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Spaniard Mica Mine Towns County, GA |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2023) |
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Spaniard Mica Mine Towns County, GA |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2023) |
| I trudged my way up Spaniard Mountain to look for the Spanish Mtn. Mica Mine. I had looked for this mine back in the spring, but had no luck. The old description said it was in Glassy Mine Gap (named for the mica, no doubt), but I couldn't find that on any maps, old or new. I selected a likely gap, but there was nothing there. After further research, I determined it must be further up, near the top of the mountain. I knew it wasn't a large operation, and there wouldn't be a lot to photograph, but I wanted to find it because it was worked by the great-uncle of our friend Jerry Taylor. "The mine was first opened and worked for a short time by Alfred Taylor about 1900. Since that time, no work has been done at the mine, which is now caved and covered with vegetation. The workings consist of two open pits, one directly in the gap and one about 50 feet below the gap on the north side of the ridge. All of the mica removed came from the pit on the northern side of the ridge where the opening is about 25 feet long, 12 feet wide and 8 feet deep. The pit in the gap is much smaller. ...It is reported that nearly 1000 pounds of sheet mica were taken from this mine and sold at Gainesville, Ga." - 1943 report In addition to the two pits mentioned, there were numerous prospecting cuts in the immediate area. With everything covered in brown leaves, it is difficult to see much in the photos. |
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| The first of many prospecting cuts I encountered as I climbed the mountain. |
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| Prospect cut |
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| Prospect pit, with another visible behind it at left |
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| Prospect pit that was in background of previous photo. |
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| Another prospect cut The piles of dirt and rock removed from these holes are still visible at most of the prospects. |
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| One more prospect cut as I was nearing the main mine pits... |
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| It's all but impossible to see with the brown leaf mono-color, but there are five prospect cuts visible in this image. |
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| The upper mine pit wasn't much bigger than the prospects. Granted, it was much filled in after 120 years. |
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| Looking downhill, the main mine pit is at rear, with a shallower pit in front. Much filled in after 120 years... |
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| Main pit area, taken a bit downhill from the previous image. |
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| Main mine pit from the opposite side, with the rim of excavated dirt and rock. |
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| There are no open views on the Spaniard, but this is looking back toward Hiawassee, with Round Knob (aka Round Top) visible at center. |
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| As I headed back down the mountain, I found another prospect pit with its excavated pile. |
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| Bracket fungi on a rotten log. |