Hiddenite, North Carolina
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Hiddenite is a community in east-central Alexander County, North Carolina. The town of Hiddenite was incorporated in 1913, but its charter was repealed in 1919. Hiddenite was named for William Earl Hidden (1853-1918), a mineralogist sent to North Carolina by Thomas Edison to look for platinum. Hidden discovered the gem that came to be known as "hiddenite" in 1879 in mines nearby. Hiddenite, a variety of spodumene and is the only precious gemstone that cannot be synthesized[citation needed]. Until recently it was found only in Alexander County, North Carolina Today, but it has been subsequently found in Madagascar and Brazil [1]. The area around Hiddenite also yields emeralds, sapphires, and many other stones.
Prior to the arrival of W.E. Hidden, the community was known as White Plains; this is how the area appears on a map of 1871. Hiddenite was once noted as a health resort because of its sulfur springs.
Hiddenite's altitude is 1,140 feet (347 meters). The community is also a poultry producer.
[edit] References
- ^ galleries.com page for hiddenite.
[edit] External link
- Website of Hiddenite's mining company
- Mineral data
