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There are very few emerald deposits in the United States. The most well known deposit is located near Hiddenite, N.C., and is currently being operated on a small scale. That mine has produced some spectacular specimens and gemstones. Little known outside the mineral collector world is the old Crabtree Mine in Mitchell County, N.C. The Crabtree Mine was worked for emerald (chromium beryl) in the 1950's and later, and is now largely depleted. This mine consisted of a pegmatite vein of quartz, feldspar, schorl tourmaline, biotite mica, and beryl. The emerald from this mine was rarely of a size and clarity suitable for faceting into gemstones, but when the emerald crystals were concentrated in the quartz, the matrix could often be fashioned into attactive cabochons. Shown above is a typical specimen from the Crabtree Mine. The quartz-feldspar core has a biotite layer on the top and long thin schorl crystals below. At this mine, the emerald crystals usually occur at the interface of the mica and quartz/feldspar. The red arrows point out two small green beryl crystals. Not shown are several other small emerald crystals on the back side. (#m478, $12.50 Sold)

Click here if you wold like to see an old, but fascinating, video on the Crabtree Mine.