The Gem Stone  Mining Procedure

                      
       This explanation of the North Carolina  gemstone process from the beginning to the end is a   very
  simplified one as I am by no means an expert.
        With that knowledge in  hand here goes;  The owner of the mine, with the help of other experts,
  determines which area to dig for gemstones. 
        The next step is to obtain a permit from the government.  Having obtained the permit the owner
  hires an experienced excavating company to come in and dig the gemstone bed.
       The excavator as a rule uses a piece of equipment called a shovel to scoop up large amounts of 
  topsoil which is laid to one side of the bed being dug.  After the topsoil is removed the shovel
  operator scoops up the gravel in the bed and lays it to the opposite side of the topsoil.  The aver-
  age gemstone bed is 6' - 8' foot deep and sometimes reveals layers of  colored  dirt.
       After the shovel operator has finished removing the gravel  from the bed he begins the important
  process of reclaiming the ground that has been disturbed  or scarred.  He does this by putting thetop-
  soil  back into the bed and works it around in such a fashion as to make it fertile again thus making
  it habitable by both plants and animals.
       The large pile  of gem dirt is now placed on a layer of 4' X 8' foot plywood sheets to make it easier
  to scoop up  with a hand shovel when it comes time to put the dirt into buckets .
       Now the mine owner is ready to sell the dirt.  Paid employees shovel the dirt into buckets
  and it is taken to the flume.  The flume is a long tough where water, about 3-4 inches deep, runs
  through.
       The customers, o r rock hounds, are allowed to pick the buckets of their choice.  They then place
  the dirt, about 1/4 - 1/2 of a bucket, in a container called a screen.  The screen is usually 4
  sided, about 3-4 inches deep, with a metal plate nailed or screwed to its bottom side.  The metal
  plate has small holes to allow the dirt to escape when the screenis placed into the water.  The
  customers then shake and clean the soil until all that is left is the gravel.   According to Mrs. Effie
  a person should wash the soil and gravel until they think it cannot be gotten any cleaner, then wash it
  one more time.  Believe me she preaches this philosophy!  I am living proof of it.  Many times she
  has come by me and said in that friendly special voice that only she has, "Jerry, have you gotten
  your dirt as clean as you can".   Believe me Mrs. Effie is right!  Gemstones can hide in the smallest
  of places especially in the corners of the screen and a little dirt left in the screen can make it diff-
  icult to spot sapphires.
       After all the dirt is removed, the miner then patiently looks over the rock that is left in the screen
  throwing out the larger stones first until only grit is left.
       After looking over the gravel carefully to see if it is hiding any gem stones.  The miner removes the
  gems and places them  in a container.  Anything found in the bucket paid for by the miner is the
  sole property of that miner.
       The last step of the process is up to the miner.  He may choose to either put the stone away for future
  use or have it cut, polished, and made into a beautiful stone suitable for  a piece of jewelry.  If he chooses
  the latter he will take it to a reputable lapidary or gem cutter.  These are experienced  people who
  have the equipment and expertise to get a beautiful gem from taht stone.
       I personally prefer to take my stones to Cowee valley Lapidary owned by Bob                        .
  He is located near several area mines andI would highly recommend him.  I have found him to be honest
  and very talented at his profession.  He will give you the best cut for the money and will not hesitate
  to tell  you if you have a worthless stone.
        This concludes this oversimplified article on gemstone mining.  I hope that this article will be of some help to
  the beginning gem stone hunter.