From NCPedia.com

Amethyst Violet quartz gemstone colored by inclusions of hematite or other minerals, Found in Stokes, Burke, Lincoln, Iredell, Moore, Warren, and Franklin Counties. Southeast Macon County’s Tessentee Creek was originally operated by Tiffany and Company of New York around Reel Mine

Argillite Argillite (metamudstone) Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills. Many public school window sills in North Carolina are made from this stone. Mined in Montgomery and Davidson Counties

Beryl (Several Varieties) Aquamarine Aquamarine—Blue to Blue-Green Emerald Emerald—Green Heliodor Heliodor—Greenish- Yellow Golden Beryl Golden Beryl—Golden Yellow

Aquamarine A blue to blue-green variety of Beryl Aquamarine is mainly found along with granite deposits Found in Alexander, Avery, Cleveland, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Mitchell, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties.

Golden Beryl Very hard mineral found in granitic rocks and pegmatites. Discovered in Macon County in 1871 Mined in Mitchell County in the early 1900s By the end of the century, Macon County’s Littlefield Mine and Yancey County’s Ray Mine continued to produce modest amounts for amateur collectors.

Copper Very good conductor of electricity making it a great choice for use in electrical wiring. Limited deposits in Ashe, Jackson, Swain, Haywood, Guilford, Granville, and Person Counties, Exploited as early as 1585, when Roanoke Island explorers reported its use by Indians, First mined commercially in Granville County in (one of the first such mines in the nation). The industry continued until 1962.

Corundum Second only to the diamond in hardness 1846—Discovered in Madison County mining began in Macon County. Used as gemstone and an abrasive. By 1895 nearly all of the corundum produced and used in the United States came from the mountains of NC. Artificial abrasives after 1900 brought an end to the industry. The Ruby is the blood-red variety of Corundum.

Emerald Green variety of Beryl Became the “Official North Carolina State Gemstone” in 1973.

“Carolina Queen” Emerald The emerald discovered by James K. Hill in Hiddenite, North Carolina, in carats pear-shaped Said to be the largest, finest and most significant emerald ever found in North America. Acquired by Tiffany and Company of New York

Feldspar North Carolina is the nation’s leading producer of Feldspar. Important in the glass and ceramics industries First feldspar was mined as early as 1744 in present-day Macon County. Centered around mines in the Spruce Pine area.

Gold Precious metal found as grains and nuggets in the middle and western counties. North Carolina produced the nation’s gold supply from 1803 to Mining continued up to 1971, although little gold was found after 1900.

Hiddenite Grass-green gemstone First discovered in Only found in Alexander County, NC The community of Salem Church changed its name to Hiddenite in its honor.

Lithium Used in the making of aluminum, glass, ceramics, greases, and other products, Major production began in 1942 near King’s Mountain in Cleveland County. Gaston and Cleveland Counties contain 80 percent of the nation’s known reserves of Lithium. North Carolina produces over 50 percent (one half) of the world’s Lithium.

Found in in a narrow belt near Murphy, NC Metamorphic rock formed from the sedimentary rock Limestone. Used in buildings and sculptures. Marble

MICA Found in Blue Ridge Mountains and western piedmont Known for breaking into thin elastic sheets. Once used as a window glass North Carolina produces two-thirds of the nation’s scrap mica.

Phosphate Dark, nodular mineral found in the coastal counties. Castle Hayne north of Wilmington has produced phosphate rock commercially since about Used in the production of fertilizer. In 1958 a vast deposit was discovered near Aurora in Beaufort County. North Carolina is second- highest phosphate producer in the nation.

Aurora Phosphate Mine Aurora, NC in Beaufort County Largest integrated phosphate and chemical plant in the world. Produces over six million tons of phosphate ore annually (yearly)

Aurora Phosphate Mine

The phosphate rock is transported by waterway to the Morehead City port The mine is also connected to Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportion rail networks.

Sandstone Sedimentary rock formed mainly of quartz grains Mined in Anson, Lee, Montgomery, Stokes, Burke, and Wilkes Counties. The Wilmington Post Office, Moore County Courthouse, and early buildings on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh all contain sandstone.

Tungsten Hard, malleable metal Great tensile strength. Discovered in North Carolina as early as 1875 First found in gold mines A large deposit in Vance County Tungsten Queen Mine in Considerable reserves remain.

First discovered in 1869 Often contains is often radioactive trace elements Some crystals are heat- treated to gain bright, desirable colors. Used in the production of Cubic Zirconia, which is used in place of diamonds in jewelry.