SWAIN COUNTY

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NANTAHALA TALC AND LIMESTONE QUARRY Southwest View from the Quarry of Upper Nantahala Gorge Click on pictures to enlarge Travertine dripstone Banded marble Aragontie in Travertine Travertine slab Click on pictures to enlarge Talc Goethite after Pyrite in Phyllite Aragonite on Marble Aragonite on Marble Close-up Click on pictures to enlarge Aragonite on Marble Aragonite on Marble Close-up Aragonite & Calcite Speleothems Aragonite & Calcite Close-up Pyrite in Phyllite Pyrite in Phyllite Close-up Field Trip Report Summer 2003 I was asked to lead a group from the Association of Engineering Geologists (AEG) on their summer field trip on August 23, 2003. I chose the Nantahala Talc and Limestone Mine because it could accomodate a large group and quarry operations have exposed an excellent cross section displaying the geology of the late Proterozoic/early Paleozoic Murphy Marble belt. It didn't hurt that there were plenty of rock collecting opportunities there as well (banded marble, talc, calcite, dolomite, quartz, graphite). My associates and friends, Joe Enderle, field trip chairman with the Southern Appalachian Mineral Society and Don Hathaway, long-time geologic engineer and member of the AEG, were instrumental in making the day a great success. I'll let the following pictures tell the rest of the story. Group Gathering Before Talk Mike Streeter (speaking), Don Hathaway and Joe Enderle Click pictures to enlarge Don (center), Mike and Joe Don and Joe talking geology Cross section showing anticline and thrust fault Computer enhanced photo of the Nantahala Gorge from Quarry