MAS-CELO KYANITE MINE
Overgrown adit in summer
|
Inside Looking Out
|
Click on pictures to enlarge
Open Cut
Kyanite in quartz and mica matrix
| |
RAY (WRAY) MINE
Ray Mine Spoil Pile
|
Click on pictures to enlarge
Ray Mine Creek
Ray Mine McRockhounds
| |
|
Golden beryl and aquamarine crystals
|
Fluorite (purple),
amazonite (blue) and quartz
|
|
Click on pictures to enlarge
Click on each specimen picture to enlarge
|
|
|
I made the following cabochons from material collected from this mine (cab pictures do not enlarge):
Note: Go the the McRocks field trip reports page
to see many more rock and mineral pictures and
narratives about collecting at the Ray Mine.
Click Here for Field Trip Reports Page
IMPORTANT NOTICE
FEBRUARY 2011
According to a February 18, 2011 notice from the US Forest Service, Pisgah National Forest, Appalachian Ranger District, a specific area for rockhounding for the Ray Mica Mine has been designated; it is north of the un-named creek that flows through the base of the spoil piles. Rockhounding (any sort of digging) outside the designated area, including along the creek, is not allowed. The USFS has also proposed to close four existing shafts at the Ray and Little Ray Mines. These mines are the Dolph Hensley or Bailey Shaft, the Brownie Shaft, the New South Shaft and one of the Little Ray Mine Shaft. The locations of these mines can be seen on the following maps. 
You can see the proposal by clicking on the following link: http://mcrocks.com/images-5/RayMinesClosure.pdf As indicated on page 3, you can submit questions or concerns to the USFS prior to March 12, 2011 for their consideration.
Again, as it stands right now, no digging of any kind is allowed along the creek, but there is a large area just to the north where plenty of excellent minerals may be found with some effort. Please adhere to the new rules and hopefully we will be able to collect at the Ray for many years to come.
| 
