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NORTH
CAROLINA EMERALDS
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NAEM Mine History |
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 71 ct Emerald Crystal found in 1998 by Jamie Hill. This is the crystal that produced the two most valuable cut Emeralds in North America--the Carolina Prince and the Carolina Queen! |
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1969 Finger Emerald 1,438 cts found. Largest North American emerald found to date. Named the Stephenson Emerald in honor of John A. D. Stephenson, a late 19th century collector instrumental in discovery of first North Carolina emerald and the first world discovery of hiddenite 1969
Tiffany Emerald found 13.14 cts cut gem 1970 1,215 ct Emerald twin found c1970 two +300 ct Emerald twins found 1971 817.5 ct Emerald twin found 1971 107 ct & 180 ct Emeralds found 1973 2,700 cts of Emeralds found in single vein pocket 1974
3,507 cts of Emeralds found in single vein pocket c1974 260 Emeralds (+1,000 cts) found in single ven pocket 1977 126.6 ct Emerald found 1982-1995 Operated by LKA International, Inc 1982 16.3 ct cut Emerald found; now worth $28,000 1985
1,686.3 ct LKA Emerald found 1995-current Operated by North American Emerald Mines, Inc 1998
Aladdin's Cave found by Jamie Hill, owner of NAEM 2002 The Twins found, 35 ct & 100 ct Emerald crystals with deep color 2003
1,869 ct Emerald crystal found 2005
387 ct Emerald crystal found |
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Here
They Are!
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The NAEM Emerald Mine
is still in Active Production!
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 33.5 cts & 18 cts found 24May06! |
Check
Out |
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NAEM
Inc photo |
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 W.E. Speer photo c40 cts found 23Aug06! Emerald w/ Muscovite |
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 June Culp Zeitner 15.46 cts Cut from 142.25 ct crystal found in 1974 (aka Kite Emerald) centerpiece necklace The dark green uncut crystal is the 71 ct Emerald which produced the Carolina Prince and the Carolina Queen (see above) |
 W.E. Speer photo 387 cts (2.00" x 1.18") found in 2005 |
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 Lapidary Journal photo 722.70 cts (4.7") found in 1974 |
 Lapidary Journal photo Part of a 3,507-carat find from a single vein pocket in 1974! |
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30,000 cts Emerald
worth over $9,000,000 documented from this mine alone! |
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 Lapidary Journal photo June Culp Zeitner (largest gem) 15.46 cts Cut from 142.25 ct crystal, same gem in necklace pictured above |
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 Rockhound magazine photo 1972 Michael (Butch) Finger and his 1,438 ct Emerald found in 1969; at the time, the largest emerald ever found in North America |
 American Gems Inc. postcard Finger Emerald 1,438 cts aka Stephenson Emerald |
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 Empress Caroline 858 cts found in 1998 |
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 LKA International, Inc photo Left: 1,438 ct Finger Emerald (aka Stephenson Emerald) found 1969 at Rist mine, largest North American emerald to that date Right: 1,686 ct LKA Emerald found 1985, largest North American emerald to that date |
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NAEM Inc. photo |
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 Rockhound Magazine photo Warren Baltzley's 6 1/8" x 1/2" 250 ct Emerald Crystal found in 1969 |
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 The Mineralogical Record photo 3.3" Emerald crystal Wooten-Rutledge mine 1997 |
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 Rockhound Magazine photo 1972 Warren Baltzley holds the 1,438 ct Finger Emerald and the 59 ct Carolina Emerald from which the 13.14 ct Tiffney Emerald was cut |
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 LKA International, Inc photo 13.14 carat Tiffnay Emerald (aka Carolina Emerald), cut from 59 ct crystal found by Wayne Anthony in 1969. Considered one of the finest cut emeralds in existance. Valued at $100,000 in 1970 ($456,000 in 2005 dollars) |
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W.E. Speer photo 100 cts found 2004 |
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 W.E. Speer photo James K. Hill, Jr., founder of North American Emerald Mines Inc., holds 387 ct Emerald crystal found in 2005 |
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 American Gems Inc. postcard Some of the Beryl Crystals found by American Gems 1969-1982 |
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 Complex Emerald twin penetrating goethite pseudomorph after siderite |
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 Rockhound Magazine photo 1972 300 ct & 350 ct Emerald twins found in 1970 |
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 North American Emerald Mines Pit W.E. Speer photos |
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Emerald Bearing Quartz Veins in NAEM Pit W.E. Speer photos |
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Please note that all of the emerald
mine properties in North Carolina are privately owned and potential visitors
should arrange permission before arriving on the property. Only two mines
are open to the public for mineral collecting:
1) The Crabtree Emerald Mine near Little Switzerland, NC http://www.wncrocks.com/resources/Collecting%20site%20crabtreemine1.htm 2) The Emerald Hollow Mine at Hiddenite, NC http://www.hiddenitegems.com/ |
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| This web
site is constantly under construction If you have any corrections or additions, please contact Ed Speer at ed@SpeerMinerals.com |
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