Transylvania
County, North Carolina This old mine in Transylvania County is located in the National Forest, I have not found the history of this mine or a name but a local longtime collector has advised me that this was once a beryl mine. The mine consists of two parallel horizontal tunnels or shafts that extend approximately 60 feet into the mountain, one slightly higher than the other. Inside we found numerous veins of mica and quartz which indicates the possibility that there is much more still to be found at this location. The old timer that told me about this mine said that at one time there was a beryl crystal almost 12 feet long hanging from the ceiling in the mine, although we did not find any evidence of the crystal.
Entrance to mine, lower first adit.
Blocky quartz veins about 5 feet thick.
A view looking from one tunnel into the other tunnel, there is a passage about halfway through the tunnels that connects them.
The back of tunnel one.
The back of tunnel two.
Looking outside from the inside of the upper shaft.
One of the veins of mica in the mine, can you see the face in the mica? |
