Sinkhole Mica Mine
Mitchell County, North Carolina
Last Updated: April 11th, 2012
The Sinkhole Mica mine has been operated for thousands of years. Early Native Americans, antecedents of the area's Cherokee Indians, mined the area for mica which was used for jewelry in life and adornments for burial. There is evidence that these Native Americans traded mica north to Ohio and as far west as the Mississippi River. Later, the Spanish mined at Sinkhole looking for Gold. The Sinkhole Mine has been worked by relatives of the current owners, the Silver family, for many years up through the 1950s. It produced very fine book Mica which occurred in veins. These veins were followed using a vast arrangement of deep vertical shafts and tunnels.

Welcome to the Sinkhole Mine tailings

You can drive most vehicles up to the upper portion of the mine where most of the mineworks are located.

It's a short hike to see this 350' vertical shaft

Other mine workings are nearby

Only a few remnants of wood structures remain

The Silver family still moves some of the mine "tailings" around which uncovers new material for collectors

There is good collecting at the top of the mine area

But, the best colleting is on the lower "tailings" slope


Minerals which can be found in the tailings at Sink Hole Mica Mine.


 The Sinkhole pegmatite is a light colored rock with unusually high quality alkali potash feldspar (orthoclase or microcline), milky to gray quartz, very high quality Muscovite Mica, and abundant very fine (but small) garnet crystals. Other accessory minerals commonly found are Zoisite var.Thulite and less often, Apatite (a fleshy color to green). The feldspar is often translucent and sometimes transparent (gem feldspar). The feldspar often fluoresces a light pink to occasionally a neon green color. The Apatite fluoresces orange.

Gemmy Garnet with potash feldspar, smokey quartz, and muscovite Mica

High quality potash feldspar (orthoclase or microcline)

some of the feldspar is transparent 
(gem feldspar)

Muscovite Mica books in Quartz

green Apatite crystal in Feldspar

Zoisite var, Thulite

Rates and Tour Procedures

<>Rates: Guide Fee: $25/person (minimum $100) for a 3-4 hour tour 
 
Owner's fee: none

Tour Procedure: Call (904-708-9186) or email (bo_smith@bellsouth.net) to arrange a tour date and time.
                             Meet Bo's Tours' silver Isuzu Rodeo at a predetermined location to complete "release of liability
                             forms" and payment (Cash or Check). All persons on the tour must sign a Bo's Mine Tours liability
                             release form. Parents must sign for children/young adults aged 18 and younger.
                             Follow Bo's Tours' vehicle to Sink Hole Mine. There are two routes to the mine; the "picturesque"
                             route with one stop at the Silvers Family cemetery and a shorter route (which we will take on the
                             way back from the mine).
                             At least one digital picture emailed to you following the tour is included.

Tour length- Usually 3 to 4 hours

Dress: Recommend sturdy shoes and long pants/jeans (shorts at the discretion of the
           tour participant). Eye protection and work gloves are recommended but are not provided by Bo's Mine Tours.