Logo Buck Creek Mining
Corundum Knob 2024 - Page 2
Clay County, NC
All Text & Images:
Copyright (2024)

Continuation (Page 2) of photos from several days roaming around Corundum
Knob in January & February 2024, documenting the many named ore vein cuts.


The Shook Cut:

Shook_cut
The Shook cut, starting at the west end


Shook_cut
Shook cut
Assays from the Shook cut in 1945 averaged 2.4% corundum.



Shook_cut
Two principal types of corundum deposits are found at Buck Creek...


Shook_cut
The two types are (1) vein deposits, and
(2) corundum-bearing amphibolite dikes.



Shook_cut
The deposits on Corundum Knob primarily consist of
the corundum-bearing (disseminated) amphibolite.



Shook_cut
Further along the Shook cut


Shook_vein
Vein of ? cutting through the Shook cut


Shook_cut
Far end of the Shook cut


BLM_ditch
The US Bureau of Mines cut 8,494 feet of prospect trenches here from 1943-45
This is one of those trenches, near the Shook cut.



BLM_ditch
End of the same prospect trench



Harvey Penland's family, originally from Haywood Co., NC, is listed in the Buck Creek area in 1850, and he
had a land grant there in 1851.   In 1882, the Penlands entered land grants for almost 3000 acres in Upper
Shooting Creek, Chunky Gal, and Buck Creek; they opened up much of their land to prospectors.


The Penland Cut:

Penland_cut
Penland cut


Penland_cut
Assays from the Penland cut in 1945 averaged 2.5% corundum.


Penland_cut
Corundum-bearing dike in the Penland cut


Penland_vein
Same partially-excavated
corundum-bearing dike



Penland_cut
Penland cut



The Davenport family became established in the Buck Creek - Shooting Creek area when
David & Dorothy Davenport moved there from Burke Co, NC, in 1838.   Their sons and
grandsons mined the area, and Davenport Branch was no doubt named for them.


The Davenport Cut:

Davenport_cut
Watery section of the Davenport cut


Davenport_cut
Davenport cut


Davenport_cut
View from Davenport cut down into the "deep" cut at the east end
There is a sharp drop of about 8 feet directly in front of me.



Davenport_cut
I made my way around to the east end, then came up to the "deep" cut.


Davenport_cut
The "deep" cut end of the Davenport cut.


Davenport_cut
Closer view - part of the "deep" section of the Davenport cut.
The rock wall is about 8 feet high here.



Davenport_cut
Another area, to the left of the previous image


Creek_rock
A veined amphibolite rock in the creek near the Davenport cut.



The "White Corundum" Cut:

White_Corundum_cut
The White Corundum cut was one of the few Corundum
Knob cuts that exposed a corundum vein.



White_Corundum_cut
White Corundum cut, a different view from another day



The Burch Cut:

Burch_Cut
South of the White Corundum cut...
This is the edge of the Corundum Knob "center / summit" area, which I'll cover in another album.




Reindeer_Lichen
Reindeer Lichen   (Cladonia sp.)


Fungi
Some kind of fungi...


Cold_Buck_Creek
A cold Buck Creek...



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