Exploring the Gemstone Mines of North Carolina: Little Switzerland and Spruce Pines.

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  • Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
  • In this video, we explore the gemstone community of the Spruce Pines region of North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Mountains create a beautiful backdrop for looking at the history and minerals of the region.
    This is part of our year long research trip, as we explore the early roots of American Gemcutting.
    Time Stamps:
    00:00 Sunrise
    00:49 Entering the Blue Ridge Mountains
    00:58 Emerald Village
    06:29 Comparing NC to Other Localities
    07:32 1920's Mining Town
    08:03 Discovery Center and Lapidary Machines
    09:27 The Emerald Mine and the Biggest Emerald
    10:36 The Skyline Village Inn
    10:54 Burnsville
    11:26 Spruce Pines
    12:02 The Chalet
    12:18 The Museum of North Carolina Minerals
    13:24 A Story about a 1920s NC Faceter
    13:53 Crabtree Emerald Mine
    18:02 Rio Dóce Gem Mine
    19:18 Gem Mountain
    20:29 Our Emerald
    🎵 Music by epidemicsound.com
    💖 If you would like to support my faceting endeavors, please become my patron: / justinkprim
    ✨ If you would like to buy faceting merch like shirts and wall prints: www.magusgems.com
    📷 You can find me posting fun gem cutting related stuff on Instagram: / justinkprim
    🌐 You can also find my articles and stories here: www.justinkprim.com
    🎥 Gear Used:
    (Please note that these are affiliate links)
    Video:
    Nikon Z6 amzn.to/3fMQ4ab
    Nikon Z50 (x2) with 16-50mm lens amzn.to/3vsgoN9
    Nikkor 105mm Macro amzn.to/3yKHBwW
    Nikkor Z 24mm amzn.to/3fncy2f
    Neewer Lights: amzn.to/34jcFWm
    Audio:
    Rode Video Mic Pro amzn.to/34jcIBw
    Rode NT-1 (x2 for ASMR) amzn.to/3urx9ab
    Boya Lavalier Mic (x 2) amzn.to/2Sx7DCS
    PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 amzn.to/3fqQsfC

КОМЕНТАРІ • 67

  • @f14fixer101
    @f14fixer101 Рік тому +44

    Cheerwine IS NOT DR Pepper, not even by a long shot.

    • @utubewatcher806
      @utubewatcher806 Рік тому +13

      Give him a break; he's not sure if it's North or South Carolina...0:23 LOL!

    • @rhondajones1313
      @rhondajones1313 9 місяців тому +6

      Cheerwine is nothing like Dr Pepper. Cheerwine is better

    • @shanelanders6220
      @shanelanders6220 2 місяці тому

      My brother lives in Mars Hill. My son and I go visit him. Toccoa(my son, is am army combat medic) I was a u.s.navy combat radioman.we were riding in my bros v.w. camper and Toccoa started screaming: I'm in heavean,,,look dad, a cherry wine coke box.pull over pgatz, I got to buy one.

    • @wildrynogames
      @wildrynogames Місяць тому +1

      first thing i thought to myself

  • @stephenbrown7924
    @stephenbrown7924 Рік тому +14

    At Crabtree Creek Mine I found a 1/2 carat emerald in the tailings pile. It was around 1976 and had a ring made from it.

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  Рік тому +2

      Wow!

    • @susie5710
      @susie5710 4 місяці тому +3

      Great video, I appreciate all the info about attractions and mining in the area. Thanks

  • @jakemocci3953
    @jakemocci3953 Рік тому +5

    What a collection of antique equipment, they cannot allow that to sit in the elements and rot away.

  • @ellenlewis9860
    @ellenlewis9860 Рік тому +9

    Salisbury is in NC

  • @gsellis
    @gsellis 8 місяців тому +5

    At Crabtree, the emeralds are usually found along the border of where the biotite (black mica) meets with the quartz. Emeralds will be in the border, in the quartz, and in the biotite.

  • @iciuszenith776
    @iciuszenith776 Рік тому +14

    Gotta know a lotta North Carolinians hot about that Dr Pepper comment 😂

  • @justinmynatt896
    @justinmynatt896 6 місяців тому +3

    I have the exact same Frantom machine! It was given to me by a friend and needed a lot of restoration but after some TLC I absolutely love using it. You can almost feel the history when it fires up

  • @hollytaylor9421
    @hollytaylor9421 3 місяці тому +4

    I live in Spruce Pine. My grandfathers picture is in this video at 2 mins he owned the Crabtree Emerald mine.

    • @hollytaylor9421
      @hollytaylor9421 3 місяці тому +5

      Bill Collins… she named him he found the big emerald. So cool

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  3 місяці тому +3

      Cool!

    • @philliphutcheson4219
      @philliphutcheson4219 2 місяці тому

      @@JustinKPrimnow it’s owned by the Ledfords who I’d recommend looking up online as they also have an emerald mine nearby that is currently producing but is closed to the public. Also, every mine that you went to but the Crabtree is a salted mine. Oh and whenever you go to Hiddenite, look up Mark Randle as he’s one of the few still prospecting and finding emeralds there currently. Terry Ledford was until he passed away years ago when a mine wall collapsed on him. His track record of finds in the 70’s-2010’s is unparalleled. Got to meet him at the N.A.E.M. When Jaime Hill opened for mining to the public in 2012. Sadly it has been bought out and is now a gravel pit not open to mining. I did find emerald there every trip I went though! Oh be forewarned, the Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite salts their stuff as well. Look up the videos of when we got to mine N.A.E.M. in 2012 and your jaw will be on the floor. I feel so blessed to have been able to go there!

  • @jackwyatt1218
    @jackwyatt1218 Рік тому +8

    Try Hiddenite, NC. Emerald Hollow Mine !

    • @CreativeCreatorCreates
      @CreativeCreatorCreates 2 місяці тому

      My dad and I used to go there when I was younger. I haven’t been in ages!

  • @judyalbertie6504
    @judyalbertie6504 10 місяців тому +2

    I have ordered several bags of gemstone ore and paydirt from Emerald Village. One of the I guess managers, Lauren, is a really nice lady. I always get a lot of gorgeous rocks, crystals and gemstones. I will be ordering another one soon.

  • @scottpartlow8912
    @scottpartlow8912 Місяць тому +1

    Good video, this is definitely a good place to look around do some prospecting, I think you can find Ruby's in places not far from there.

  • @gmariet1391
    @gmariet1391 Місяць тому +1

    Beautiful video , thank you !

  • @yankeetimeline
    @yankeetimeline Рік тому +4

    Spruce pine has tons of great rockhoundi ng and gem collecting area. And last month was the big rock and gem show there.

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  Рік тому +2

      Yeah unfortunately we missed the show by a week. Next time

  • @johnfromfancyatoms2419
    @johnfromfancyatoms2419 Рік тому +2

    Aloha Justin, seeing the Crabtree mine was sooo cool! I can vividly remember that big crane thing getting fired up to haul the cart up from the mine. I can also recall seeing emeralds that were clean and the size of your fingers in the office of the mine. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  Рік тому +2

      Wow. The machinery looks so old and rusted that it’s almost hard to imagine that anyone could still remember it running 😅😂

  • @ELCEV
    @ELCEV Рік тому +4

    Great video, thanks for posting.

  • @judyford2499
    @judyford2499 Місяць тому +1

    we also have Garnet mines, in Marshall NC

  • @jmatt4life
    @jmatt4life 2 місяці тому +1

    I gotta check this out.

  • @coreymerrill3257
    @coreymerrill3257 Рік тому +3

    Very cool , will you be doing the topaz / red beryl mining in Utah or going to Montana for sapphires?
    While I am sure your schedule is packed, don't forget, a lot of the same areas with gems have gold too. Not all, but many do. Just saying keep your eyes peeled for that too. A gold nugget may sneak by if you aren't looking for it . Cool videos.

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  Рік тому +1

      OOh I didn't know about topaz/red beryl... what city is that near? We are going to Utah for a few weeks after the Montana mines.

    • @micahhanley4899
      @micahhanley4899 Рік тому +2

      @@JustinKPrim There are public areas as well as commercial mines. I haven't been there in about 25 years when I was a teen, but here's a website for Topaz Mountain.
      www.blm.gov/visit/topaz-mountain
      Can't wait to see your stuff from Montana. My family and I have been there for sapphires more than once. IMO, for someone who doesn't have commercial contacts the Gem Mountain mine site has been good to us near Phillipsburg, but I think they are closed for the season now. We have also had good success at the Blue Jewel Mine outside Helena.

  • @user-ds8pb6vh2v
    @user-ds8pb6vh2v 3 місяці тому +3

    Its funny seeing someone with a cheerwine whos never had it .btw not dr pepper at all idk why that was said

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  3 місяці тому +1

      I went back a year later and got chided by some local friends for saying that cheerwine taste like Dr Pepper. Then I tasted it again. It still taste like Dr Pepper to me. Not 100% exactly, but it’s the only soda that I can think of the taste anything remotely like it. I’ve not been a regular soda drinker for about 20 years, so maybe my tastebuds are totally clueless on this.

  • @SwainySwain13
    @SwainySwain13 11 місяців тому +2

    Great video! Carolinian approved!

  • @shimaze5479
    @shimaze5479 7 місяців тому +3

    What restaurant did you eat dinner at?

  • @oldmountainmarineandmetals9736
    @oldmountainmarineandmetals9736 5 місяців тому +2

    That's what I was going to tell you, that you missed the best one of all, Hiddenite, I live about 5 miles from there.

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  5 місяців тому +1

      Oh yeah I know but I didn’t have more time. Next time!

  • @graceann547
    @graceann547 9 місяців тому +1

    Is there an admission price for going into the cave?

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  9 місяців тому +1

      Yes it’s part of a museum. $10-$15 I think

    • @graceann547
      @graceann547 9 місяців тому

      @@JustinKPrim ok thanks!

  • @lorawaring883
    @lorawaring883 2 місяці тому +1

    Did you take golden beryl home?

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  2 місяці тому +1

      No but I took a small emerald in matrix home.

  • @4pittbullsacrossamerica4750
    @4pittbullsacrossamerica4750 10 місяців тому +1

    My daughter lives in spruce pine

  • @golgedekiyangn171
    @golgedekiyangn171 Рік тому

    where in switzerland can you write your location

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  Рік тому +3

      Little Switzerland is a city in North Carolina, USA

  • @aung3627
    @aung3627 Рік тому +1

    ဘိုးဖွားများသမိုင်အမွေအနှစ်များစုဆောင်မှူများမျဝေပေးလိုက်သည်

    • @shimaze5479
      @shimaze5479 7 місяців тому

      You be weird & junk = ဘိုးဖွားများသမိုင်အမွေအနှစ်များစုဆောင်မှူများမျဝေပေးလိုက်သည်

  • @michaelhayes7471
    @michaelhayes7471 Рік тому +1

    I went to the first mine about ten years ago I found a beautiful emerald that looked a lot like a Colombian had it cut what I got back was junk was solid green looked like it was paint stay away

  • @chrisburch9232
    @chrisburch9232 5 місяців тому +1

    Do you really know what state you are 8n?

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  5 місяців тому

      I thought so. Was I wrong?

  • @panthergrowl12
    @panthergrowl12 2 місяці тому +1

    Salisbury is right doen the road from me in NORTH CAROLINA not SC.

  • @robinscountry
    @robinscountry Місяць тому +1

    Never had Cheerwine. Never had Dr Pepper either

  • @chrisskinner6291
    @chrisskinner6291 9 місяців тому

    Almost appears as if these mountains is no more then the rocks taken from t& earth and made into mounds of rock and dirt.They had to put the waste somewhere .

  • @willbruce3
    @willbruce3 3 місяці тому

    I was on board until you said cheerwine was practically dr pepper.

    • @JustinKPrim
      @JustinKPrim  3 місяці тому

      Sorry. I didn’t know till later that it was a deep cultural offense.

  • @oinkybihtch
    @oinkybihtch 2 місяці тому +1

    @0:40 immediately insults my culture 😂

  • @annermel9121
    @annermel9121 2 місяці тому

    Cheerwine does not taste like Dr Pepper

  • @lisathomas1622
    @lisathomas1622 Місяць тому +1

    I would have loved to see all the things you quickly panned over. For me it just makes a super frustrating video. Views of the landscape, great, blurry fast views of the gems…not great.

  • @zusclhz
    @zusclhz 8 днів тому

    Background Noise HERTZ SO BAD, cam moves too fast for focus

  • @rodhelms-yt2pk
    @rodhelms-yt2pk 9 місяців тому

    Women work in mines hum pooping cart could be ok

  • @dougmcmusic1161
    @dougmcmusic1161 Рік тому +1

    Yawn

  • @2Goiz_1ShanDA
    @2Goiz_1ShanDA Рік тому

    It's all society perspective ..there was no need to even break conversation just because you're using the toilet 🇺🇲🤠

  • @danieldevite668
    @danieldevite668 4 місяці тому

    Boring