An Official Field Trip of the Franklin
Gem and Mineral Society, Inc.
and An Official Field Trip of the Georgia Mineral Society
Mason Mountain Mine
9:00 A.M. - Saturday, September 15, 2001
Cowee Valley
Franklin, Macon County, N.C.
This is a fee site!
Children welcome but under close supervision.
No Pets, please.
The mine is located on State Highway 28 N. About 7.2 miles north of Franklin,
N.C. There will be someone present at the Mason Mine and Cowee Gift Shop
to collect the fees. Transportation will be provided from the Mason
Mountain Mine and Cowee Gift Shop part way up Mason Mountain [c. 1/2 mile]
and the last 1/4 mile you must walk. This mine has been closed to the
public for years since a woman was killed in a cave-in. You must stay away
from the mine face. The cost is $20.00 for all you can carry down the mountain.
Transportation will be provided for the last 1/2 mile down the mountain.
What you can expect to find: This is primarily a Garnet mine and you
will find garnet in gravel and in matrix rock. There is a flume at the base
of the mountain to wash the gravel. Also to be found are mica, kyanite, and
quartz.
Tools: A pick, shovel, chisels, hammers [sledge and rock] and buckets.
Goggles will be required while using hammers and chisels. Buckets will be
needed and old newspaper to wrap specimens. Cotton or leather gloves
are recommended and rubber gloves if you will be washing gravel. The water
in the flumes is cold mountain water.
Bring: Lunch and bottled water if you are going up to the mining site.
Water and indoor toilets are available at the flume site. Also available
are cold drinks and snacks from machines. You are allowed to bring your own
refreshments. Digging site is in the open and you may want to consider bringing
sunscreen and a hat.
Meet at: Mason Mountain Mine & Cowee Gift Shop at 5315 Bryson City
Road [ N.C. Highway 28 North] C. 7.2 miles north of Franklin, N.C.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Field trips are open to all members of associated clubs of the DMC program
of the SFMS Field Trip Committee and to all members of SFMS member clubs who
have provided their membership with SFMS liability insurance. Because
of insurance requirements, members of the GENERAL PUBLIC are NOT invited on
this or any DMC program field trips!" |
