For much of March 2016 my partners and I set out to mine the very well known amethyst mine in TIgnall, Georgia. The mine was opened in the late 1990's and since then has become known to produce North America's finest amethyst crystals. The crystals occur in druzy quartz lined cavities in a rotten granite, often formed in flower like arrangements. I look for single gem drops and clusters to set in their natural form in my jewelry pieces.
Jacksons Crossroads amethyst flower set in casted sterling silver.
During this years dig we focused on two areas, one in the center of the mine and one to the north. In both areas crystal lined cavities were found and the flowers harvested. Most of the specimens will be preserved in their natural form to go into private and museum collections, a few small ones will go into my custom jewelry and a very few will be cut and faceted into beautiful pleochroic gemstones.
The Jacksons Crossroads mine, late in the March 2016 dig. This view is looking south.
This is the best gem rough we collected during the dig.