Hiddenite Gem Mines facts for kids
Hiddenite, North Carolina, is a special place in the United States where people dig for beautiful gemstones. It's known as a major center for gem mining! There are three main mines here: the Adams Mine, the North American Emerald Mine (NAEM), and the Emerald Hollow Mine. Together, these are called the Hiddenite Gem Mines.
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How Hiddenite Was Discovered
The special hiddenite gemstone was first found in 1879 by a person named W. E. Hidden. He sent some samples to Dr. J. Lawrence Smith. Dr. Smith figured out that the stone was a type of mineral called spodumene. Because W. E. Hidden found it, this unique variety was named Hiddenite. Even before that, in 1874, people had found emeralds in the area while plowing their fields.
Emerald Hollow Mine: Dig for Gems!
One of the biggest mines in the area is the Emerald Hollow Mine. This is a public mine, meaning anyone can visit and search for gems! It's located in Alexander County, North Carolina.
What You Can Find There
At the Emerald Hollow Mine, you can discover more than 63 different kinds of gems and minerals. Some of these include emeralds, amethyst, sapphire, aquamarine, topaz, and garnet. You can also find the rare hiddenite stone, which is only found in this part of the world!
How to Find Gems
There are three main ways to search for gems at the mine:
- Sluicing: This is like panning for gold, but with dirt and water. You take some dirt from the mine and put it into a special sifter. Then, you wash it with running water in a long trough called a sluiceway. As the dirt washes away, the heavier gems and minerals are left behind in your sifter.
- Digging: In certain areas, you can dig into the ground to look for veins. These are cracks or layers in the rock that might contain gemstones.
- Creeking: You can also get into the mountain creek water. Many valuable stones can be found right in the stream bed!
After you find your treasures, the mine has a special shop called a lapidary shop. Here, you can have your gemstones cleaned, polished, and even made into jewelry!
North American Emerald Mine (NAEM)
Another important mine in Hiddenite is the North American Emerald Mine, or NAEM. This mine is privately owned and operated by James K. Hill. It used to be known as the Rist Mine.
Big Emerald Finds
The NAEM has been the site of some amazing emerald discoveries:
- In 1969, a huge emerald weighing 1,438 carats was found. This was the largest emerald ever found in North America at that time! It was named the Stephenson Emerald. This honored John A. D. Stephenson, an early collector who helped discover the first North Carolina emeralds and the first hiddenite in the world.
- In 2003, an even bigger emerald was uncovered by Jamie Hill at the NAEM. It weighed 1,869 carats and was worth over a million dollars!
- In 2006, the NAEM found another giant emerald, said to be 10 inches long!
To dig out these deep-hidden gems, the NAEM uses large, modern, and professional mining equipment.
Adams Mine
The Adams Mine is also located in the hills of Hiddenite. This mine has had several names over the years, including the Warren Mine, the Emerald & Hiddenite Mine, and the Turner Mine.
Other Important Discoveries
The Adams Mine area has also seen some significant finds:
- In 1882, a large emerald crystal weighing 1,276 carats was discovered. At that time, it was the biggest emerald crystal ever found in North America. Sadly, it was stolen from the American Museum of Natural History in New York in 1950 and has never been found.
- In 1971, about 9,400 carats of emeralds were found in the area. Some of these beautiful stones are now on display at the Smithsonian Museum.
- A more recent big discovery happened in 1980. Over 1,500 hiddenite crystals were found together in a large underground pocket!
