Topaz — Elijah Mountain Gem Mine

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Topaz — Elijah Mountain Gem Mine

Lost Treasure NC • Henderson County County
Description
Legendary topaz collecting locality at Elijah Mountain Gem Mine in Henderson County (Paid Dig Site).
Historical Notes
Rockhounding.org documents this locality among 38 mapped United States topaz collecting sites (Paid Dig Site). Topaz (Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂) is Mohs hardness 8 with perfect basal cleavage and specific gravity 3.4–3.6 — noticeably heavier than quartz. Fee-dig gem mine in the Blue Ridge foothills screening pegmatite gravel for topaz and other species. Collectors distinguish topaz from quartz by heft, orthorhombic (four-sided) crystal habit, and perfect basal cleavage. Natural blue topaz in nature is rare; most jewelry-blue stones are treated colorless rough. Field ethics: verify land status, owner permission, and current regulations before collecting. Topaz cleaves easily — wrap specimens individually and avoid hammer blows on crystals. Coordinates from Rockhounding.org locality page. Access type: Paid Dig Site.
Status / Verification legend — Verified

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