Fieldtrip Report:

Ray Mica Mine,
Yancey County, N.C.,
March 26th, 2005

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Hello members, here is our report from the famous Ray Mica Mine in Yancey County, N.C., our club trip yesterday turned much better than I expected, around 25 members attended along with 6 members from the Peoria Illinois Geology Society (Gem and Mineral Section). We arrived at the mine around 10:00, several other members had arrived earlier and were already up at the mine. We took time to socialize with Bassey and gave him a few bucks to park in his yard and along the road, we had around 20 vehicles at the site which again shows the need for a larger parking area on the Forest Service access, something which we will be addressing at our next meeting with the Forest Service next month. We were greeted by the resident mine hound and Ol' Mutt's sidekick "Ringo"

Ringo

We headed up the mountain to find Steve, Robert, John D. and several other members digging away, Jerry and Tena joined Steve and found some nice material.

Steve, Tena and Jerry.

Steve had already found some beryl and kyanite that morning.

A few free form cabochons cut by Steve Penley from beryl found at the mine.

Members dispersed throughout the creek area and began hunting, I think everyone found some nice beryl and other things, a hole I started produced little beryl, but I found four nice columbite specimens.

George, Jane and Christopher.

Jim Ellis

Rich, Harold and Loretta working the creek.

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