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Thomas Mine (Balsam Gap kyanite location; Parkway kyanite location), Buncombe County, North Carolina, USAi
Regional Level Types
Thomas Mine (Balsam Gap kyanite location; Parkway kyanite location)Mine
Buncombe CountyCounty
North CarolinaState
USACountry

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PhotosMapsSearch
00298600017271979317036.jpg
Kyanite, etc.

Thomas Mine, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
05881280017271979349067.jpg
Kyanite, etc.

Thomas Mine, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
07751030017271979373732.jpg
Kyanite

Thomas Mine, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
00298600017271979317036.jpg
Kyanite, etc.

Thomas Mine, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
05881280017271979349067.jpg
Kyanite, etc.

Thomas Mine, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
07751030017271979373732.jpg
Kyanite

Thomas Mine, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
00298600017271979317036.jpg
Kyanite, etc.

Thomas Mine, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
09658650017271979425265.jpg
Kyanite, etc.

Thomas Mine, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
35° 44' 29'' North , 82° 20' 30'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
35.74139,-82.34167
GeoHash:
G#: dnm7q688s
GRN:
N24W48
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
Cfb : Temperate oceanic climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Montreat723 (2017)11.3km
Black Mountain8,278 (2017)13.8km
Swannanoa4,576 (2017)16.8km
Old Fort911 (2017)19.2km
Burnsville1,660 (2017)19.9km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association (MAGMA)Asheville, North Carolina25km
Southern Appalachian Mineral SocietyAsheville, North Carolina25km
Henderson County Gem and Mineral SocietyHendersonville, North Carolina48km
Mindat Locality ID:
7747
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:7747:0
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Two outcrops of kyanite-bearing pegmatite. The Blue Ridge Parkway/National Forest boundary passes between the two. The location is often erroneously refered to as the Balsam Gap kyanite location or the Parkway kyanite location.

This site/area is closed to the public and is monitored by the USFS to keep it that way.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


22 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Albite var. Andesine
Formula: (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ 'Allanite Group'
Formula: (A12+REE3+)(M13+M23+M32+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ Almandine
Formula: Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Anorthite
Formula: Ca(Al2Si2O8)
ⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite
Formula: (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
ⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite
Formula: (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Cummingtonite
Formula: ◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘ Dravite
Formula: NaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'
ⓘ Fluorapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Gedrite
Formula: ◻{Mg2}{Mg3Al2}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
ⓘ 'Gummite'
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Hercynite
Formula: Fe2+Al2O4
ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'
Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
✪ Kyanite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
Habit: Crystals to 30cm somewhat equant in cross secton.
Colour: Dark sky-blue
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ 'Manganese Oxides'
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'
ⓘ Pentlandite
Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Schorl
Formula: NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Description: Specimens of tourmaline are 68% Dravite and 32% Schorl
ⓘ Sillimanite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Sillimanite var. Fibrolite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘ Spessartine
Formula: Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Spinel
Formula: MgAl2O4
ⓘ Xenotime-(Y)
Formula: Y(PO4)
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)
Description: A small pegmatite containing both kyanite and sillimanite as primary minerals.

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘPentlandite2.BB.15(NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘHercynite4.BB.05Fe2+Al2O4
ⓘSpinel4.BB.05MgAl2O4
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘXenotime-(Y)8.AD.35Y(PO4)
ⓘFluorapatite8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3F
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘAlmandine9.AD.25Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘSpessartine9.AD.25Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘSillimanite9.AF.05Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘvar. Fibrolite9.AF.05Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘKyanite9.AF.15Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘDravite9.CK.05NaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
ⓘSchorl9.CK.05NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
ⓘGedrite9.DD.05◻{Mg2}{Mg3Al2}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
ⓘCummingtonite9.DE.05◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘvar. Andesine9.FA.35(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
ⓘAnorthite9.FA.35Ca(Al2Si2O8)
ⓘvar. Bytownite9.FA.35(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
ⓘvar. Labradorite9.FA.35(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Gummite'-
ⓘ'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'-
ⓘ'Hornblende Root Name Group'-◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'Manganese Oxides'-
ⓘ'Allanite Group'-(A12+REE3+)(M13+M23+M32+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ Cummingtonite◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Hⓘ Gedrite◻{Mg2}{Mg3Al2}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Hⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Hⓘ Allanite Group(A12+REE3+)(M13+M23+M32+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
BBoron
Bⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Bⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
OOxygen
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Albite var. Andesine(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Oⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Oⓘ AlmandineFe32+Al2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Oⓘ Cummingtonite◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Oⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Oⓘ Gedrite◻{Mg2}{Mg3Al2}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ HercyniteFe2+Al2O4
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Oⓘ SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ SpessartineMn32+Al2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Oⓘ Xenotime-(Y)Y(PO4)
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Sillimanite var. FibroliteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Oⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Oⓘ Allanite Group(A12+REE3+)(M13+M23+M32+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Fⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ Albite var. Andesine(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Naⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Naⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Naⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Naⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ Cummingtonite◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Mgⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Mgⓘ Gedrite◻{Mg2}{Mg3Al2}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Mgⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Mgⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ Albite var. Andesine(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Alⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Alⓘ AlmandineFe32+Al2(SiO4)3
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Alⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Alⓘ Gedrite◻{Mg2}{Mg3Al2}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Alⓘ HercyniteFe2+Al2O4
Alⓘ KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Alⓘ SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ SpessartineMn32+Al2(SiO4)3
Alⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Alⓘ Sillimanite var. FibroliteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Albite var. Andesine(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Siⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Siⓘ AlmandineFe32+Al2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Siⓘ Cummingtonite◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Siⓘ Gedrite◻{Mg2}{Mg3Al2}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Siⓘ SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ SpessartineMn32+Al2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Siⓘ Sillimanite var. FibroliteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Siⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Siⓘ Allanite Group(A12+REE3+)(M13+M23+M32+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Pⓘ Xenotime-(Y)Y(PO4)
SSulfur
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Albite var. Andesine(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si2O8]
Caⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Caⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Caⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Caⓘ Anorthite var. Labradorite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Caⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
MnManganese
Mnⓘ SpessartineMn32+Al2(SiO4)3
FeIron
Feⓘ AlmandineFe32+Al2(SiO4)3
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ HercyniteFe2+Al2O4
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ SchorlNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Feⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
NiNickel
Niⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
YYttrium
Yⓘ Xenotime-(Y)Y(PO4)
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
USA

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References

Rocks & Minerals (2008): 83(6): 520-526.
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