Geology of Hiddenite - Mining History

A Rich History of Gem Mining

The specific nature of the igneous and metamorphic rocks found in Alexander County give rise to a large variety of minerals. Some of these minerals are considered gemstones (also referred to as gems, jewels, precious stones, or semi-precious stones) due to their purity and beauty, specially when cut and polished. They are highly coveted as jewelry, but also to make high precision tools in industry (eg. drill bits, polishing powders, electronics) and even spaceship components.

Mining in Hiddenite, NC, is said to have began in 1871, as part of a mission to supply gems to the luxury jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co.
The first emeralds discovered in North America were found in 1875 in Hiddenite, by J.A.D. Stephenson, who used the services of farmers to look for minerals, promising them success and rewards.
In 1880, mineralogist William Earl Hidden came to NC from New Jersey looking for platinum for Thomas Edison. He discovered a stone which was later named hiddenite in his honor and gave name to the town. Today, true hiddenite has still only been found in North Carolina!
Let's take a closer look at the timeline of the most significant mining events in the history of Hiddenite, from the late 1800s when William Earl Hidden arrived in Alexander County to today...

The 1891 USGS Bulletin (#74) titled "The Minerals of North Carolina", includes a list and descriptions of minerals discovered in Alexander County.More here: https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0074/report.pdf

William Earl Hidden

William Earl Hidden was born in Rhode Island in 1853. His introduction to geology was not intentional at first; instead, he simply collected minerals for fun from excavation sites in New York City where he worked.

Hidden also began working for Thomas Edison somewhat by chance. Hidden was visiting Edison to admire his mineral collection when Edison asked Hidden if he knew of any local platinum reserves, and the visit ended in an arrangement for Hidden to travel the southern states looking for the metal.

William E. Hidden

source: https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/william-earl-hidden.php

"Sketch of present work at the Mines drawn hurriedly by W.E.H" - W. E. Hidden (1881)

"Sketch of work accomplished during September" -W. E. Hidden (1881).

These watercolors painted by Hidden are on display in the McKissick Museum in South Carolina.

Between 1879 and 1891, W. E. Hidden sent many letters to Thomas Edison documenting his journey around North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama by train and horse, as he came across different minerals and sent them back to Edison for inspection. Although he found the area to be very mineral rich, he never found platinum.

When he arrived to Stony Point, NC in Alexander County, he visited J.A.D. Stephenson, who was a local merchant and mineral collector. Stephenson had been recruiting the help of farmers to find emeralds, which were first found in Alexander County in 1874 and had been appearing in the soil in the fields when farmers ploughed their land. Stephenson would pay the farmers, for their finds and then sell them in his rock and mineral shop in Stony Point.

According to the NC Department of Cultural Resources

As a young boy plowing his father’s field in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains, George Warren came upon some “greenish-colored rocks.” He took the green stones he was not using in his slingshot to hit birds home and shared them with his family. In 1879 Warren’s parents were advised by a neighbor to have a mineralogist examine the unique stones.

When W. E. Hidden visited Stephenson, he was shown these unique stones that looked different in color and luster than emeralds. A 1927 essay by S.C. Davidson in the American Mineralogist journal relates that the samples "were sent by Mr. W. E. Hidden to Dr. J. Lawrence Smith of Louisville, Kentucky, who determined the mineral as spodumene, and gave this variety the name hiddenite in honor of the discoverer." And this is how the hiddenite the mineral got its name.

W.E. Hidden decided to stay in the area and formed the Emerald and Hiddenite Mine in the township that then became incorporated as Hiddenite, NC. The mine operated between 1881-1824, although it changed hands several times after Hidden left in 1888. It eventually closed as it was not profitable.

A "June Bug" locomotive (Source: https://www.ncpedia.org/alexander-railroad-company)

Like a June Bug

In 1887, State Senator Romulus Linney, in making the case for extending the railroad line from Charlotte to Taylorsville, referred to the recently discovered hiddenite mineral by recognizing it's value: "A well-wintered June Bug can carry away $1,000 worth of this valuable gem, which rivals the diamond in sparkling beauty, tied to its hind leg!" The Alexander Railroad's locomotives are nicknamed June Bug even today.

A formation in Rocky Face quarry.

source: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-carolina/rocky-face-mountain-hollow-rock-trail-nc/

Rocky Face Quarry

Hiddenite was also home to a granite quarry in the early 1900s. Rocky Face Quarry operated from 1922 until the early 1940s producing granitic gneiss. During that time, a nearby prison camp would supply the quarry workers and the railroad line would reached the quarry. Since then, the area has been turned into a recreational park, which allows visitors to hike, rock climb, and engage in other outdoor activities.

"Diamond Jim"

Hiddenite, with its picturesque landscape, sulphur springs to cure all ailments, and rumors of shiny gems, attracted world travelers and mineral collectors like Mr. James Paul Lucas. "Diamond Jim" as he was called, purchased a mansion in Hiddenite and lived there during early 1900s.

Diamond Jim was quite a character. As a precious gems trader, and coming from a well off family in South Carolina, he had an expensive taste and his home reflected his unique style. He traveled around the country and the world collecting Edwardian style furnishings and complemented them with a touch of flair. He had amassed such a large collection of items that he added an additional floor to his house. Read more about that feat of construction here.

While there is no concrete evidence that Diamond Jim and Professor Hidden ever bumped into each other, given that they lived in Hiddenite around the same time and both were passionate about minerals, it is hard to believe they wouldn't have met.

Diamond Jim and the mansion he purchased, which can be visited today for a tour of the replica of the 1915 interior. The Lucas Mansion houses the Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Center.

Hiddenite and emeralds have brought worldwide attention to the area since the 1870s, attracting "treasure hunters" to this day. The largest emeralds in North America have all been found in Hiddenite, many of them by rock hound Jamie Hill. Other gemstones from the area include: aquamarines, sapphires, garnets, topazes, amethysts, citrine, rutiles and tourmalines.

In the 1970s, the largest emerald ever found in North Carolina was discovered in Hiddenite and purchased by Tiffany & Co. It brought attention to North Carolina mining and was named "the Carolina Emerald".

CNN Article: "North Carolina emerald: Big, green and very rare" https://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/31/north.carolina.emerald/index.html"

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