Houston
These are some minerals found in our area.
Bornite
Named after an Austrian mineralogist Ignaz von Born (1742-1791), Bornite, also known as Peacock Ore, is a metallic mineral that is made up of crystalized copper. Bornite has a grey-black streak and becomes magnetic when heated.
Limonite
Limonite is a type of earthy iron ore with a yellow-brown or red streak. Limonite doesn’t crystalize itself but only becomes a crystal when other minerals, such as pyrite or quartz, mix with it making a redish-brown crystal.
Quartz
Quartz is one of the most well-known minerals and is mined all around the world. There’s many different types of Quartz including Smokey Quartz, Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz etc. It can be almost every color but is most recognizable when clear.
Gabriel
Magnetite
Magnetite, also know as lodestone or rainbow obsidian, is the nearest mineral mined near us. It is mined in the Hopkins Occurrence mine, in Reidsville, North Carolina. Magnetite is a type of Iron ore and is very important. It was found in 1548.
Apatite
Apatite is a term for unidentified calcium phosphate that is part of the apatite group. It is mined in the Reidsville Quarry, in Reidsville, North Carolina. Apatite crystals are short hexagons. Apatite is sometimes confused with beryl, milarite, and phenakite.
Fluorite
Fluorite is found commonly in veins that also contain lead and zinc materials and veins that have a high temperature. It is also mind in the Reidsville Quarry, in Reidsville, North Carolina. Its color can be purple, lilac, golden-yellow, colorless, pink, champagne, brown, and green-blue.
Zeke
Below are some Minerals that are mined in the area around my house
Calcite
Calcite is mined in the Pomona Quarry, Greensboro, North Carolina. Calcite has a hardness of 3, and it feels waxy or pearly to the touch. It comes in many different colors, such as: white, yellow, red, orange, blue, green, brown, and gray. It’s most commonly white, yellow, or see through. Calcite’s most common use is in marble and limestone counter tops or marble structures. It is a extremely common mineral and is in most layers of the earth’s crust.
Hornblende
Hornblende is mined at the Buchanan Quarry in Guilford County, North Carolina. Hornblende has a hardness of 6. It’s usually black or dark gray, and has a pointy tip. It’s made in temperatures around 293 fahrenheit.
Pyrite
Pyrite is mined in the Lindsay Mine, Guilford County, North Carolina. Pyrite has a hardness of 6- 6.5 and is also know as “Fool’s Gold,” because of its pale brass-yellow color. It has a metallic lustre, and it was discovered in 1904. Pyrite is used process gas and oil.
Houston and Gabriel, This is a very interesting blog. And, informative.
All of these minerals and stones are pretty. That’s how a woman sees these things 😂. My favorites are Apalite (would make a beautiful ring) and also Flourite.
So Calcite is used in the making of counter tops. I need not know that. And Pyrite is definitely a useful mineral.
You said Magnetite is important. How so?
I had no idea that North Carolina had such a vast supply of these useful minerals.
You both did an amazing job; very informative and interesting.
Thank you, Gramsey
Zeke, I was remiss in not thanking you for this beautiful post. When I went back I saw your name I realized my mistake.
As I said in my first comment it was a wonderful and informative post.
All three of you certainly did an amazing job. All of you did a lot of research and presented it beautifully.
Keep the posts coming. They are very much appreciated and enjoyed!
Love you Gramsey
About Calcite I meant to say, “I did not know that.â€
Amigos I really love this article. So blessed that we live in an area with such rich mineral deposits. Next time you com to the Creek House we will hunt for garnets!
Love yall
Granny