Mineral

Gold

[2]by Michelle Czaikowski, 2011
Government & Heritage Library [3]

Related entries: North Carolina Gold Rush [4], Gold in the Uwharries [5]

On June 23, 2011, gold (Aurum) became North Carolina's official state mineral. (Session Law 2011-233 [6])

At least two other states have designated gold as their state mineral - Alaska and California.

The discovery of gold by a twelve year old boy in 1799 in Cabarrus County [7] started North Carolina's gold rush [8]. The boy's name was Conrad Reed, and the location developed into the Reed Gold Mine [9].

The bill was initially introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown of Onslow County [10] on behalf of a fourth grade class at Clyde Erwin Magnet Elementary [11] School.

References and additional resources:

Ballew, Sigrid and Jeff Reid. 2000. "Gold in North Carolina."  North Carolina Geological Survey Web site. Online at http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/Gold%20brochure/Gold%20Brochure%2012222000.htm [12]. Accessed 12/2010.

Learn NC resources [13] about gold.

Leslie, Laura. 2011. "Senate okays gold as state mineral." 5/23/2011. Online at: http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/blogpost/9635000/ [14]. Accessed July 2011.

Reed Gold Mine, NC Historic Sites, NC Department of Cultural Resources. Online at http://www.nchistoricsites.org/reed/reed.htm [9]. Accessed 12/2010.

Resources on gold in North Carolina [15] in libraries [via WorldCat]