Last week the highlighted treasure was the exceptional group of star rubies from Western NC. Motoring through North Carolina, on a gem treasure hunt tour I encouraged you to stop at the Gem and Mineral museum just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Spruce Pine. While in Spruce Pine, head north on 226 and visit Rio Doce Gem Mine. You can pan for gems, or just stop in to admire the extremely talented lapidary work of Mr. Jerry Call and his family. Another gem land mark is The C

Emerald Green on St. Patrick's Day! Going up for Auction at Guernsey's, from the 1622 Spanish Ship wreck Nuestra Señora de Atocha, Marcial de Gomar emeralds. The emeralds in the Marcial de Gomar Collection include: " La Gloria, which, at 887 carats, is one of the largest museum-quality emeralds in the world; the Marcial de Gomar Star, the largest recorded star emerald (among only eleven in the world, according to experts) and perhaps the first of its kind as a double-sided

It has been posited that North Carolina has every gem mineral and over 300 gem species, but diamond. We have Amethyst, Aquamarine, Corundum, (Sapphires and Rubies) Emeralds, Garnet and Hiddenite, in our mountains. "North Carolina is one of the more notable states in this country for its variety of gems and gem minerals that have been found and mined within its borders." Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1932; North Carolina State Geologist 1906-1924 Tiffany & Co. once owned and operated ge