THE GEM CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

FRANKLIN
EZ-GUIDE

YOUR 2010 COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE

GEMS, MINERALS & BEAUTY OF FRANKLIN, NC

 INSIDE: LOCAL GEM MINES  MACON COUNTY GEMBOREE  G&LW WHOLESALE

GEM SHOW  HIGHLANDS ROAD GEM SHOW  INTERESTING ARTICLES
 AND MUCH MORE! 
BROUGHT
BROUGHT TO
TO YOU
YOU BY
BY
The Fantastic Gem Shows
of Franklin
TABLE OF CONTENTS By Fred Plesner
4 The Fantastic Gem
F ranklin, N.C., hosts one of the country’s
Shows of Franklin
finest gem and mineral shows — in Mayy
By Fred Plesner
and again in July every year. Three main
6 Roadside Gem Treasures shows comprise the annual Franklin gem
Common in Franklin shows: the Macon County Gemboree, the Gem em
By Fred Plesner & Lapidary Wholesalers (G&LW) Show, and the
6 Franklin Gem and Highlands Road Gem Show.
Mineral Museum At the Macon County Gemboree, the oldest
of the Franklin shows, gem cutters, collectors,
8 Gem Mining in Macon County
buyers, rock hounds, and just casual
9 Highlands Road Gem Show
sightseers all converge with a set purpose
Information in mind: to view, buy, seek information, talk
about, or admire some of nature’s most
10 Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers
awesome treasures. It is called a Gemboree
(G&LW) Show Information
because it’s like a celebration or festival
showcasing nothing but gems and mineral
12 Macon County Gemboree treasures. The second oldest event of its kind
Information
east of the Mississippi River, the Gemboree
is now in its 46th year of operation and just
14 Macon County Star Rubies
keeps growing. It opened in the Franklin High
By Fred Plesner School gymnasium when it first started, then
Many thanks for the editorial and it moved to the Macon County Fair Grounds,
photography contributions from the Gem and it is currently held at the Macon County
& Mineral Society of Franklin, N.C. and the
Franklin Chamber of Commerce. Community Facilities Building on U.S. 441
Brad Hicks Publisher & Editor South opposite the Whistle Stop Mall.
Nancy Hicks, Suzanne Morrison
Front Cover Photography The dollar value of stones on display during
Fred Plesner, Cindy Cavender and the gem shows is beyond calculation, to which
Arlen Eldridge Franklin Correspondents
one can attest if they simply watch the set up
The Franklin EZ-Guide is published by Xpo Press, Inc., P.O.
Box 740864, Arvada, Colorado 80006, USA; (720) 946-2808;
of the show when truckload after truckload of
toll-free (877) 621-6143; fax (303) 428-5592; support@ stones is backed into position and unloaded.
xpopress.com; www.xpopress.com. 10,000 copies of the
Franklin EZ-Guide were printed for the 2010 issue. Show Some of these vehicles are armored vehicles,
vendor listings and show information offered free-of-charge. other dealers simply arrive with a few cases
Display advertising is paid. Please contact Brad Hicks, the
publisher, if you would like to reserve ad space in the 2011 and a police escort. You can easily spend a
Franklin EZ-Guide. PDFs of ad rates and samples of Xpo Press
whole day just looking, yet one can hardly
publications are available online at www.xpopress.com.
resist selecting and buying some kind of
treasure to admire or add to a collection. Here
there is something for every purse, be it large
or small.
4 5
parking lot opposite the Gemboree. More
information about this show can be found on
page 9 of this guide.
Don’t expect to find everything on display,
there is just too much of it to be placed on
counter tops. If you simply ask you may be
surprised to either find it or a dealer who
can get it for you. Just remember that here
in Franklin during a gem show you can find
mire th
e
eers ad anything from the sublime to the ridiculous.
c a s u a l sights
ounds,
and Please do three things while here in Franklin:
, rock h r.
ec to rs , buyers ows each yea Have fun, enjoy our hospitality, and watch out
coll sh
u s ands of t the Franklin for all that traffic.
T h o
asures
a
gem tre
If your interest is just curiosity, or if you
have a technical question on your mind, the
Fred Plesner and his wife, Willa Dean, relocated to
Gemboree is the right place for you because
Franklin, N.C., from Florida in 1997, and Fred has
the Franklin Gem and Mineral Society, which been with the Gem and Mineral Society of Franklin
co-sponsors the event with the Franklin ever since. He currently serves as the Society’s
Chamber of Commerce, has set aside a room vice president. He serves in various capacities the
for demonstration purposes. Here you can Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum as well, where
see how stones are cut and polished and how he learned to facet. Fred learned to cabochon at
William Holland School of Lapidary Arts and he
jewelry is made. Here questions are cheerfully
is currently completing coursework in Mineral
answered, advice willingly given, and opinions
Identification at William Holland.
shared. More professional advise and opinions
are always offered in a friendly manner by the
many dealers on hand as well.
The Town of Franklin is bustling during the
gem shows. Just to the north of town on U.S.
441 North is the largest of the Franklin gem
shows. The Gem and Lapidary Wholesalers
(G&LW) Show, with about 250 of the top
wholesale dealers from around the world, is
an air-conditioned tent city that covers acres
of land in what is known as the Watauga
Center. Come early if you are looking for a
good parking place and stay late if you have a
long shopping list. If you are planning to attend
the G&LW Show you must be a licensed buyer
or business owner, so be sure to bring a copy
of your business license or tax ID, it will be
checked. Visitor’s passes are also issued, but
it does not grant you the privilege to buy
or sell, and you must be accompanied by a
legitimate buyer.
Another great group of gem, mineral, and
jewelry dealers at the Highlands Road Gem
Show, who set up in the Whistle Stop Mall
 A nearby graveled driveway on Riverview Heights Street produced several pieces of moonstone and a field adjacent to a nearby apartment complex turned up some 50 cent piece sized specimens of biotite mica.
Roadside Gem Treasures
Common in Franklin
W
hen I speak of Franklin I
mean the town itself and
its immediate environs. I
am talking about an urban trip and
it will require very little in the way of
equipment. You will need a comfortable
pair of shoes and appropriate clothing
for the season and weather. You may
want to carry a couple of zip-lock bags,
a plastic grocery bag or maybe a fanny
pack to put specimens in. A walking
stick (I use my cane) can be useful for
poking into places you may not want
to stick your hand, to this you may
wish to add a hat and maybe a pair of
sunglasses, and you are ready.
I was was asked to set up a display
of local rocks and minerals about 8
or 9 years ago by the Macon County
Historical Museum. I started my
adventure in the parking lot behind the
Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum.
The museum, located at 25 Phillips Street in Franklin,
was formerly a jail. Thirty-foot-thick walls and steel
bars present a stark appearance to visitors, yet these
forbidding features add a unique flavor and charm to
the experience.
Although small, the museum’s gift shop has an excellent
selection of books, handmade jewelry, and a varied
supply of mineral specimens.
By Fred Plesner
The Macon County Historical
Museum also uses this parking lot so
I wanted something close at hand.
I selected a nice piece of road rock.
Road rock is just that, its what we here
in Macon county use in nearly all our
driveways and parking lots and it comes
from a quarry on U. S. 74 West owned
by APAC corp. Our road rock is mostly
granite but is has a lot of rhodolite
garnet in it that is easily detected by
its fine violet color. The road rock was
made into a tie tack. A further search
of the parking lot turned up clam
shell (not native of course) but it soon
became a pair of earrings and a bola
tie. I continued my search and turned
up a small but nearly perfect ruby
crystal which was just specimen grade
but still quite extraordinary.
I next tried Woodland Hills Drive
where I found several small pieces
Franklin Gem &
Mineral Museum
The museum is open to the
public May through October,
Monday-Saturday, noon-4pm;
November through March,
Saturdays only, noon-4pm;
closed the month of April and
on July 4. For more information
call 828-369-7831 or visit online
at www.fgmm.org.
6 7
of sillimanite or fibrolite and a nice
piece of smoky quartz in the roadside
ditches. A nearby graveled driveway
on Riverview Heights Street produced
several pieces of moonstone and a
field adjacent to a nearby apartment
complex turned up some 50 cent piece
sized specimens of biotite mica. An
inquisitive neighbor on Hurst Circle
gave me a specimen of sandstone from
a roadside ditch and a piece of peach
colored quartz from his garden. The
quartz rock produced a nice cabochon.
I then tried the parking lot at the
West Gate Shopping Center. The area
in front of K-Mart turned up several
pieces of pink marble (probably not
native) which became a pair of earrings
which I later sold to a local ministers
wife. A search behind the buildings
where the trucks unload produced a
beautiful piece of green serpentine,
which latter became another bola tie
and a stainless steel bolt. After cutting
the head off the bolt it took very little
effort to produce a stainless
steel cabochon.
Next I tried the parking area in
front of Wal-Mart. This turned up a
beautiful polished orthoceras fossil. Yes,
this was freak since the Gem Show that
sets up at U. S. 441/ N.C. 28 South
used to use the Wal-Mart parking lot
for their show. Nonetheless I was a very
happy man that their loss was my gain.
Next I tried Harrison Avenue (N.C.
28 North) and in the ditch at the end
of the sidewalk I found a fine piece of
epidote as well as a beautiful cobalt
blue medicine bottle which I gave to my
wife to be faceted into several stones.
Rocks are everywhere in Franklin.
All you need is a sharp eye, some
curiosity and a little effort, and
Franklin’s treasures can be yours.
 f you are a rock hound visiting Franklin (also known as both
the “Gem Capital of the World” and the “Ruby City”) fluming
at a local gem mine is a must. Most gem mining in the North
Carolina mountains is found in Franklin and in the Cowee Valley
north and west of Franklin. Most of the mines have a powered
water sluice where you can sift through the dirt and rock, called
fluming, as you prospect for rubies, gold, amethyst, aquamarine,
sapphires, garnets and many other types of stones.
At some of these mines, visitors search for minerals from
the creekbeds, while others sell buckets of stream sediment for
washing and sieving at a flume. Some of the mines offer digs
for native minerals only, while others offer “enriched” stream
sediment, which contains minerals from other parts of the state
or world. Admission fees may be charged per bucket or per the
hour, depending on the mine, so call ahead for details.
The world’s largest star rubies have been found in the Cowee
Valley. This entire area is a gem hunter’s heaven.
8 9
,
1. Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine 41 Cherokee Mine Road off Ruby Mine
Road, Franklin, 828-349-2941.
2. Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine, 6771 Sylva Rd. & 441 N, Franklin,
828-369-5271.
3. Gold City Gem Mine, 9410 Sylva Rd. & Highway 441, Franklin,
800-713-7767.
4. Jackson Hole, Hwy. 28 & US 64, Franklin, 828-524-5850.
5. Mason Mountain Mine & Cowee Gift Shop, 5315 Bryson City Rd., Franklin,
828-524-4570.
6. Mason’s Ruby & Sapphire Mine, 6961 Upper Burningtown Rd., Franklin,
828-369-9742.
7. Nantahala Gorge Ruby Mine, 11900 US 19/74 West, Bryson City,
828-488-3854.
8. Rose Creek Mine, Gift & Rock Shop, 115 Terrace Ridge Dr., Franklin,
828-349-3774.
9. Sheffield Mine, 385 Sheffield Farms Rd., Franklin, 828-369-8383.
10. Smoky Mountain Gold & Ruby Mine, Hiway 441 North, Cherokee,
828-497-6574.

2010 Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers
If you have a wholesale license, be sure to catch the two Gem
and Lapidary Wholesalers (G&LW) Shows in Franklin.
G&LW Wholesale Gem Show (Spring)
May 7-9, 2010
10am-6pm Friday & Saturday; 10am-3pm Sunday
G&LW Wholesale Gem Show (Summer)
July 22-25, 2010
10am-6pm Thursday-Saturday; 10am-3pm Sunday
Exhibitors for May 7-9 Show
A F SILVER DESIGNS . . . . . . . . . . .TV01
ACE BALI BEADS & WATCHES . . . . . . . 52
ALEN JEWELRY, INC. . . . . . . . . .103/131
AMBER DREAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
AMBER ROOM ARTISTIC SILVER. . . . . . 84
ANIL DHOLAKIA . . . . . . . . . . .107/127
ANNA KING JEWELRY . . . . . . . . . . 134
ANNIE’S BOUTIQUE. . . . . . . . . . 076/78
ARCHY’S ROCK SHOP. . . . . . . . . . . . 97
ARTISTIC DYNASTY. . . . . . . . . . . . 182
AVALON/SHIVA IMPORTS . . . . . . . .TV09
AZRA DESIGNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
B & C FINE JEWELRY, INC. . . . . . . . . . 10
BALI DESIGNS, INC.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
BEAD GOES ON, THE . . . . . . . . . . . 153
BEADS DIRECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
BEADS GALORE DISPLAYS AND MORE . . 47
Gem Shows in Franklin
Watauga Festival Center
426 Watauga Road, Franklin, N.C.
Show Promoter Info:
Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers, Inc.
Phone: 601-879-8832
Email: info@glwshows.com
Web: www.glwshows.net
The July 22-25 show
features nearly all the
BEST IN GEMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
same exhibitors. Check
BLAKE BROTHERS . . . . . . . . . . 069/85 www.glwshow.com for
BLUE RIDGE GEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
BOLLYWOOD BEADS . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
exhibitor updates.
BOND STREET USA, INC. . . . . . . . . . . 34
BRAJA/SILVER IMPRESSIONS, INC. . . . . . 3
BUTTERFLIES BY GOD . . . . . . . . . .TV06
C & I INTERNATIONAL, INC. . . . . . 036/40
CANICAS GEMS, INC. . . . . . . . . . 060/94
CARGO HOLD, INC., THE . . . . . . .138/176
CAROLINA DISPLAYS . . . . . . . . .038/077
CHOY INT’L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
COFFER INT’L CORP. . . . . . . . . . . . 184
COMMERCIAL RESOURCE CORP.. . . 059/95 D Z I CREATIONS, LLC. . .
CORAL REEF, THE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 DAISY BLUE, INC. . . . . .
D & C INTERNATIONAL CO.. . . . . . . .TV02 DELUXE CO. . . . . . . . .
D T C/KIMMIMOTO . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 DISCOVER ASIA . . . . . .
10
ENTER THE EARTH . . . . . . . . . . . .TV15
EVERGREEN GEMSTONE/
STAR GEMSTONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
EVERGREEN TRADING CO. . . . . . . . . 183
EXPRESSIVE IMPRESSIONS . . . . . . . 161
FASHION ACCESSORIES INT’L, INC. . . .TV11
FINE STONES, INC. . . . . . . . . . .071/083
GARY WILSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
G E M ENTERPRISES . . . . . . . . . . . 113
GEM CENTER, USA . . . . . . . . . . . .TV10
GEMS & BEADS, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . 189
GEORGE CHEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
GLITTERS IMPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
GOLDIE JEWELRY, LLC . . . . . . . . . . 128
GOOD BEADS WORLD, INC. . . . . . . . . 15
GREAT AMERICAN EAGLE
AND NATIVE CO., THE . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
HANDS OF THE HILLS, INC. . . . . . . . 178
HEIDI’S JEWELRY AND BEADS CORP. . . 137
HOLY & PURE STONE, INC. . . . . . . 037/39
IMPORTFOLIO, INC.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
INDIA GEMS AND BEADS/
SILVER JEWELS, INC. . . . . . . . . .013/14A
INDIA JEWELRY PALACE . . . . . . .001/002
INTRINSIC TRADING . . . . . . . . .032/044
J K INT’L IMPORT, INC. . . . . . . . . . . 163
J N K JEWELRY CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
J P PEARL & JEWELRY, INC. . . . . . . . 106
JANES PEARL WORLD . . . . . . . . . . 100
JEFF WHEELER GEMS & MINERALS. . . 186
JEM ESTATE JEWELRY . . . . . . . . . . . 31
JEMAN IMPORTS . . . . . . . . .067/87/TV5
JESS IMPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
JEWEL SIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
JIRAR JEWELRY. . . . . . . . . . . .144/170
K & K IMPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . .004/005
KALPATARU BEADS, INC.. . . . . . . . . 162
KAY EL CO., INC., THE. . . . . . . . . . . 125
KEWEENAW GEM & GIFT, INC. . . . . . 179
KHO INTERNATIONAL, LTD. . . . . . . . . 88
KODA IMPORTS, INC.. . . . . . . . . . . 157
LANSHANG CO. . . . . . . . . . . . .149/165
LITTLE ANGEL ENTERPRISES . . . . . . 108
LONESTAR TRADING, LLC . . . . . . . .TV12
M B T C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
M J JEWELERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
M T JEWELRY MFG.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
MAJESTIC PEARL . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
MARGOLA IMPORT CORP. . . . 118/156/158
MARSLAND, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
MARY LOU’S JEWELRY . . . . . . . .112/122
MAY JEWELRY/
W J ENTERPRISES . . . . . . . . . .021/055
MINAS BRAZIL STONES . . . . . . . . .TV17
DOMINICAN GEM/ MODERN TIBET, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . 121
CARIBBEAN LARIMAR . . . . . . . . . . . 92 MULTIVISION, INC. . . . . . . . . . .033/043
ETHNOGRAPHY BEAD . . . . . . . . . . 006 MY DREAM SILVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
E T S DESIGN INT’L NATURAL CREATIONS/VIKAS GEMS . .188B
WHOLESALE, INC. . . . . . . . . . .154/160 NATURAL GEMS CO. . . . 012/26/50/65/89
E W INTERNATIONAL . . . . . . . . . . . 147 NEW CENTURY INT’L WHOLESALE . 025/51
. . . . . . . . 130 EAGLE GEMSTONES, INC. . . . . . . . . . 58 NIRVANA BEADS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
. . . . . . . . 143 EARTH DOOR SKY DOOR . . . . . . . . .014B NOBLE PALACE, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . 166
. . . . . . . . 120 EL PASO ROCK SHOP . . . . . . . . . . .TV18 O P SILVER, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
. . . . . . . . . 99 ELYSIUM, INC.. . . . . . . . . . . . .105/129 OCEANIC LINKWAYS, INC. . . . . . . . .TV08
11
OLE GIFT, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
OM ART & CRAFTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
ONE OF A KIND
DESIGNER CABOCHONS . . . . . . . . . 177
ONLY BEADS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
ONYX GIFT IMPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . 136
OPALOS ROMERO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
OPEX OPAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
ORIENT INT’L JEWELRY TRADING, INC.. . 90
ORIENTAL CREST, INC. . . . . . . . .035/041
ORIENTAL STONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
OTT MANUFACTURERS/ORTEGA’S . . .188A
P K ACCESSORIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
PANGAEA INDUSTRIES, INC.. . . . . . .189A
PEARL CREATION, INC. . . . . . . . . . . 190
PEMA ARTS, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
PETERSEN OPALS AND FINE JEWELRY . 114
PHOENIX STONE & BEADS . . . . . . . . 175
PICHINCHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . .019/057
POOR BOYS OPALS . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
PUEBLO TRADING CO. . . . . . . . . . .TV14
RAINBOW RATAN CO., INC. . . . . . . . . 48
RENAISSANCE GLASS, INC. . . . . . . . . 63
RENAISSANCE RE-CREATION . . . . . . . 68
ROCIO COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 045
ROCKSAHOLICS, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
ROMAMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
ROSMAN CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
S I I FINDINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . .101/133
SCHLANSKER, HOWARD . . . . . . . . .TV07
SHANGRI-LA GALLERY SHARK KING . . . 24
SHICOLS INT’L, INC. . . . . . . . . . . .TV03
SHREYA DESIGNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
SILK ROAD TREASURES, THE. . . . . . . . 18
SILVER LINK & SUPPLY, INC. . . . . . . . 145
SINGH IMPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
SOGNO DI DONNA, INC. . . . . . . .023/053
SONA, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
STARBORN CREATIONS. . . . . . . . . . 139
STRONG ROCK, THE. . . . . . . . . . . .TV13
SUPER TIME INT’L, CO. . . . . . . . .155/159
T A PEARLSTONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
T J’S ROCKS & GEMCRAFTS . . . . . . .TV16
TAHZEEN INT’L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
TAJ COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
TAXCO INT’L SILVER . . . . . . . . . . . 141
TERUN TRADING, INC. . . . . . . . .150/164
THAILAND JEWELRY . . . . . . . . . . . 172
THREE SISTERS’ SILVER. . . . . . . . . . . 81
TIBET CRAFT, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
TIM THE JEWELER . . . . . . . . . .110/124
TONY KASSEBAUM . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
TWAN KEE CO., INC. . . . . . . . . . . . 146
UNICORNE BEADS . . . . . . . . . . . .009A
UNIVA & CHINA, INC.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
V A D & CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
V-ROCK SHOP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TV04
VALUE ARTS CO.. . . . . . . . . . . .140/174
VERONICA MATTHEWS MINERALS . . . 115
VIRGO STAR, INC.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
VISTA GEMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
YETI IMPORTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
 2010 Macon County Gemborees Mother’s Day
Gemboree Dealer List
The interest in gems and minerals in the western North
Carolina mountains has spawned one of the country’s 21st Annual May 7-9, 2010
best-known gem shows, the Macon County Gemboree, Leaf Looker’s 1. Elaine Stein - Murphy, NC
and draws thousands annually to Franklin. The Gemboree 2. A & J Gems - Valrico, FL
this July will be the 45th annual and has grown so popular
Gemboree 3. Dackson Tse - Marietta, GA
that two other gem shows were added over the years to October 15-17, 2010 4. Greens Gems - Greeneville, TN
accommodate the interest—the Mother’s Day Gemboree Hours: 10am-6pm Friday- 5. Pearls By B & B - Eutawville, SC
held in May and the Leaf Looker’s Gemboree in October. Saturday; noon-5pm Sunday 6. The Crystal Connection - Cincinnati, OH
Sponsored by: The Gem & 7. Bracelets & More - Lima, OH
9th Annual 45th Annual Mineral Society of Franklin 8. Amber America - Brooklyn, NY
9. PAK Designs - Denver, NC
Mother’s Day Macon County and the Franklin Chamber
10. Steven & Michi Jewelry - Kissimmee, FL
Gemboree Gemboree of Commerce
11. Lane’s Fine Jewelry - Melbourne, FL
May 7-9, 2010 July 21-24, 2010 12. El-Mar Enterprises - Plant City, FL
Hours: 10am-6pm 13. Bass Gems & Minerals - Danville, VA
Hours: 10am-6pm 14. Vernon’s Custom Design - Garner, NC
Friday-Saturday; Wednesday-Saturday
noon-5pm Sunday 15. Scarlett Fire Beads - Cocoa, FL
Sponsored by: The Gem 16. Gem Shell Jewelry - Springfield, TN
Sponsored by: Franklin & Mineral Society of 17. Leslie Booker - Pittsboro, NC
Chamber of Commerce Franklin and the Franklin 18. One of a Kind Designer Cabs - Branson, MO
Chamber of Commerce 19. Mother Nature & Us - Sebastian, FL
20. CFC Jewelry Supplies - Fowlerville, MI
21. V & S Enterprises - Sun City Center, FL

All Gemborees are held at:

For more information: Macon County Community Building
800-336-7829 US 441 South, Franklin, N.C.

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 Macon County Star Rubies By Fred Plesner

C
orundum is the second hardest mineral the area, but Macon and Clay counties are the
known to man and the majority of North only places that they have been commercially
America’s known deposits are in North mined. There are some who believe that there
Carolina. Macon County is an as-yet undiscovered
has the largest known “Mother Lode.” Those
deposit and the most that hold to this theory are
reserves of this unique most likely to zero in on
mineral. Of particular Caler Fork in the Cowee
interest are the gem Valley of Macon County.
varieties of corundum — The rubies and sapphires
ruby and sapphire — which of Macon County and
are mined in Macon County the Franklin area have
in the Cowee Valley. all the characteristics
Some geologists and colors of the stones
estimate that there are found in Sri Lanka and
some 10,000 (non- A 2.25 lb. (1kg) ruby from the Corundrum Hill Mine in the Myanmar (Burma). Our
Cullasaja River Gorge, Macon County. On display in the North
contiguous) square miles of Carolina Room at the Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum. North Carolina ruby fields
potential corundum sources have a special distinction.
in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Rubies North Carolina rubies are more likely to produce
and sapphires have been found in 13 counties in stones with asterism or “Star Quality”. Less than
one per cent of the corundum found in the world
possesses “Asterism” or the ability to star, and
this starring characteristic compensates for the
loss of transparency.
In 1990, a western North Carolina native,
Jarvis Messer made a major discovery: the
“Appalachian Star” ruby. Mr. Messer’s find
weighed 377 carats and was cut to 139.43
carats. This has been documented by the
Gemological Association and Gem Testing
Laboratory of Great Britain in London. This
stone has been examined by experts at The
Natural History Museum of London and is said
to be as fine as the “Rosser Reeves Ruby,”
which is valued in the millions. The Rosser
Reeves Star Ruby has been displayed at the
Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC and
weighs 138.70 carats.
Considering this, it is quite likely that all
those mason jars full of “Pretty Red Stones”
gathered over the years from the fields and
streams of western North Carolina’s mountains
by local residents and rock hounds from around
the world may yet produce another bonanza.
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