The stones mined here are diverse, ranging from pale pink, translucent crystals to deep purple gems with red hues, like the amethyst found in the Ural Mountains of Siberia (which does not mine its amethyst). A couple thousand pounds of ore are shipped out every year via a helicopter, which also shuttles supplies in every month. The current owners, East Coast businessman Cavano and his London-based partner, Jim MacLachtan, purchased the mine in 1997. Commercial amethyst mining didn't begin there until 1942. On the sides of the mine, thick veins of tiny purple amethyst crystals sparkle in the light.įour Peaks Amethyst Mine was discovered in 1925 by Jim McDaniels, who reportedly thought it was a letdown because he was looking for gold. The only light comes from three dusty mining lamps hanging from cables in the upper corners of the cave, powered by the generator outside. "So we don't get stuck like those poor guys in Chile," Blank says. There's an emergency exit tunnel about 15 feet long dug through the middle of the mine's west wall, its entrance marked by a couple two-by-fours nailed into a makeshift doorframe. But after more than 12 years of digging the same vein, the mine itself extends more than 90 feet underground. The mine entrance looks like a cave in the side of the peak, and the main area is only about 18 foot by 6 foot. "It's pretty scary in there."īlank camps on the mountainside at night or sleeps inside the mine, where it's generally about 10 degrees cooler. "But you don't want to use the outhouse," Blank says with a wry smile. There's nothing outside except a small wooden, white tool shed and an outhouse. (The Blanks' baby girl, whom they named Amethyst Jewel, was born this past spring.) They would dig rocks out of the mountainside with picks and chisels for two to three weeks, accumulating layers of dirt under their fingernails and in the cracks on their hands. I'm pretty used to it." Until she got pregnant late last year, Blank's wife used to make the hike with him. Miner Mike Blank makes the hike once a month, a trek that mine owner Kurt Cavano describes as "calf-burning" but which Blank says "isn't so bad. Because of its high, remote location, the amethyst mine can be worked only by hand. There are only two ways to get there: by helicopter or a two-hour drive with an all-terrain vehicle to a place 5,000 feet up called "The Saddle," followed by a 41/2-mile, two-hour hike across all four peaks. Surrounded by the Tonto National Forest, this mine sits on the southernmost peak of Four Peaks in the rugged Mazatzal Mountains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet. Ive just updated this photo as lots of people may not have seen it.Four Peaks Amethyst Mine holds the distinction of being both the last commercial amethyst mine in North America and one of the most inaccessible. Mostly innocent as always.I do think that they wont allow one and Im hopeful. We had one for a hundred years and lots died because of it. We dont want a border here in this country. It seems to be in vogue now to be patriotic and whereas a certain amount of it is to be admired, we must be careful, as too much of it has plunged the World into too many wars. We may be completely wrong as often in songs and poems of this period from Ireland and Scotland, the woman is actually ones homeland.Many womens names were used in the place of the country and the broken heart and unrequited love has to do with the country been in "strangers hands" and un free and would particularly apply to Scotland and Ireland. Now isnt that a proper kind of "madness"! Lol! pics are also available in slide form on Flickriver below, if you few people have said that they found the song very sad, particularly the extra verse I put in above. Im going to ask my friend to write a slip jig on the fiddle for me and call it " The Fancys of Lugalaw " and then every time I go up here, not only will I have the view and the silence but Ill also have the music going around in my head as well. This lovely mountain is also called "Fancy Mountain".A pretty name for a pretty place. Over Lugala and beyond and as far as the eye can see, in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Ireland. The evening light slowly fades out to the west She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands, "Black is the colour, of my true loves hair, Here is "Celtic Woman`s" haunting version: Best wishes and thanks to all you great people out there! Ive a lot of personal stuff to sort out at the moment so hopefully this will give me breathing space. Ive just deciderd to put up this photograph again as its one of my most favourite ones and I love the place.
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