Map of Feldspar Resources - North Carolina
The initial production of feldspar was from pegmatite bodies. Pegmatites are bodies of rock commonly of granitic composition that consist mainly of unusually large crystals or masses of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Pegmatites crystallize during the last stages of emplacement of granitic igneous rocks. The magmatic fluids are rich in water and cool so slowly that the crystals grow larger than usual. The grain size can range from less than an inch to more than a foot and are rarely greater than 3 feet. Pegmatites range in size from small lenses, 1 to a few feet in thickness, to large tabular bodies tens of feet thick and hundreds of feet long. Past production came from the larger pegmatites. Mining was labor intensive. Ore was hand cobbed (hand-size pieces are broken by hammer) and sorted by hand. In 1946, the US Bureau of Mines developed a new mineral dressing technique to process mica and feldspar ore by froth flotation. In addition to the USBM work, North Carolina State Universityís Mineral Research Laboratory at Asheville has continued refine the technique on the ores of the district. This breakthrough turned attention away from the pegmatites and focused exploration and mining on the much larger more uniform alaskite bodies.
The Spruce Pine alaskite is a light colored, medium- to coarse-grained feldspar-quartz-muscovite rock
that was emplaced as masses up to several miles in diameter. The average mineral composition of the
alaskites is oligoclase feldspar (40%), quartz (25%), microcline feldspar (20%), and muscovite mica
(15%). Alaskite also contains minor accessory minerals such as biotite, garnet, epidote, apatite and
pyrite. In the Spruce Pine district, pegmatites are closely associated with the alaskite bodies and
are thought to have crystallized from fluids derived from the alaskite masses in the final stages of
crystallization of these igneous plutons.
Map of Feldspar Occurrences - Spruce Pine District
Feldspar is an important ingredient in the manufacture of glass and ceramics. The bulk of the raw material for glass consists of silica sand, soda ash (sodium carbonate) and limestone (calcium carbonate). Feldspar adds certain qualities to the process. Alumina contained in feldspar can provide hardness, strength, or make glass more resistant to chemicals. NaO2 and K2O are fluxes. Fluxes reduce the melting temperature so less energy is used. Sodium and potassium from feldspar decrease the amount of soda ash required to make glass.
Feldspar is mainly used in ceramics, especially in sinks and commodes. Feldspar serves as a flux to form a glassy phase at low temperatures, and as a source of alkalies and alumina in glazes. It is also used in paint and in mild abrasives.
Feldspar minerals can be subdivided into two groups - plagioclase feldspars, and potassium feldspars. Plagioclase feldspars are sodium / calcium aluminum silicates. The suite of plagioclase feldspars are:
Potassium feldspars (potassium aluminum silicate). The most common K (potassium) feldspars are:
In the Spruce Pine District of Mitchell, Avery and Yancey counties there are over 700 mines recorded that produced feldspar and/or mica. There are probably 2 to 3 times as many prospects or borrow pits in the area. Listed below, in the occurrence section in the mineral descriptions, are a few collecting sites in Mitchell County and one in Yancey County that are relatively safe and easy to get to in these counties.
| Albite (moonstone) | |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition |
(Na,Ca)AlSi3O8, Sodium, calcium (0 to 10%) aluminum silicate. |
| Class | Silicate |
| Crystallography | Triclinic; pinacoidal |
| Habit | Crystals commonly tabular. Usually massive, granular, lamellar. Twinning very common. |
| Physical properties |
Cleavage {001} perfect, {010} nearly perfect, {110} imperfect. Fracture uneven to conchoidal. Brittle. H. 6-6.5. S.G. 2.6-2.63. Luster vitreous, sometimes pearly. Color white to colorless; occasionally bluish, gray, reddish, greenish depending on impurities. May have play of opalescent colors (moonstone). Streak white. Transparent to sub-transparent. |
Map of Feldspar Mineral Localities
Mineral localities and descriptions of localities are from Wilson and McKenzie (1978) and Conley (1958). These locations have not been field checked for accuracy, minerals present or for accessibility. The site code (e.g. AVERY-002) refers to the site reference in the Mineral Locality Index.
| Avery County | The May-Meade quarry (closed) along with epidote, chlorite, tremolite, calcite, thulite, azurite, malachite, and green quartz crystals (AVERY-003). |
|---|---|
| Caswell County | Albite has been found in the pegmatite deposits south of Milton near Yarbro (CASWE-001). |
| Cleveland County | High-quality moonstone has been found in the alluvium of several creeks in the west central portion of the county (CLEVE-001, CLEVE-002, CLEVE-003). Albite occurs at the Foote Mineral Company spodumene mine (closed) near Kings Mountain (CLEVE-013). |
| Davie County | Fine grained albite is associated with hornblende in an orbicular diorite rock in the south central portion of the county (DAVIE-003). The rock was once used as an ornamental stone. |
| Mitchell County | The Spruce Mine Mining District is one of the chief mica- and feldspar-producing
areas in the United States. Feldspar, plagioclase, quartz and mica (muscovite) occurs at the McKinney mine (fee charged) (MITCH-015). Other accessory minerals that occur are samarskite, garnet, autunite, torbernite, columbite, hyalite, amazonite, bornite, covellite, chalcopyrite, allanite, epidote, malachite, sphalerite and massive beryl. To get to the mine take Highway 19-E west from Estatoe, at 1.3 miles turn left (south) on SR 1002, at approximately 4.8 miles turn on to SR 1100. The mine is on both sides of the road (now Emerald Village and the North Carolina Mining Museum). Feldspar, plagioclase, perthite, quartz and muscovite mica can be found at the Hootowl mine (abandoned) (MITCH-017). This mine can be reached by taking Highway 19-E west from Estatoe, at 0.37 mile turn left (south) on SR 1157, at 0.4 mile take the right fork, at approximately 0.9 mile the state road ends and a private road begins. The mine is on the left (east) side of the road. The Hootowl is shown and labeled on the Micaville 7.5 minute topographic map. Feldspar, plagioclase, quartz and muscovite mica along with accessory minerals biotite, garnet and tourmaline (rare) are reported from the Sinkhole mine (abandoned) (MITCH-016). This mine can be reached by going 1.6 miles northwest from the intersection of SR 1191 and NC Highway 226 on SR 1191, turn left on Highway 80, at 2.3 miles the mine is to the left just before SR 1182. This mine is shown on the Micaville 7.5 minute topographic map. Another collecting locale is at the Deer Park mine (abandoned) (MITCH-008) northwest of Spruce Pine. Feldspar, perthite, plagioclase, quartz and mica can be found with accessory minerals thulite, hyalite and monazite. At the intersection of NC Highway 226 and SR 1162, north of Spruce Pine, turn left (southwest) on to SR 1162 (Penland Road). Travel approximately 1.6 miles to Penland and cross bridge over the North Toe River. Turn immediately left (east) on to SR 1270 for a very short distance. After state maintained road ends continue on unmaintained 4-wheel drive road that parallels the river to the mine area in bend of the North Toe River approximately 0.7 of a mile. This mine is shown on the Spruce Pine 7.5 topographic map. Rare doubly terminated albite crystals in a pegmatite dike on private property 1.5 miles northeast of Bakersville (MITCH-004). |
| Yancey County | Feldspar (plagioclase), perthite, quartz and muscovite occur at the Ray (Wray) mica mine (abandoned) (YANCE-001). Other minerals reported are golden and aquamarine beryl, apatite crystals, clear oligoclase (plagioclase feldspar), amazonite, thulite, garnet, autunite, columbite-tantalite, tourmaline, zircon and rutile. To reach this mine turn south on to NC Highway 197 from US Highway 19-E in Burnsville. Travel 0.9 mile to an intersection with SR 1109. Turn left (east) and travel along SR 1109 (Bowlens Creek Road) for approximately 1.4 miles to the intersection with SR 1192, nearly opposite the Bowlens Creek Church. Turn left (east) on to SR 1192 for about 0.3 mile where the state maintained road ends and a 4-wheel drive road leads to mine workings a little further ahead on left. This site lies in the Pisgah National Forest. |
| Oligoclase | |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition |
(Na,Ca)AlSi3O8, Sodium, calcium (10 to 30%) aluminum silicate. |
| Class | Silicate |
| Crystallography | Triclinic; pinacoidal |
| Habit | Crystals commonly tabular, uncommon. Usually massive, cleavable, granular, or compact. Twinning common. |
| Physical properties |
Cleavage {001} perfect, {010} nearly perfect, {110} imperfect. Fracture conchoidal to uneven. Brittle. H. 6-6.5. S.G. 2.63-2.67. Luster vitreous. Colorless, white, gray, greenish, yellowish, brown, reddish, depending on impurities; occasionally shows brilliant reflections from inclusions of hematite giving it a golden shimmer (sunstone). Streak white. Transparent to translucent. |
Map of Feldspar Mineral Localities
Mineral localities and descriptions of localities are from Wilson and McKenzie (1978) and Conley (1958). These locations have not been field checked for accuracy, minerals present or for accessibility. The site code (e.g. AVERY-002) refers to the site reference in the Mineral Locality Index.
| Jackson County | Oligoclase occurs at the L.M. McCall feldspar and mica mine southeast of Pinhook Gap (JACKS-010). |
|---|---|
| Mitchell County | The Spruce Mine Mining District is one of the chief mica- and feldspar-producing areas
in the United States. Feldspar, quartz and mica (muscovite) occurs at the McKinney mine
(fee charged) (MITCH-015). Other accessory minerals that occur are samarskite, garnet,
autunite, torbernite, columbite, hyalite, amazonite, bornite, covellite, chalcopyrite,
allanite, epidote, malachite, sphalerite and massive beryl. To get to the mine take
Highway 19-E west from Estatoe, at 1.3 miles turn left (south) on SR 1002, at approximately
4.8 miles turn on to SR 1100. The mine is on both sides of the road (now Emerald Village
and the North Carolina Mining Museum). Feldspar, plagioclase, perthite, quartz and muscovite mica can be found at the Hootowl mine (abandoned) (MITCH-017). This mine can be reached by taking Highway 19-E west from Estatoe, at 0.37 mile turn left (south) on SR 1157, at 0.4 mile take the right fork, at approximately 0.9 mile the state road ends and a private road begins. The mine is on the left (east) side of the road. The Hootowl is shown and labeled on the Micaville 7.5 minute topographic map. Feldspar, plagioclase, quartz and muscovite mica along with accessory minerals biotite, garnet and tourmaline (rare) are reported from the Sinkhole mine (abandoned) (MITCH-016). This mine can be reached by going 1.6 miles northwest from the intersection of SR 1191 and NC Highway 226 on SR 1191, turn left on Highway 80, at 2.3 miles the mine is to the left just before SR 1182. This mine is shown on the Micaville 7.5 minute topographic map. Another collecting locale is at the Deer Park mine (abandoned) (MITCH-008) northwest of Spruce Pine. Feldspar, perthite, plagioclase, quartz and mica can be found with accessory minerals thulite, hyalite and monazite. At the intersection of NC Highway 226 and SR 1162, north of Spruce Pine, turn left (southwest) on to SR 1162 (Penland Road). Travel approximately 1.6 miles to Penland and cross bridge over the North Toe River. Turn immediately left (east) on to SR 1270 for a very short distance. After state maintained road ends continue on unmaintained 4-wheel drive road that parallels the river to the mine area in bend of the North Toe River approximately 0.7 of a mile. This mine is shown on the Spruce Pine 7.5 topographic map. Glass-clear oligoclase at the Hawk mine located 1.2 miles north of Hawk (MITCH-005). |
| Yancey County | The Spruce Pine Pegmatite District crosses eastern Yancey County east of Burnsville.
The Little Gibbs mine on the South Toe River 1.5 miles northeast of Celo contains glass-clear
oligoclase feldspar which can be cut into faceted gem stones (YANCE-009). Feldspar (plagioclase), perthite, quartz and muscovite occur at the Ray (Wray) mica mine (abandoned) (YANCE-001). Other minerals reported are golden and aquamarine beryl, apatite crystals, clear oligoclase (plagioclase feldspar), amazonite, thulite, garnet, autunite, columbite-tantalite, tourmaline, zircon and rutile. To reach this mine turn south on to NC Highway 197 from US Highway 19-E in Burnsville. Travel 0.9 mile to an intersection with SR 1109. Turn left (east) and travel along SR 1109 (Bowlens Creek Road) for approximately 1.4 miles to the intersection with SR 1192, nearly opposite the Bowlens Creek Church. Turn left (east) on to SR 1192 for about 0.3 mile where the state maintained road ends and a 4-wheel drive road leads to mine workings a little further ahead on left. This site lies in the Pisgah National Forest. |
| Anorthite | |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition |
CaAl2Si2O8, Calcium aluminum silicate. |
| Class | Silicate |
| Crystallography | Triclinic; pinacoidal |
| Habit | Usually massive, cleavable, granular, or compact. |
| Physical properties |
Cleavage two perfect {010,001} at 86°. Fracture uneven to conchoidal. Brittle. H. 6. S.G. 2.74-2.76. Luster vitreous. Color white-gray, reddish. Transparent to translucent. |
Map of Feldspar Mineral Localities
Mineral localities and descriptions of localities are from Wilson and McKenzie (1978) and Conley (1958). These locations have not been field checked for accuracy, minerals present or for accessibility. The site code (e.g. AVERY-002) refers to the site reference in the Mineral Locality Index.
| Clay County | Anorthite occurs in a dunite deposit located on Buck Creek, north of US 64 (CLAY-009). |
|---|
| Microcline | |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition |
KAlSi3O8, Potassium aluminum silicate |
| Class | Silicate |
| Crystallography | Triclinic; pinacoidal |
| Habit | Crystals often short prismatic. Twinning may be present. Often massive, coarsely cleavable to granular. |
| Physical properties |
Cleavage {001}, {010} perfect at nearly right angles (89.5° ). Fracture uneven. Brittle. H. 6-6.5. S.G. 2.56-2.63. Luster vitreous, sometimes pearly on cleavage surfaces. Color white, gray, pale cream-yellow, flesh-pink, various shades of red, green (amazonstone). Streak uncolored to white. Transparent to translucent. |
Map of Feldspar Mineral Localities
Mineral localities and descriptions of localities are from Wilson and McKenzie (1978) and Conley (1958). These locations have not been field checked for accuracy, minerals present or for accessibility. The site code (e.g. AVERY-002) refers to the site reference in the Mineral Locality Index.
| Caswell County | Microcline can be found in the pegmatite bodies south of Milton near Yarbro. A 10-12 foot wide pegmatite dike crops out (exposed) in a road cut on the north side of SR 1554, 0.35 mile northwest of its intersection with SR1557 and contains nearly perfect crystals of microcline (CASWE-001). A 5-7 foot wide pegmatite crops out on the east side of SR 1559, 0.4 mile southeast of Semora. The pegmatite is composed of intergrowths of quartz, microcline feldspar, and muscovite mica. The quartz occurs as irregularly shaped masses surrounded by subhedral to euhedral microcline feldspar and grayish to clear crystals of muscovite mica (CASWE-002). |
|---|---|
| Cleveland County | Microcline is one of the many minerals that can be found at the Foote Mineral Company spodumeme mine near Kings Mountain (CLEVE-013). |
| Harnett County | Pink microcline occurs in small pegmatites at Raven Rock (an exposure of metamorphic rock) on the southwest bank of the Cape Fear River northwest of Lillington and east of Raven Rock Church (HARNE-002). Raven Rock is now part of the North Carolina Park System which prohibits the collecting of mineral specimens. |
| Henderson County | Microcline occurs in a pegmatites in the area around Tuxedo. Three of these localities are, the Freeman mine, 0.5 mile west of Tuxedo on SR 1118 (HENDE-001); the Jones mine, 0.5 mile east of Tuxedo on SR 1856 (HENDE-002); and the Pace mine, 1.8 miles southwest of Tuxedo (HENDE-003). |
| Mitchell County | Amazonite, a green microcline, can be found at the McKinney mine (fee charged)
(MITCH-015) along with feldspar, quartz and mica (muscovite). Other accessory minerals that occur
are samarskite, garnet, autunite, torbernite, columbite, hyalite, amazonite, bornite, covellite,
chalcopyrite, allanite, epidote, malachite, sphalerite and massive beryl. To get to the mine take
Highway 19-E west from Estatoe, at 1.3 miles turn left (south) on SR 1002, at approximately 4.8 miles
turn on to SR 1100. The mine is on both sides of the road (now Emerald Village and the North
Carolina Mining Museum). Feldspar, plagioclase, quartz and muscovite mica along with accessory minerals biotite, garnet and tourmaline (rare) are reported from the Sinkhole mine (abandoned) (MITCH-016). This mine can be reached by going 1.6 miles northwest from the intersection of SR 1191 and NC Highway 226 on SR 1191, turn left on Highway 80, at 2.3 miles the mine is to the left just before SR 1182. This mine is shown on the Micaville 7.5 minute topographic map. Another collecting locale is at the Deer Park mine (abandoned) (MITCH-008) northwest of Spruce Pine. Feldspar, perthite, plagioclase, quartz and mica can be found with accessory minerals thulite, hyalite and monazite. At the intersection of NC Highway 226 and SR 1162, north of Spruce Pine, turn left (southwest) on to SR 1162 (Penland Road). Travel approximately 1.6 miles to Penland and cross bridge over the North Toe River. Turn immediately left (east) on to SR 1270 for a very short distance. After state maintained road ends continue on unmaintained 4-wheel drive road that parallels the river to the mine area in bend of the North Toe River approximately 0.7 of a mile. This mine is shown on the Spruce Pine 7.5 topographic map. |
| Yancey County | Feldspar (plagioclase), perthite, quartz and muscovite occur at the Ray (Wray) mica mine (abandoned) (YANCE-001). Other minerals reported are golden and aquamarine beryl, apatite crystals, clear oligoclase (plagioclase feldspar), amazonite, thulite, garnet, autunite, columbite-tantalite, tourmaline, zircon and rutile. To reach this mine turn south on to NC Highway 197 from US Highway 19-E in Burnsville. Travel 0.9 mile to an intersection with SR 1109. Turn left (east) and travel along SR 1109 (Bowlens Creek Road) for approximately 1.4 miles to the intersection with SR 1192, nearly opposite the Bowlens Creek Church. Turn left (east) on to SR 1192 for about 0.3 mile where the state maintained road ends and a 4-wheel drive road leads to mine workings a little further ahead on left. This site lies in the Pisgah National Forest. |
| Orthoclase | |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition |
KAlSi3O8, Potassium aluminum silicate. |
| Class | Silicate |
| Crystallography | Monoclinic; prismatic |
| Habit | Crystals often short prismatic. Twinning may be present. Often massive, coarsely cleavable to granular. |
| Physical properties |
Cleavage {001}, {010} perfect at right angles (90° ). Fracture uneven to conchoidal. Brittle. H. 6-6.5. S.G. 2.55-2.63. Luster vitreous. Colorless, white, gray, pale yellow, pink, flesh-red. Streak colorless to white. Transparent to translucent. |
Map of Feldspar Mineral Localities
Mineral localities and descriptions of localities are from Wilson and McKenzie (1978) and Conley (1958). These locations have not been field checked for accuracy, minerals present or for accessibility. The site code (e.g. AVERY-002) refers to the site reference in the Mineral Locality Index.
| Davidson County | Orthoclase has been identified at the Silver Hill mine 5 miles southeast of Lexington (DAVID-003), as a gangue (part of a mineral assemblage that is not economic but must be mined to retrieve valuable ore). |
|---|---|
| Granville County | At the Holloway mine located 2 miles south and 1 mile west of Virgilina the northwestern portion of the county (GRANV-003). Copper was mined here in the late 1800ís and for short periods in the early 1900ís. Orthoclase feldspar is a gangue mineral associated with the copper ore. |
| Harnett County | Orthoclase occurs in small pegmatites at Raven Rock (an exposure of metamorphic rock) on the southwest bank of the Cape Fear River northwest of Lillington and east of Raven Rock Church (HARNE-002). Raven Rock is now part of the North Carolina Park System which prohibits the collecting of mineral specimens. |
| Mitchell County | The Spruce Mine Mining District is one of the chief mica- and feldspar-producing
areas in the United States. Feldspar, plagioclase, quartz and mica (muscovite) occurs at the McKinney mine (fee charged) (MITCH-015). Other accessory minerals that occur are samarskite, garnet, autunite, torbernite, columbite, hyalite, amazonite, bornite, covellite, chalcopyrite, allanite, epidote, malachite, sphalerite and massive beryl. To get to the mine take Highway 19-E west from Estatoe, at 1.3 miles turn left (south) on SR 1002, at approximately 4.8 miles turn on to SR 1100. The mine is on both sides of the road (now Emerald Village and the North Carolina Mining Museum). Feldspar, plagioclase, perthite, quartz and muscovite mica can be found at the Hootowl mine (abandoned) (MITCH-017). This mine can be reached by taking Highway 19-E west from Estatoe, at 0.37 mile turn left (south) on SR 1157, at 0.4 mile take the right fork, at approximately 0.9 mile the state road ends and a private road begins. The mine is on the left (east) side of the road. The Hootowl is shown and labeled on the Micaville 7.5 minute topographic map. Feldspar, plagioclase, quartz and muscovite mica along with accessory minerals biotite, garnet and tourmaline (rare) are reported from the Sinkhole mine (abandoned) (MITCH-016). This mine can be reached by going 1.6 miles northwest from the intersection of SR 1191 and NC Highway 226 on SR 1191, turn left on Highway 80, at 2.3 miles the mine is to the left just before SR 1182. This mine is shown on the Micaville 7.5 minute topographic map. Another collecting locale is at the Deer Park mine (abandoned) (MITCH-008) northwest of Spruce Pine. Feldspar, perthite, plagioclase, quartz and mica can be found with accessory minerals thulite, hyalite and monazite. At the intersection of NC Highway 226 and SR 1162, north of Spruce Pine, turn left (southwest) on to SR 1162 (Penland Road). Travel approximately 1.6 miles to Penland and cross bridge over the North Toe River. Turn immediately left (east) on to SR 1270 for a very short distance. After state maintained road ends continue on unmaintained 4-wheel drive road that parallels the river to the mine area in bend of the North Toe River approximately 0.7 of a mile. This mine is shown on the Spruce Pine 7.5 topographic map. Pink orthoclase occurs at the Southers Branch(?) mine located 1.7 miles northwest of Spruce Pine (MITCH-009). Orthoclase feldspar which can give a sunstone sheen is found on the McKinney property, which lies at the end of SR 1159, 0.5 mile east of NC Highway 261, 2.4 miles northeast of Glen Ayers (MITCH-003). Rare doubly terminated orthoclase crystals in a pegmatite dike on private property 1.5 miles northeast of Bakersville (MITCH-004). |
| Yancey County | Feldspar, plagioclase, perthite, quartz and muscovite occur at the Ray (Wray) mica mine (abandoned) (YANCE-001). Other minerals reported are golden and aquamarine beryl, apatite crystals, clear oligoclase (plagioclase feldspar), amazonite, thulite, garnet, autunite, columbite-tantalite, tourmaline, zircon and rutile. To reach this mine turn south on to NC Highway 197 from US Highway 19-E in Burnsville. Travel 0.9 mile to an intersection with SR 1109. Turn left (east) and travel along SR 1109 (Bowlens Creek Road) for approximately 1.4 miles to the intersection with SR 1192, nearly opposite the Bowlens Creek Church. Turn left (east) on to SR 1192 for about 0.3 mile where the state maintained road ends and a 4-wheel drive road leads to mine workings a little further ahead on left. This site lies in the Pisgah National Forest. |
Carpenter, R.H., Schlanz, J.W. and Carpenter, P.A., III, 1995, Potential feldspar resources in north-central North Carolina: North Carolina Dept. of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, North Carolina Geol. Sur., Open-File Report 95-1, 21 p.
Carr, D.D. and others, eds., 1994, Industrial Minerals and Rocks (6th edition): Littleton, Colo., Soc. for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 1196 p.
Conley, J.F., 1958, Mineral localities of North Carolina: North Carolina Dept. of Natural and Economic Resources, Div. of Earth Resources, Geology and Mineral Resources Section, Information Circular 16, 128 p.
Cook, R.B., 1978, Minerals of Georgia, their properties and occurrences: Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources, Geology and Water Resources Div., Bull. 92, 189 p.
Gaines, R.V., Skinner, H.C.W., Foord, E.E., Mason, B., Rosenzweig, A. 1997, Dana's New Mineralogy: the System of mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th edition: John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1819 p.
Lesure, F.G., 1968, Mica deposits of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina: U.S. Geol. Sur. Prof. Paper 577, 129 p.
Paris, T.A., 1994, Minerals of Tennessee: privately printed, 240 p.
Potter, M.J., 1996, Feldspar and Nepheline Syenite: Minerals Yearbook, US Dept. of Interior, US Geological Survey; (//minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals).
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Reid, J.C., Carpenter, R.H. and Davis, T.E., 1998, Permitted active and inactive mining operations in North Carolina as of June, 1998: North Carolina Dept. of Environment. and Natural Resources, Open-File Report, in preparation.
Stuckey, J.L., 1965, North Carolina: Its geology and mineral resources: North Carolina Div. of Mineral Resources, 550 p.
U.S. Geological Survey Database, 1997, Minerals Availability System/Mineral Information Locality (MAS/MIL) Database: U.S. Geol. Sur.; (//minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals).
Wiener, L.S. and Merschat, C.E., 1977, Field Guidebook to the geology of the central Blue Ridge of North Carolina and the Spruce Pine Mining District: Assoc. of Amer. State Geologists, Ann. Meeting, May 1975, Asheville, North Carolina, North Carolina Dept. of Natural and Economic Resources, Div. of Earth Resources, Geology and Mineral Resource Sec., 24 p.
Wilson, W.F. and McKenzie, B.J., 1978, Mineral collecting sites in North Carolina: North Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources and Community Development, Geol. Sur. Sec., Information Circular 24, 122 p.
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