Important - Black Mt., NC Kyanite Location Closed 
Attention All rockhounds

This Black Mountain Kyanite site listed on page 26 of my book, "A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains" is now closed to all collecting. I have just been informed by a local property owner that "rockhounds" have been accessing his property to collect without permission. To make matters far worse, certain individuals had the gall to use a chainsaw to cut trails while others stole boards from a nearby construction site to lay down over wet areas and build small foot bridges. 

I can't begin to express my disgust for the complete disregard of common courtesy demonstrated by these fools. These are the types of individuals who sully the reputation of all rockhounds and cause sites to be forever closed. Before these unfortunate events, the owner was more than willing to allow rockhounds to access his property to collect. 

On page 18 and 19 of my book, I wrote the following that should be taken to heart by every rockhound: 

"Common courtesy and good manners are as important in the field as any equipment. Too many sites still bursting with minerals have been closed forever because of the boorish nature of just one person. A collector would do well to adhere to the following Code of Ethics put forth by the American Federation of Mineral Societies: 

1. I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without the owner’s permission. 

2. I will keep informed on all laws, regulations or rules governing collecting on public lands and will observe them. 

3. I will, to the best of my ability ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect. 

4. I will use no firearms or blasting material in collecting areas. 

5. I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind – fences, signs, buildings, etc. 

6. I will build fires in designated or safe places only and will be certain they are completely extinguished before leaving the area. 

7. I will discard no burning material – matches, cigarettes, etc. 

8. I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock. 

9. I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supply. 

10. I will cause no willful damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use. 

11. I will support the rockhound project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found. 

12. I will cooperate with field trip leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas. 

13. I will report to my club or federation officers, Bureau of Land Management, or other proper authorities, any deposit of petrified wood or other material on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations for public educational and scientific purposes. 

14. I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources. 

15. I will observe the “Golden Rule,” will use “Good Outdoor Manners” and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the public stature and public “Public Image” of rockhounds everywhere. 

The author can not stress enough the importance of obtaining permission to enter private property to rock collect. Too many collecting sites have been closed forever by angry landowners that became upset because negligent rock hounds chose to dig on their properties without permission. How would you react if you looked out your front window and saw someone digging a hole in your front lawn? YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION TO ACCESS ANY SITE LOCATED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. PLEASE GET PERMISSION BEFORE YOU ENTER AND DIG!" 

Property access and ownership can change at the mere stroke of a pen or whim of a landowner. Therefore, except for a few sites, no ownership information is provided in this book. However, obtaining permission to enter a property should always be obtained prior to any collecting trip. You should be prepared to track down the owner of a property by knocking on a few doors in the vicinity or by visiting the County courthouse for records. Take time to visit with a property owner to gain his trust. Talk about the weather, his livestock, his family, your family or any other small talk that comes to mind. But, whatever you do, wait until it appears that the owner is losing interest before you ask for permission to access his property to collect. If the owner is a commercial enterprise, he may require a brief safety training session and/or that a waiver be signed before granting permission to enter. If it appears that an owner is reluctant to grant permission, it may! be prudent to offer some money for the privilege to collect. But, be careful, offering money is construed by some to be an insult. A doctorate in psychology might be a real plus for some of the more delicate negotiations." 

Please strictly adhere to the code of ethics and obtain permission to collect. We have only ourselves to blame for the closing of yet another site. 

Please help me by spreading the word about the closing of the Black Mountain kyanite site. 

Mike Streeter
SFMS North Carolina State Director

"A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains" by Mike Streeter