State

Some о* Iho lorgest gold nuggets c»cr found in North Corolino here ore being shown by their owner. Clyde Propst of Concord, to Miss North Corolino Photogrophy of 1958, Groce Ann Blonton. Second Largest Hobby Kockliound.s gather in Asheville for international convention and it’s an appropriate place. Want to join the nation's second largest hobby? It's “rockhounding," or mineral collecting and if you arc a North Carolinian or are planning to visit the state, you will find it is the “Mineral Showcase of America." More than 300 different minerals have been found in North Carolina, more than in a similar area anywhere else in the world. There is not a county in the state, from Mantco to Murphy, where some minerals cannot be found, but the greatest variety and quantity is found from the Piedmont back through the mountains. Every week end several thousand North Carolinians take to the back- woods. seeking old mine dumps or those still in operation where real gold, emeralds, rubies, sapphires or some of the lesser stones like garnets, quart/ crystals and amethyst may be found. These rockhounds arc members of four mineral societies now active in the state. In the cast there is the Cen¬ tral Carolina Mineral Society in Ra¬ leigh, with Lloyd A. Allison, of Dur¬ ham. president. The largest and parent group, the Southern Appalachian Mineral Society, has headquarters in Asheville but with members from all over the country. Fred Allen, of Lin- colnlon. is president. A little further west is the Smoky Mountain Lapidary Guild in Wayncsville of which Wesley Gibson is president. Back in the far western corner of the state is the Tri¬ Noilb Corolino now ho» obout о j<orc of com- morciol mincrol dcoler*. Floyd Wiljon of Mioo- tillo it о ly pi со I dcolcr shown here in his rook shop. state Mineral Society with Howard Martin, of Murphy, president. North Carolina's growing impor¬ tance to "rockhounds" has drawn the Sth annual International Gem and Mineral Show of the Eastern Fede¬ ration of Mineral Societies to Ashe¬ ville August 7. S, 9. The Asheville City Auditorium will house for three days a large, valuable and interesting display of some of the countries finest mineral specimens and cut stones. Among the famous gem collections in the exhibition will be: The Foster Sondley collection, an opulent display of gems, minerals and jewelry, including 54 stick pins, some of them set with huge gold nuggets, emeralds, rubies and other precious and semi-precious stones, all from North Carolina and never before dis¬ played. "Stardust Jewels From Outer Space." from the American Metcroritc Mu¬ seum in Sadona. Arizona. This col¬ lection features prize meteor samples and jewels. A Brazilian collection from Inter- Ocean Trade Company, a collection of spectacular gem stones and crystals. The $30.000 jade collection of Ref- ford Cade, of Rcidsville. The famed Burnham Colburn col- ( Continued on page M> THE STATE. July 26. 1958 9