Down The Crabtree
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Not far north of Nettle Patch, and lying west of Bearwallow Gap on a branch of the Crabtree, is a mine that tells the story of mining in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and how people moved the mountains.
A mine is more than just a hole in the ground. It is the story of miners and machines that moved the mountains, and processed the minerals into a usable product. You don’t really get the feel of a mine until you become familiar or knowledgeable about the ‘rocks’ and to understand just how much hard work was performed under dangerous conditions in order to create those mines.
Down the Crabtree is a story of mining, the minerals and some of the people in the Spruce Pine Mining District and other mining areas in the state. Mining in the District began when Native Americans mined mica at least 2000 years before the area was settled. Mining continues today as a major industry in the Spruce Pine Mining District as well as the state.
Today, one can drive paved roads in comfortable autos and see the green covered mountains with their rock outcropping and occasionally a mine and wonder just how the rock was moved. To help understand it, one can experience the feeling of being underground, feel the equipment and see the results of the mining methods at the North Carolina Mining Museum’s underground exhibit near Little Switzerland, North Carolina.
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About the Book
An Exploration of Mining, Minerals and Gemstones in The Blue-Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina as Presented by The North Carolina Mining Museum, Little Switzerland, North Carolina. Mining, Minerals, Rocks, Formations, Geology and Gems are Reviewed for other Popular Locations in the State of North Carolina.
About the Author
Robert J ’Bob’ Schabilion began with an early rock collection and was encouraged by his parents while growing up in Davenport, Iowa. He later moved to Mississippi where he purchased a plot of land rich with natural geologic history. Here, with his family established The Mississippi Petrified Forest. Bob now resides in North Carolina where he amassed great collections of mines and mining equipment. Through research and study, he became knowledgeable on the early mines of Mitchell and neighboring counties. Bob produced this second edition book with great respect for the miners of earlier years.