Links

Here are some links to affiliated organizations and other sites of interest.

American Federation of Mineralogical Societies The national federation of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies and six other regional federations, of which S.A.M.S. is a member.

Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies The regional federation of gem, mineral and lapidary societies, of which S.A.M.S. is a member. They sponsor numerous workshops and field trips of the Dixie Mineral Council. They also offer our club liability insurance for field trips and meetings.

Dixie Mineral Council This is a program of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies which organizes monthly field trips, led by member clubs and are only open to members of those clubs.

Colburn Earth Science Museum - Asheville's very own at downtown Pack Place. Check out the History page on this site to learn about S.A.M.S. and the museum's common origins.

The Compleat Naturalist - Local Asheville store with books and supplies for the rockhound and naturalist.

Silver Armadillo - Local Asheville store with Jewelery, Minerals and Fossils from around the world. Also Beads, Lapidary tools and supplies.

Lowell Presnell is a native of North Carolina and a descemdemt of a mining family. He is a member of the Southern Appalachian Mineral Society. In his book, "Mines Miners and Minerals", Lowell recorded the tales of old-timers as they talked about discovering huge books of mica, outrunning muck cars, and finding out in the nick of time that a mine has bad air. He excavates a wealth of information in this historical narrative. The reader is taken back in history to learn of the ancient and historical nature of Western North Carolina and surrounding areas of natural wealth.
Order from Parkway Publishers or Amazon.com

McRocks - Website of Mike Streeter, author of "A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains". Order the book and check out his collection of field trip reports.

Pressley Mine Old Pressley Saphire Mine near Canton, North Carolina

Ruby City Gems in Franklin, North Carolina

MAIN provides free web hosting for S.A.M.S.

theImage.com - Photos of many minerals and gems, some of which are used on this site.

Yoo... Whoooo...wait for me...

Franklin (Macon County), NC Area Gem Mines

Spruce Pine (Mitchell County), NC Gem Mines and Shops

Thermal City Gold Mine, Rutherford County, NC

Bob's Rock Shop - Online publication for rockhounds and lapidary hobbyists.

Bob's Rock Shop Collecting Sites Index

Bob's Rock Shop Club List

North Carolina Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Geophysical Data Center

USGS EarthExplorer - Find and order aerial photos for the USA

USGS Store - Find and order topographic maps for the USA

Site designed and maintained by George Schissler. Questions about S.A.M.S. or comments about this site? Please send a message to sams@main.nc.us or call: (828) 285-9470

Illustration with text from LIVING FOSSILS by Anne L. Parker. Used by permission of Dr. James P. Parker.

	American Federation of Mineralogical Societies	The national federation of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies and six other regional federations, of which S.A.M.S. is a member.
	Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies	The regional federation of gem, mineral and lapidary societies, of which S.A.M.S. is a member. They sponsor numerous workshops and field trips of the Dixie Mineral Council. They also offer our club liability insurance for field trips and meetings.
	Dixie Mineral Council	This is a program of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies which organizes monthly field trips, led by member clubs and are only open to members of those clubs.
	Colburn Earth Science Museum - Asheville's very own at downtown Pack Place. Check out the History page on this site to learn about S.A.M.S. and the museum's common origins.
	The Compleat Naturalist - Local Asheville store with books and supplies for the rockhound and naturalist.
	Silver Armadillo - Local Asheville store with Jewelery, Minerals and Fossils from around the world. Also Beads, Lapidary tools and supplies.
	Lowell Presnell is a native of North Carolina and a descemdemt of a mining family. He is a member of the Southern Appalachian Mineral Society. In his book, "Mines Miners and Minerals", Lowell recorded the tales of old-timers as they talked about discovering huge books of mica, outrunning muck cars, and finding out in the nick of time that a mine has bad air. He excavates a wealth of information in this historical narrative. The reader is taken back in history to learn of the ancient and historical nature of Western North Carolina and surrounding areas of natural wealth. Order from Parkway Publishers or Amazon.com
	McRocks - Website of Mike Streeter, author of "A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains". Order the book and check out his collection of field trip reports.
	Old Pressley Saphire Mine near Canton, North Carolina
	Ruby City Gems in Franklin, North Carolina
	MAIN provides free web hosting for S.A.M.S.
	theImage.com - Photos of many minerals and gems, some of which are used on this site.