MITCHELL COUNTY

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ABERNATHY MINE North Toe River from the new Hwy-80 bridge Click on pictures to enlarge Apatite in granite pegmatite Apatite in muscovite Update as of 2007 - A local individual who leases the property adjacent to the road and parking area has experienced trouble with people leaving trash. However, he does not mind if you park there to access the railroad tracks, but has asked that you place a note on your dash indicating that you are a rockhound. BANDANA DOLOMITIC MARBLE Wollastonite on white dolomitic marble Click on pictures to enlarge White dolomitic marble Update as of 2007 - This location is now posted as private so no access is allowed. CHALK MOUNTAIN MINE Looking Northeast from Chalk Mountain Click on pictures to enlarge Hyalite opal on alaskite Hyalite opal under shortwave ultraviolet light Torbernite on alaskite Click on pictures to enlarge Torbernite on alaskite (close-up) Torbenite on Alaskite Torbernite close-up Autunite on Alaskite Autunite close-up Click on pictures to enlarge Autunite under shortwave UV CRABTREE EMERALD MINE Crabtree Emerald Mine's Water Filled Shaft Click on pictures to enlarge Emeralds and schorl in quartz, mica and feldspar matrix Emerald crystal in smokey quartz and mica matrix Update: Access to the Crabtree Emerald Mine is now controlled by a certain individual and his unaffiliated group. According to their rules, anyone wishing to collect at the Crabtree is now required to make a reservation, submit a liability waiver and pay a $15 per person/day fee. The once quaint out-of-the-way free site has been torn up by machine digging making it more difficult than before to find any of the minerals listed in my book. This is not to say that it is no longer possible to find a specimen or two, but you'll likely have to scratch through and sift a whole lot of dirt to make this happen - instead of simply digging, turning over and busting rocks as before. Under the current conditions, this location may be better suited to those who are relatively new to rockhounding and, therefore, are more likely to be impressed with what more seasoned rockhounds would consider marginal specimens. DEERPARK MINE Almandite garnet in muscovite Muscovite books Click on a picture to enlarge HOOTOWL MINE Hootowl Mine in Spring Click on pictures to enlarge Hootowl Mine Adit Hootowl Mine in Autumn Muscovite, feldspar and quartz pegmatite SINKHOLE MINE Sinkhole Spoil Pile Click on pictures to enlarge Zoned apatite with quartz, almandine garnet and feldspar Apatite in feldspar and quartz matrix Feldspar