Getting back in the swing of things by chipping away at our state rocks.

We Got Rocks

All three of the following objects come out of the ground. But because they are technically different types of ground matter, then they get their own chances to shine. In the case of our state mineral, gold, literarly.

If you’ve bought a home or rented a brand new apartment, chances are you’ve gotten acquainted with our state rock granite via your shiny new countertops. It’s been our state rock since 1979. You can have it in at least three varieties and several colors. It’s considered the best in the southeast, but Georgia has more of it. We were the sixth-largest producer of it in the country at one point.

Then there’s gold, our state mineral. Only a state symbol since 2011, it’s definitely not new to the state. Both its designation and its discovery have a child-like quality to them, as in they were inspired and discovered by children. In 1799,  twelve-year old Conrad Reed discovered gold in Cabbarus County, at a site that is now the Reed Gold Mine. This began a gold rush that put Charlotte on the map. The designation was filed by former Senate Majority leader Harry Brown of Onslow County, in honor of the fourth grade class at Clyde Erwin Magnet Elementary School in Jacksonville, after he used the bill to teach them the process of how a bill becomes a law.

And finally, our precious.

Ok, not him, but emeralds! Our precious stone is quite precious though, plentiful and valuble. Twenty of the largest emeralds in North America have been found in North Carolina. If you want to try your luck at finding one, the Hiddenite Gem Mine in Alexander County has plenty, including the Carolina Prince and the Carolina Queen, two of the most valuable emeralds in the world.

What ever rock you choose of our state rocks and minerals, do know that all of them are solid. After all, there are 300 types of them (minerals that is) throughout the state.

Find our more about our state rock here.

Our state mineral here.

And our state precious stone here.

And now your news.

 

Seen the cool new mural in High Point with our state bird, the cardinal and our state flower, the dogwood? This is how it got there, along with several others.

The News and Observer’s Road Worrier column wants North Carolina and the southeast to band together for more passenger trains.

Raleigh’s oldest Dunkin Donuts, the one on Capital Boulevard, has closed, as the owners have retired.

The Triangle’s last video stores, like video stores everywhere, are also on their last legs.

The governor will veto making charter school employee names private.

A High Point Councilman wanted more investigations into the activities of the outgoing High Point City Manager.

Meet some of the local ArtPlace grantees.

The Department of Justice has found that Alamance County Sheriffs Department altered procedures to target Latinos.

Guilford County is also doing the summer reading camps for second and third graders who are having reading issues.

Asheville’s Bowen Bridge is the center of what community wants for its new road projects, but not what DOT charts say are needed.

A second New Bern chef has won a Food Network competition.

A new intercity bus route between Charlotte , Fayetteville and points in between has began service to Wilmington as well.

More on the phenomenon of intercity buses and how they relate to the state’s Amtrak service.

Taxes are going up by 15.4% in Union County.

And finally, Charlotte Premium Outlets will open on July 31.