Graves Mountain is a small isolated mountain in eastern Georgia featuring unique geological properties. Much of the mountain has been stripped away in mining, and the area remains a vast empty open pit quarry that is no longer active. This quarry, which commercially mined Kyanite for high-temperature ceramics, closed in 1986 when it became too expensive to keep up production.
Graves Mountain has been an outstanding producer of many interesting minerals over the years. Perhaps the most famous collectors mineral that has come from the quarry is Rutile. Considered to be the best locality of this mineral in the world, Rutile from Graves Mountain forms in large, thick crystals that are highly lustrous.
Another important mineral from Graves Mountain is Lazulite, which produced some of the best examples of this mineral in large blue, opaque crystals bipyramidal in shape. Pyrophyllite is yet another mineral exceptionally represented at Graves Mountain, in interconnected radiating crystals. Rainbow-colored iridescent Hematite, often coating Quartz, is also a unique feature of this mine.
The display at Tellus Museum features a large case of minerals from Graves Mountain, with a photo of the mine in the background and a nice descriptive caption. Minerals of Graves Mountain are well represented, with a healthy representation of Rutile and Lazulite, and some other interesting or rare minerals from this mine.
Graves Mountain, Georgia, Large Display Case
Sulfur. This Mineral is Rare at Graves Mountain.
Very Rare Gold from Graves Mountain
Three Fantastic Rutile Crystals from Graves Mountain
Very Large Matrix Rutile Crystal
Exceptionally Formed Rutile Crystal
This final post on Tellus Museum features some of the minerals in their worldwide collection. While the museum collection places a special emphasis on Georgia minerals, many other fine worldwide specimens are also on display. This post features some of outstanding or interesting specimens from their worldwide collection.
Fluorite Cube from the Elmwood Mine, Smith Co., Tennessee
Large Selenite from Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico
Calcite Twin from the Elmwood Mine, Smith Co., Tennessee
Galena Cubes on Matrix from Joplin, Missouri
Orange Calcite from Guangxi Province, China
Blue Dolomite from Muzo, Boyaca, Colombia
Rock from the Moon
You can now view our June 2017 newsletter online. Please click the image below for the larger version.
You can now view our April 2017 newsletter online. This edition features our reporting of the Tucson shows. Please click the image below for the larger version.
