The mining staff wants to sincerely thank you for the five months so far to be able to serve you in this mining community. Your input is greatly appreciated, and your honesty even more. We all wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday Season and are ready to continue into 2008. Open Jan. 1, 2008 weather permitting. If the roads are icy or covered with snow, they are very hazardous, even deadly, so do not take chances. Wait for the salt trucks, but be very cautious anyway.

As webmaster, I am not at the mine at all times, but I do see vast improvements continually happening, and the miners which I meet when there are the best of all people to be around. All having a great time. Comments are always welcome.

Next year all of this page will be placed in archives which will have a link on the other pages so you can go back to see what has happened. The comments or (miners comments) will at that time start over for 2008. There will be a few pictures and descriptions which originated in 2007 on the 2008 comment page.

I too, wish everybody a Happy and prosperous New Year 2008.

Dennis Ukele, webmaster, mine maintenance

December 17, 2007

Five miners showed up today at the mine. Snowed last night, but no accumulation. These folks came in from Highlands and are from Palm Beach area Florida. In the 30's and some ice in the flume. Gloves and lots of insulation, with an intermittent trip into the pavillion to warm up. Four of the five found sapphires in the first screen and before long everyone was finding sapphires. Their stay was not all that long, but was productive.

^ Cassi Howell from Florida on the 28th December ^ Pam Sacce of Ft. Myers, Florida found a 17 ct on Dec 27th.

found a 12 carat sapphire.

Here is an e-mail I received from one of our happy miners.

^ Larry and Linda were able to locate 94 carats in 4.5 hours.

^ Mining gets in your blood. Here are four generations of miners having a great reunion and finding some gemstones.

^ Hey we have primative camping available, but if you have a 36 foot, you are welcome too!

Tina Kortz sent a couple of pictures to us of a finished piece of jewelry. The sapphire was found by Ward Kortz on September 27th and weighed 16.5 carats. The finished piece is 6.5 carats and mounted in gold. Here are a couple of shots. Thank you Tina for sharing.

While up at the mine over Thanksgiving a few changes have been going on. The new heated pavilion, and the start of the 4th flume to better serve our mining enthusiasts. The new flume has a 12 foot section reserved for the handicap with no bench seat so the wheel chair confined miner can roll right up and mine. If there are no handicap miners then portable seats will be available for mining that 1st 12 foot section.

The new pavilion will allow the miner to warm up in the chilly autumn, winter, and spring mining days.

The day after Thanksgiving there was a little nip in the air, but that did not impede the search for sapphires. Nearly 50 miners came and found the gems in their digging shovels and buckets. It started out 26 F degrees in the morning. Coffee, cocoa and the heater helped the courageous stay warm while mining. It seemed like a steady stream of families coming through the gate and being shown what they are looking for. Nicholas Holmes of Ozark, Alabama on Nov. 24th got a 33.5 carat sapphire. What a hunk of a gem. As far as I know all found sapphires. I was working in the pavilion, but did on occasion cruise out to the flumes to check on the action. A great day!!

Tim Grizzell of Danielsville, Georgia brought by some finished stones he had cut at the Cowee Valley Lapidary. The round faceted stones were appraised at $600.00 per carat. Those 2 pieces are almost $250.00 appraisal value. Tim and his family found more while at the mine and told me that this is great family fun, of course I have known that for many years once I got hooked....did not take but just once.

Open in November. Our first snow day with flurries with nothing sticking was cold, but we had 8 miners come out to face the cold water. All dug stones and left with carats, up to the largest 12.5 ct. Trace Nelson on Nov. 17th found a 27 ct. sapphire in his washing screen, a great find. Congratulations. Bert Hathaway of Sanford, Florida on Nov. 14th found a 22 ct. sapphire. Another nice find. Today Sunday, Nov. 18th, at 4:30 PM, Tom Rundle of Seville, Ohio pulled a 12 ct. out of the washed gravel. Good job Tom.

On October 20, 2007, Cooper Miles Johnson from Rocky Mt., North Carolina, and his grandson George Nowland of Rocklin, California, found 55.5 carats for the day. A great reunion!

Cathy Kamoss of Carrollton, Illinois on October 20, 2007, was able to locate a 27 carat sapphire. Mining is not all that easy, but when you find one, is a true pleasure.

Jerry Miller of Greenwood, South Carolina came out with a 19.5 carat sapphire on October 20, 2007. Hard work pays off.

October 27, 2007 had Susan Peott from New Ellenton, South Carolina bring in a 37 carat sapphire! Quite a find.

Ashley Byouk of Baton Rouge, Louisiana got a lengthy 10 carat sapphire. Smiles mean happiness! Ashley was mining on Nov. 19, 2007.

The first annual Party in the Mountains over the first weekend in November, had several biker families attend. All had some good weather and some unusual experiences. Prizes,games, live entertainment, and of course mining. A great family outing. Thank you bikers!

FLASH NEWS!!

Steve Sowers and his wife Teri Ryan of Columbus, Ohio on Oct. 3 pulled 377 carats of sapphires out of their screens. On Oct. 4 they returned for more punishment and walked away with another 459 carats, for a two day total 836 carats. The second day trophy was a 17 carat sapphire. Boy, do I wish I was there to record some pictures. There were some taken, and if they come out, I will put them in this area. Great job Steve and Teri. Furthermore, on the third day another 300 or so were added to the collection.

Loveland found a nice sapphire in September. Way to go!!

Lynn Jones of Easthaven Ct. found a 36.5 ct., of September 14, 2007, while Eric found a nice size sapphire during September madness. Good job.

Scott was also a happy miner with his find in the September month. Good job.

All three flumes active and miners finding sapphires. September was a good month for finding

gemstones. Remember we are open year around 8 AM to 5 P.M. 7 days a week weather permitting.

Have a GREAT autumn. The Mason's Ruby & Sapphire Mine management.

I showed up on a Thursday evening before the mine closed, and Patsy was weighing some that were found that day. What a surprise for her. I did not tell her I was coming up for our anniversary. WOW! I did do some mining over the few days which I was there. A total of 120 carats, with the largest being 7 and looks like a pink purple, maybe facet. Got quite a few maintenance issues left to the new management while there, and some just relax too. Great weather, a little warm, but some areas were 90+ at the same time. Cooled off well at night, and the one camper, who was there the entire time was of great help and left us with some new insight to maybe make mining for all better, and safer.

Bob Richardson of Charleston, S.C. digging in the mine area in hopes of finding some sapphires. Later we were able to meet his family, wife Madeline, and two exchange students Marion and Clemence. Their total combined carat weight for the day, all four finding sapphires, was 86.5 carats. A good days work.

August 19,2007 Kiko Kilama from Washington D.C. along with his son Mika Kilama who stayed last year in Africa, and this year is here in the U.S.A. studying language. Kiko's is a native of French Polynesia found in the South Pacific near Fiji Island. They walked away with a 12 ct. sapphire.

First thing in the morning on August 20, 2007, T.J. Williams of Newport News, Virginia let out with joy when he found a 38.5 carat sapphire in his washing screen. Later he also found a notable 9 ct. For the day a small pile was accumulated. Congratulations T.J. The 38.5 carat came one month after Mark Holloway's 40.0 carat was found. Both from the same area of the mine.

Shirley Trimmell of Hope, Indiana, on the 20th of August toward the end of the day scooped out a 19.5 ct. sapphire. Nice stone. Persistence pays off.

Kathy & Randy Erwin just wrote, August 27,2007

Hi there. I have been a rockhound most of my life. My husband and I stumbled on Franklin, NC and now he's a certified rockhound too! Of all the mines and countless tons of dirt and rocks we've conquered over the past 15 years, Mason is the #1 choice for us. We try to visit Mason at least 2-3 times per year, but between 2005-2006, we were there about 10 times. We have had great fun and found hundreds (maybe thousands) of carats of sapphires over the years. I have attached a few photos from our visits there in case you care to see them. Unfortunately, I guess I've never photographed the actual stones that I"ve found there. I will have to do something about that! I am very glad to see that the mine is open and running this year. We will be there to visit again in a couple of weeks. Thanks for keeping the mine open. See you soon.

Kathy & Randy Erwin

Valparaiso, Indiana

Here are some updates of stone found by Kathy and Randy......you will like this!

An e-mail received Sept.3 from Thomas Doane of Jacksonville, Fl.

Colman and Norman?

Sorry, but I didn't catch the name. I think you are Colman's dad.

At any rate, Anna and I had a ball sifting for gems last Wednesday. I even got to get my picture taken, with the puppy. Because a 15 carat saph. happened to be in my screen. WOW!

I didn't get a card for a faceter, but I am interested in turning the stone into a nice piece of jewelry. If it is facet grade. Any advice? I thought to find a local jeseler her in Fl, but I think maybe getting someone who routinely facets NC saphs would be better. Especially someone you guys trust.

Also would like to get a copy of the pic that Colman took. I guess I could download it if you putit on the website.

Thanks for all the fun, and I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Thomas Doane

Jacksonville, Fl.

Corey Fern of Atlanta found a 23 carat

on October 13, 2007. Very nice stone.

Based on your last visit to Mason's Ruby & Sapphire Mine you are welcome to let us know how it was.

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