their new signs could be a way a restricting it in the future. *********
Let's not let this site turn into the once Walker Creek Kyanite site that is now subjected to strict, no collecting laws.
Don't Dig!!!!!
* Only Surface Collect *
Read the Rules on tailhead sign.
/ highcountryrocks - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
I appreciate your video. I have been to the mine, and now I know more what to look for when I go back. Great information well presented.
Thank you I truly love Ray Mine. It's a special place and I love to educate people so they appreciate it for generations to come.
Oh man... I haven't been to the Ray in far too long. Love that place. I have a few small beryls, plenty of mica, and even a few oddities (columbite, fluorite, garnets, hyalite even some green tourmaline which I suspect is greenish dravite or schorl that for whatever reason isn't colored well, can't imagine it is actually elbaite but who knows!). I plan on coming back down soon. I miss Western North Carolina rockhounding so much. (Im from 500 milles north of you). Maybe I can look you up when I come! LOL
WARNING: The only scary thing about the Ray Mine is the main vertical shaft and the nearby open pit shaft. The vertical pit sucker is big as a volkswagon bug around, and deep as a skyscraper. I haven't been there in at least 7-8 years so I dont know, hopefully they have finally installed a grate or fence, but last I was there, a single strand of rusty barbed wire was the ONLY THING that let you know you were about to fall to your death. So be careful. I'm glad the video creator said something. There's another nearby mine called the "Little Ray" which is actually an extension of this mine which ALSO has vertical death traps. Another mile up the mountain is the Mas Celo Kyanite mine as well. I've been there too and that place is straight up magical in the winter.
Finally, some idiot rockhounds were going into the old cuts and undercutting the quartz veins looking for gems a few years back. I heard this from a friend and fellow rockhound who is local. This pegmatite is fractured in spots and undercutting can result in MASSIVE sections of rock/earth unexpectedly shifting or falling. Never ever go into a cut with enough material above you to kill you. Dying in the woods alone from being crushed in a hole sounds like a pretty crappy way to go. Plus the mountain kitties (aka Mountain Lions) will gobble you up and spread your parts all over the mountain before anyone finds you.
You are 100% correct about Ray Mine. I've heard a few bear encounters that made for good stories there. You also you got to watch out for people who don't think about others below them who toss rocks down the mountain. They did try to cover and prevent anyone from getting too close to all the open shafts. That being said you definitely still could fall to your death if you're not respecting its boundaries. With this hobby safety needs to be at the forefront because like you said there would be nothing worse than dying in the woods/cliff because of a mistake you made. It sounds like you have found some of the best stuff that is to be found up there. I truly like that green tourmaline everyone argues about what it is I have heard elbite is the proper classification but who knows. I hope you make it back up there. I enjoyed your comment and thank you for your time.
@@HighCountryRocks I have trouble accepting the elbaite label because I cannot imagine what the chromophore would be to create green tourm in this geologic setting that wouldn't also create true emerald beryl as opposed to common green beryl (so there goes vanadium & lithium) and I really do not think it is copper. Unless the green tourm formed in a separate hydrothermal event after the schorl tourm formed, but then how does it get into the huge mica books? I still think it is weakly colored schorl or dravite but I'd really love to have a sample tested at a geology department lab and know for sure!
As for the other minerals I have found at the Ray, most of them are sub-par "specimen grade" samples and I really really REALLY want to find a nice glassy aqua or gemmy common green beryl that I can be proud of. I once saw a guy crack a soccer ball sized chunk of Ray Mine peg and inside was the most GORGEOUS gemmy green/blue beryl I have ever seen, the size of a popsickle. I just stood there drooling and then left for the day because I was so jealous and discouraged. I had hunted all day and only come away with a few small hexagons, and this guy just pulled the rockstar mother-lode from a single boulder. 😥😥
Wow! Those are some cool treasures.👍😃
Thank you!! I haven't been up there in awhile. Its time to go after all this rain in the south east.
Very informative, thank you!
Thank you for the comment. It helps get the video out to the right people.
Thanks for sharing everything! Save the old mine's for rockhounds. The amount of disturbance, damage going on at Ray Mine is off the scale... not every rock needs to be busted. People are just walking up and down the creek busting every rock they see destroying the place, finding nothing. Only rocks that for certain you can see Beryl on the outside somewhere or you are almost 100% certain it contains Beryl or high mineralization, need to be busted.There is digging going on. Holes all over the mountain. If it doesn't stop it will be messed up for everyone. I think these individuals responsible probably have more than enough. Save the old mines. There are few left that you are allowed to visit.
You have recognized what I have recognized ... It has killed my vibe going up there for people being so selfish. I can find beryl with my eyes closed up there.. Its everywhere if you know what you're doing and do a little research. I know there's a lot of people that don't appreciate people disrespecting a treasure for us RockHounds.
I will say though the few that are consistently disturbing and breaking the rules have been caught on camera now word around the local community.
They're going to ruin it for everyone. I was disgusted seeing the holes being dug. Does the Forest Service not make it clear enough???
Love your content and video's
Thank you for your comments.
Awesome video, I’ve been up there but haven’t hit the aquamarine yet, thanks for the information..👍✌️
It's a special place. Enjoy
Nice video! I love the location. I have been there three times now, all in the Fall and Winter. Nothing spectacular so far, but some nice pieces. If you want some company there sometime let me know. It's only a three hour drive for me.
I'm surprised we have never run into each other up there. The dog days of summer are tough up there. Prospector Al it would be great in the near future to get together I look forward to it.
@@HighCountryRocks Maybe we have crossed paths. I have only been to Ray Mine three times, but Buck Creek, Chunky Gal mountain well over 50 times. Drop me a message at atrotter3563@yahoo.com. Thanks.
I spent the day at Ray Mine. Pros: fantastic aquamarine. If you know what you're looking for, this place is a gem 😉
Cons: losing 7 hours worth of finding aquamarine to a mama black bear charging me.
Be armed. Don't make my mistake. I did somersaults down that mountain because of that bear and it hurts.
What day was this ? I was up there the last few days. That's not good someone must of left some trash up there. I know they frequent the top of the ridge. They hunt them on the other side of the Mountain.
@@HighCountryRocks 01/02. There was some trash in the upper area.
Thank u man
Great video 😎
I seen you found some good one up there.
@@HighCountryRocks I was up there last week after the rain it washed pretty good but the mine wasn’t giving anything up I had to leave early I didn’t get to stay as long as I wanted to 😎
I am disappointed in myself for not making it up there after that torrential flooding rain from that tropical depression. That was once in a 50-year opportunity..
Great video than you!
Thank you for the support!
Hi there ; how are you ? Still searching for rocks? Hope all is going good for you! We are waiting for spring and warm weather here in Wisconsin. It’s been a long cold winter.
I am still searching and enjoying life. I hope you are also. Spring has about arrived and I couldn't be happier. Thanks for reaching out.
Be careful out there High Country. Great job on this video. Do you carry bear spray out there?
I do carry. Yeah they actually hunt bear right over the hillside from this place. I've heard some pretty scary stories from people leaving trash out there. Fortunately I've had no negative experiences.
Boy it sure is some beautiful country. Wonder if there is anything in Va around the Luray area?
It heaven here. We just got to keep our eyes open. Interesting thought.
Is this public digging??
They say no hand tools or large tools but how about a small sledge hammer like a 2 pound or 3? Also is the mine free or do I have to register somewhere?
@@HighCountryRocks ok thanks I will try
@@HighCountryRocks I cant find this facebook page nor is the guy available. I have been also told you dont have to register its free because its national park. Is this right?
I'm sorry I thought you were asking about another place. Yes it is National Forest you do not need to pay or get permission at Ray mine just respect the rules.
There's no restrictions on size of tools as long as it is a hand tool. If you're able to haul it around the mountain and safely walk at the same time it's all good. Ray Mine Rd. Burnsville N.C.
What do you do with your gems?
I have created my own personal museum. I enjoy sharing them with people that are interested in the hobby or just getting into it. I do one show a year to help fund the prospecting and fun. One day I plan on donating it to a local North Carolina mineral museum.
@@HighCountryRocks I’m in Alabama and been finding tons of gems like quartz garnets and agates. No beryl yet. Just getting into it. Thanks for sharing
Find that tourmaline and mica and the beryl isn't far away.
There is mica everywhere when I’m looking for gold. Mica garnet schist. It looks like it snowed with all the mica
Follow that mica.