Overview
In 2005, South Carolina’s nonfuel raw mineral production was valued at $659 million, based upon annual U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data. This was a nearly 24% increase from the State’s total nonfuel mineral value of $532 million in 2004, which was up 4.7% from 2003. South Carolina was 28th in rank (27th in 2004) among the 50 States in total nonfuel mineral production value and accounted for more than 1% of the U.S. total.
(Text taken from the 2005 Minerals Yearbook.)
South Carolina's state gem stone is the Amethyst. Amethyst is a light or dark purple variety of quartz. Typically, it is translucent, and the better specimens will have fine-pointed, six-sided crystal terminations. One of the best specimens of amethyst ever found was on a property near Due West, South Carolina, and it is currently displayed at the American Museum of Natural History. Amethyst crystals have also been found near Lowndesville and Antreville in Abbeville County.
An earth science study kit containing 24 South Carolina minerals and rocks with a 22-page booklet is available for purchase.
South Carolina Mineral Information
- The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has produced an active mines application that provides users with the locations of all active mining locations in South Carolina.
- For South Carolina mining regulations and permitting, contact SCDHEC.
- USGS Minerals Yearbook Volume 1
- USGS Minerals Yearbook 2005
Publications
- Granitic Stone Resources of South Carolina StoryMap (based on MR-5)
- GGMS-3: Mineral Resource Map of South Carolina 1:500,000 Scale (1997) by Arthur H. Maybin, III. $5.00
- Bulletin 2: Catalog of the mineral localities of South Carolina by Earle Sloan (1908) reprinted (1979). Out of print.
- Open-File Report 112: South Carolina Principal Nonfuel Mineral Producing Counties (1998 updated 2007) by Clark Niewendorp. $4.00
- Mineral Resources Series: Various publications
GGMS-3
OFR-112
.jpg "GGMS-3")
