Rocks and Minerals Thermal City Gold Mine

http://www.huntforgold.com/camping.htm

Quartz Chemistry: SiO2 , Silicon

dioxide Quartz is the most common

mineral on the face of the Earth.

It is found in nearly every geological environment and is at least a component of almost every rock type.

It is also the most varied in terms of varieties, colors and forms.

Amethyst is the purple gemstone variety.

http://www.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/quartz/quartz.htm

Feldspar Feldspar occurs in igneous,

metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and can be found throughout North Carolina.

Feldspar is the most common rock-forming mineral (about 60% of the earth’s crust).

Feldspar is used in the manufacture of glass products and in ceramics.

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/Mineral%20resources/feldmod.html

http://csmres.jmu.edu/geollab/fichter/RockMin/Ortho-119.JPG

Gold Gold is one of the most popular

and well-known minerals, known for its value and special properties since the earliest of time.

Gold nuggets, a popular form of Gold with collectors, are formed when erosion causes a large piece of Gold to separate from its mother rock, and then gets carried into a stream or river.

Due to its weight, it can be panned because the Gold sinks to the bottom.

http://www.minerals.net/mineral/elements/gold/gold1.jpg

Ruby Ruby is the red variety of

the mineral corundum, one of the hardest minerals on Earth, of which the sapphire is also a variety.

For thousands of years, the ruby has been considered one of the most valuable gemstones on Earth.

The most important thing about this precious stone is its color.http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/ruby.html

Emerald Emeralds have been held

in high esteem since ancient times.

The name emerald comes from the Greek 'smaragdos' via the Old French 'esmeralde', and really just means 'green gemstone'.

It is only seldom that a large emerald with good color and good transparency is found.

In top quality, fine emeralds are even more valuable than diamonds.

http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/emerald.html