LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Old Pressley Sapphire Mine

Students can try doing some mining and learn how the rocks and gemstones were formed.

Preview your trip on the web: Old Pressley Sapphire Mine

Learn more

  • Encyclopedia Smithsonian Answers to frequently asked questions about the extensive collections of the Smithsonian Museums and links to resources on subjects from Anthropology to Zoology.
  • National Museum of Natural History Visit the museum online. Here you can take a virtual tour and explore exhibits full of gigantic dinosaurs, precious gems and minerals, and Hawaiian treasures...and a lot more! Find out about the research conducted by the museum and link to many of their in-depth natural history websites.
  • Lesson plan: Rocks really rock! A lesson on the classification of rocks This lesson will help students classify various rocks according to specified criteria. It will also help students classify a given rock using selected mineral identification tests. Students will use a graphic organizer to display their findings.
  • Lesson plan: Rock around the rock cycle Students will study the rock cycle to understand the relationship between the three types of rocks, sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous, and the conditions needed to transform one type of rock into another. This hopefully will be accomplished through visual learning with computer activities and the demonstration and through auditory learning with the discussion. The student can then apply the knowledge they learned through a story.

Related pages

  • Gem Mountain Gemstone Mines: Along with panning for gemstones, students will learn about gems and the rich mining heritage in North Carolina.
  • Colburn Earth Science Museum: The best rock and mineral specimens from the Burnham Standish Colburn collection are housed in the Colburn Earth Science Museum. Students will enjoy the programs that are centered around this collection of fossils, gems, and North Carolina minerals.
  • Linville Caverns: Discovered in the 1800's by men intrigued by the mystery of fish swimming out of the mountain, the Linville Caverns are underground labyrinths created from slowly moving ground water.

Related topics

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Western North Carolina is a great place for rock hounds. The Old Pressley Sapphire Mine was the source for the 1445-carat “Star of the Carolina” Sapphire, one of the world’s largest. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the surroundings.

The mine is located at 240 Pressley Mine Rd. (Exit 33 off I-40)in Canton. For information or to make a reservation for a class visit, contact George & Brenda McCannon at 828-648-6320. Send email to srichardson3@ec.rr.com

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