Here they are back again with a one day find between the two of them of 1133.5 carats of sapphires. Steve Sowers and Teri Ryan of Columbus, Ohio. My back hurts just thinking about carrying all of the buckets across the bridge. What a great job guys!!
The pavillion is complete and ready for your enjoyment. Rustic in appearance, but that is what we stand for. Plain and simple with reason to do anything but to make sure you have a great day at Mason's Ruby & Sapphire Mine.
Rebecca and her husband mined back in early May, and she sent an e-mail with a link for some photos of stones she had cut a Cowee Valley Lapidary. The top row were stones from Cherokee Mine, and the bottom two rows are from Mason's (OUR) Mine. She also states "Gave you guys a plug on the Travel Channel's Cash and Treasures board, along with the Dirty Rockhounds board." Thank you Rebecca. Here is the link: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v57/bucfanpaka/masons%20and%20%cherokee%202/100_0763.jpg
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^^Debra Scott of Richmond Va. on June 3 got a 19 carat sapphire.^^
^ The above photos furnished by Debra Scott and Jim. The previous e-mail describes what they found on their dig. Way to hustle guys! Come see us again sometime and tell your friends about us.
^Sydney Yi on June 14 screened a 12.5 ct. She is from Silver Spring, Md. ^While Jerry Yi got the shovel luck with a 40.5
^Ron Monroe of Hendersonville, N.C. found a 11.5 carat ^Carol King, of Birmingham, Al. got an 11 carat sapphire.
^Brandon Seo of Silver Spring, Md. screened a 19 ct. 6/14 ^Lindsay Crosby of Charleston, S.C. found a 12 carat.
^Philip Ulrich, from Clayton, De. got a 16 carat. on 6/14 ^Jese Hartman of Chattanooga, Tn. got an 11.5 carat sapphire.
^Grace Barbee of So. Port, N.C. on 6/14 found a 10.5 carat. ^Cody Bradford, of St. Louis, Mo. got an 11.5 carat.
^Ed Bgnsbach of Austell, Ga. found a 22 carat sapphire in his
screen on 6/14.
^ Romana Cooke and John over the two days 6/13 and 6/14 found several notable sapphires. Romana found: 13 ct, 10.5 ct, 15 ct, 17 ct, 15 ct, and 18 carat sapphires. John, not to be outdone also did well with: 11.5 ct, 19 ct, 22.5 ct, and
another 22.5 carat sapphire. On the 14th of June mining was awesome!!
^On 6/13 Tia Donaldson found a couple of keepers, one an ^Lisa Ratte of Nashville, Tn. got an 11 carat in her screen.
11 ct., and another 14.5 ct. Tia is from Odenton, Md
^Heidi Rivers of Fredrick, Md. found a couple of keepers.^Dan Rivers, of Fredrick found himself a keeper of 11 carats.
The first 14 carats, and the second 15 carats, both sapphires.
^Josh Marter, from Indianapolis, In. on 6/13 foun a couple of ^Tisha Marter foud a nice 14.5 carat sapphire.
nice sapphires weighing in at 24 ct. and 17.5 carat. Nice job by both members.
^Kimber Warren of Pratville, Al. found a 13.5 carat on 6/13 ^Harry Gardenour of Butler, In. got an 11.5 &12.5 carat
^Amos Stacey of Marysville, Oh. on 6/12 found a 20.5 ct. ^Arleen Spain of Highland Village found a 14, and 10.5 ct.
and 6/11 got a 44 and 21.5 carat sapphire.
^On 6/11 Darth Knigik of Orlando, Fl. found a 13 carat. ^Susan Sharp of Laurel, Ms. foun a 10.5 carat sapphire.
^Jonie Moss of Narrle, N.C. foun a 10.5 carat sapphire. ^Donna Rusaers, from Hot Springs, Ar. got herself a 28 carat.
^On 6/11 Anna Blocker found four keepers. She is from Hot
Spring, Ar. The sizes of 10, 11.5, 16, and 17.5 carats were
carried home.
^Chris Jones got a 15.5 ct. on 6/10. He is from Nancy, Ky. ^Irwin Naylor from Danville, Ky. caught an 18 carat on 6/10
^Megan Johnston on 6/10 got a 12 carat sapphire while dad^ Phillip Johnston, both of Danville, Ky got an 11 carat.
^David Broom found a 17.5 carat. He is from Ripley, W.V. ^Elizabeth Peck of Nancy, Ky. got a 14 & a 12.5 ct. on 6/10.
^Doug Mitchell on two days 6/10 and 6/9 found three keepers.
11.5, 12, and a 15 carat. Doug is from Opelika, Al.
^6/9 Shawn McDowell of Columbus, Oh. got a 10 carat ^Angel Yorkin found a 12 carat. Angel is from Miani, Fl.
^ Joe Shinhdser of Clearwater, Fl. found a 30.5 carat sapphire
on 6/9. On that day he collected 627 carats total.
^Tselan on 6/ 8 found an 18.5 ct. She is from Charles Co. Md. ^Melanie Kapuschinsky got 15.5 ct. and from Harelton, Pa
^Ray Harrison of Crawfordville, Fl. got a 10 ct. on 6/8 ^Cheryl Campbell got a 12 ct. She is from Columbus, Oh.
^Sarannah Cain on 6/7 got a 12.5 ct. She is from Easley, S.C. ^Michael Cyrhert of Westberry, Oh. got a 14.5 carat.
^Jacque McNicol of Waynesville, N.C. pulled in a 13 ct. on 6/7
June 2008 ruby and sapphire finds 10+ carats in size. Lots are being found!
^June 1 Joan Evans of Homosassa, Fl. got a 13 ct.^Adam McDaniel of Kings Mt., N.C. found a 16 ct.
^Rochelle Vandergriff of Merrit Island, Fl. found a 12 ct.^Susan Butcher from S. Whitley, In. Jun 2, found a 20.5 ct. 
^Michael Pauletich of Ft. Myers, Fl. got a 10 ct. June 2^Tara Walker of New Oleans, La. on June 3, got a 13 ct.
^Mac McParllo of Buffalo, N.Y. got a 14.5 ct.^Jim Lowrance of Tampa, Fl. got two, a 13.5 & 10 ct. on June 3
^---------------------------------------------------------------^Lily Crawford of Ft. Pierce, Fl. got a 13 ct.
Ouida Bailey of Lafayette, La. got a 12.5 ct.^Joe Jonas on 6/2 got a 10 ct, 6/3 he found a 13.5 & 18 ct. and on the return
************************************^trip on 6/6 he got another 10 ct. Joe is from Parma, Mi.
^Katie Swafford from Cleveland, Tn. on 6/3 got a 10 ct.^Steve Pryor of Noblesvill, In. found a 14 ct.
Deb Taylor of Hunington, In. got a 10 ct. ^Donna Janes of Kearneysville, W.V. got two beauties, 27.5 & 10.5 ct.
^Charlile Jones of Huntsville, Al. on 6/4 got a 14 ct.^Carol Karlin from Cleveland, Oh., found a 15 ct.
^Mike Ham of Laffayette, In. got an 18.5 ct. ^Yet on 6/4 Sarah Jonas of Parma, Mi. found a 10 ct. 
^Donnie Keaton found two keepers, a 15.5 & 10 ct.^Janet Keaton found a 16 ct. The Keatons are from Ringgold, Ga.
^Jeanne Hart of Laffayettte, In. got a 20, and two 10 ct.^Tammy Campbell got an 11 ct. She is from Panama City, Fl.
^Bev Crowe of Gipson City, Il. on 6/5 got a 15 ct.^Dawn Olson of West Bend, Wi., got a 15 ct. also on 6/5
^Earl Hanson of Chase City, Va. was happy with the 32 ct.^Dex Blenklewies of San Anton, Tx. got a 10 ct.
^John Olson of West Bend, Wi. got an 11 ct. on 6/5^Ray Harris of Craswfordvill. Fl. found a 10.5 ct. on June 7
^Jeffery Thomeson, of Richmond, Va. on 6/6 got a 10 ct.^Peter Pavletich of Ft. Myers, Fl. got a 15.5 & 11.5 ct.
Randy Halfform Elk Creek, Va. on June 6 found a 12 ct.
A Lot of big sapphires have come out of the mine in the last couple of months , May and June
More 10 carat+ for May 2008
^May 25, Natalia Cowley found a 13.5 ct. She is from Gold Coast, Australia^Kathy Leppencott of Dallas Tx, got a 11 carat.
^Paul DeGeorge of Athens, Ga. found a 13.5 ct. on May 25^Bill Parson found a 14 ct. on May 26. Bill is from Dunnellon, Fl.
^ Gene Cockran of Havelock, N.C. got a 23 ct. May 26,2008.^Jeremy Ford on May 27, got a 11.5 ct. Jeremy is from Fairview, N.C.
May 28, Tamara Poles of Manasas, Va. got an 18 carat.^Terry Seogek on May 29, mined a 11 ct. sapphire. He is from Huntsville, Al.
^On 5/31 Jessie Ayres found a 10 ct. She is from Fl.
If pictures do not meet up with the right name please advise me so they can be properly acknowledged.
^Katrina Green of Statesboro, Ga. got a 10 ct. on 5/16^Sherry Lucas found a 10.5 ct. on 5/17, Pensacola Beach, Florida
^Pat Clayton of Knoxville, Tn got a 12 ct on 5/17^ John Pannell of Allen Texas on 5/19 found a 10.5 ct.
^On 5/20/2008 Patti Southerland of Payson, Utah, got a pile of of keepers. A total of five from 10.5 ct to 12.5 carats.
We knew that they had to be there somewhere!!!
^On 5/20 Josh Harris of Detroit, Mi. found a 11 ct.^Danielle Marvin of Niles, Ohio found a 11 ct. on 5/20
^Bob Koauff of Baltimore, Md. got a 11.5 ct. 5/20^Josh Eisonhauer found a 10 Ct. 5/21. He is from Toledo, Ohio
^John Harris of Detroit, Mi. got a 11 ct. on 5/21^Doug Hill of Lagrange, Ga. on 5/21 scooped up a 26ct.
^ Teri Ryan of Columbus, Oh on 5/21 got a 15.5 ct.^Steve Sowers of Columbus, Ohio on 5/21 got a 19 Ct.
Teri on 5/22/2008 also got another keeper of 10.5 carats. Teri and Steve found a total 1133.5 carats in one day.
^ Gary Meisr of Florence, South Carolina 5/21^George Cobble found a 11 ct. on 5/22. he is from Elenore, West Virginia
^Judy Mercer got a 10 ct. on 5/24 she is from Bradenton, Fl.^Jim Mercer also got a 10 ct.--not to be outdone.
^Jeanette Dubyak of Sandy Spring, Ga got a 11.5 on 5/23^Matt Johnson of Charleston South Carolina on 5/24 got a 13 c
^Marvin Anderson on 5/24, Pensacola, Fl.^Bruce Burch got a 16 ct. on 5/24. He is from St. Petersburg, Fl.
^Kyle Wright of Douglas, Alabama 15 ct. April 18^Carrie Doubts of Belmont North Carolina fourd a 14 ct. April 20
^Walt Almeter of Batria, New York found a 15 ct., ^Darlene not to be outdone found a 23ct. This all on April 20
^ Brad Lewis of Chattanooga, Tennessee also on
April 20, found a 15ct. sapphire. Lots of stones found that day.
^Will Rogers from Smyrna, Ga. found a 13 ct. April 10, 2008 ^Kelly Neighoff of Hinesville, Ga. on April 12 caught a 11.5 ct.
^Tanner Denan of Panamael City, Fl. found a 14 ct. on April 10th. ^Mike Royal gota 15 ct.on April 12. Mike is from Defiance, Ohio
^Connor Murphy of Buffalo, NY on April 15 got a 16 ct. ^April 19,2008 Edwin Smith of Felton Delaware got an 11 ct.
^Disney Ellis of Ft. Myers, Fl. on April 17 got a 17.5 ct.^Shirley WIllson of Centrailia, Il. on May 3, 2008 found a big 24 ct. Great!!
^Gloria Mallardi found a 10 ct. on May 5. She is from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.^Ashley Kelch of Peria, Il. got a 12 ct. on May 8, 2008
^And not to be outdone too badly is Jackie Rae Kelch on the same
date, May 8th got an 11 carat sapphire.
^Well, on April 28, 2008, Joe Wise of Roxobel, North Carolina, found the largest to date under the new management. This hunk crystal is just between the quarter and dime pictured on the right. It weighed in at 47.5 carats. What a great find Joe.
^ Tom Fischer of Kalamazoo, Michigan--- ^Edwin Smith of Felton, Delaware
on April 16 found a 15 carat sapphire. -----on April 19, 2008 found an 11 carat.
It looks like the 10+ carat found board got erased for April, but the pictures will become available. Missing information. If you recognize yourself and have the date and carat size(s) when at the mine, please e-mail me with descriptions and column, row so I can acknowledge your find. It seems the the erasing team got ahead of the picture team
Dennis
LOST & FOUND
Here are the lost miners that found 10+ carats. If your recognize yourself as one of the pictures, I will get you posted properly. Give description of stone size and date found along with your name and where you are from. Thank you.
Below are some miners who were lucky to find the 10 carat stones or larger during March
^ In April the entrance pavillion doors are in place. ^Mark got a 29 carat sapphire in March.
^Jim Soulate of Dayton, Oh. found a 11 ct. on March 31. ^Faria Atsi of Stanfford, Va. on March 28 found a 11 ct.
^Rodney Boscher of Franklin, Maine on March 24, found a 21.5 ct.
^Wayne & Bonnie Osterink of Jamestown, Michigan found a 12 ct. March 26.
In February there were no large stones found, but many were taken home.
March is another story. I went up for a week of work and got into it pretty well.
Chuck Yarbrough of Covington, Georgia found a 13 and 11 carat sapphires on March 2, 2008.
Dennis Newley from Rochester, Minnesota found a 24 carat on March 3, 2008.
Nice find Dennis.
In 2007, the start of the construction of the fourth flume. The first 12' section is built for handicap access.
Now as of Februrary 11, 2008 the 4th flume is standing and ready for the water lines to be attached. For this year the bench seats will not be installed on this flume, that may change, but for now there will be only standing or the handicap wheel chair accessible first 12' section. We had a family with handicapped members which rolled right up and found some sapphires already this spring 2008.
The fourth flume is almost ready, just a water line from upstream, a valve, some tar where necessary, and some concrete for the handicap section. This one is about 70 feet long and will eventually have some bench seats, but for now standing room only. The old green bus is gone and some picnic tables are in it's place. We will try to get some grass replanted for environment reasons, but for 2008 we are able to handle around 100+ people at any one moment of time. With springtime water levels, one flume will pass about 60 gallons a minute to give you a good supply to wash your gravel. The digging side of the mine has been required by EPA to be landscaped, seeded, and other means within 15 feet of the creek so no pollution from the digging area reaches the creek during rain runoff, so restrictions are increasing and signs will be posted at to where digging is prohibited. We wish you will abide by the rules for every one to be able to continue to mine at Mason's.
^Michele Kitchen sent the family taken at the
#1 flume in 2007. She says they can't wait to
come back in 2008.
