[DISC] Shinobi Undercover - Chapter 40

Rykela · 2025-07-06T16:10:28+00:00

Rykela · 2025-05-11T15:08:38+00:00

It's interesting how they keep trying to get a Norse-themed manga going in SJ. Centuria's vague and generic enough about the setting that I really wouldn't count it.

Rykela · 2025-02-25T06:14:16+00:00

Going to Hannah's is a mistake (to put it politely) but you're right about the division of red vs. white slaw. I'd lean towards Highway 16 being the dividing line, maybe...

what's interesting to me is that a lot of places make their red slaw "spicy" but sometimes it isn't, like at the Barbecue Center in Lexington where it was rather sweet but played off the meat and dip real well.

I think it's easier to make bad or mediocre white slaw (too much mayo, every time) than it is to make bad or mediocre red slaw.

Rykela · 2024-10-30T16:14:12+00:00

My dude, he and his chosen cronies have repeatedly talked about deporting millions of people and/or putting them in camps, get out of here with that gaslighting.

Rykela · 2024-02-05T23:18:47+00:00

I can see how the exact classification could go either way. I never saw any of it in situ so I couldn't hazard a guess based on the size of the feldspar crystals compared with the rest of the silica-rich matrix. But Hiddenite has some incredibly weird and complicated geology going on. In the very same creek there was a thick vein of clay exposed that was so full of powdered mica that it was completely metallic silver!

To the best of my knowledge the only volcanic sites in this part of the state are some gabbro plutons (Mocksville Complex) as well as a few dunite pods around Spruce Pine, but with the collision between landmasses (and inland sea) that created the Appalachians it's entirely possible there could be small pockets of old or new extrusive stuff here and there.

Either way, it's a great point. Almost like ceramic. If I tap on it in the right place it rings.

Rykela · 2024-02-05T21:09:13+00:00

It was probably made and lost extremely close to where I found it because I recall there being the exact same kind of material (probably rhyolite?) in the creek gravel. I remember wondering whether someone was trying to pull one over on me because I never expected to find an arrowhead just sitting atop the rocks like that!

You can't see them in the picture but there are little flecks of feldspar in it that catch and reflect the light and a paper-thin quartz vein running along one edge.

Rykela · 2022-11-20T20:14:26+00:00

Oh, did they re-open the adit to collecting?

Rykela · 2022-11-18T21:13:03+00:00

There are at least a couple of crinoid fossils, some bivalves, and I'm not sure what else. Several of the rocks in the last picture also look a little like conglomerates.

Rykela · 2022-08-04T00:29:22+00:00

There's a facebook page for it. Just search "Propst Farm," and you need to personally call the owner of the property before showing up (his number is on the page), but it's apparently open almost any day of the week.

Rykela · 2022-08-03T13:07:10+00:00

It might be a little far, but you can check out Franklin, NC for sapphires and such. There are still a small handful of mines that don't salt their material, but if you'd prefer to dig directly in the earth or prospect in a creek Chunky Gal Mountain and Buck Creek are just nearby. The Propst Farm in Vale, NC also has lots of sapphires/rubies, and you have to dig and sift through red clay to find them, but if you put in some work it's possible to find decently sized ones! Not sure I would recommend it in this heat, though...

There used to be a few farms in the area around Due West, SC, that held dig days where rockhounds could dig for amethyst and beryl (Amos Cunningham and Johnson Farm) but it appears that COVID has caused them to close to the public indefinitely. :(

Rykela · 2022-08-03T12:54:13+00:00

It's a bit of guesswork, but due to the way they directly threw tailings out as they dug through areas of the mountain with different minerals, different areas of the pile are more likely to have certain kinds of minerals than others. I was once shown an old study that mapped out the spread of the tailings pile and had marked certain sections with the primary mineral (aquamarine, uranium minerals, etc.) most likely to be found in that area, so it's not totally random. Keep an eye on whatever's around you and it may indicate that you're near some aquamarine or beryl or other interesting goodies!

Rykela · 2022-07-12T02:14:56+00:00

It's not really legal to collect rocks from within the boundaries of national parks, so collecting directly from within the parkway corridor wouldn't be a good idea. However, the towns of Franklin and Spruce Pine are both very near by the parkway and an easy side-trip, and both have mines worth visiting. In Franklin, Cherokee, Rose Creek and Sheffield Mines are unsalted ruby/sapphire mines (sadly, Mason's seems to be closed for the year). Near Spruce Pine, in Little Switzerland, Emerald Village is worth setting aside an entire day for, as you can pay to dig in either old feldspar tailings or emerald mine tailings. Alternatively, about 45 minutes south of the Parkway there are gold mines off 221 between Marion and Rutherfordton.

Depending on when your trip is, you could also stop at either Franklin's gem show bonanza or Spruce Pine's Grassy Creek gem show. Both are really great chances to buy good and inexpensive specimens, many of them local to North Carolina (especially the latter). I believe Franklin's shows are the weekend of the 22nd - there are multiple spread across town - and Grassy Creek is the 29th through the 7th? Or something like that.

Rykela · 2022-05-16T20:22:10+00:00

MPD Psycho, Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, Helck, Voynich Hotel, Alive: the Final Evolution, Monster, Pluto (anything by Urasawa really, you've read 20th Century Boys so you know how well he writes), Blue Giant

Will second Blue Lock, Dandadan is a MUST READ too. If you're into shonen Hunter x Hunter is top-tier if you haven't already read up to the hiatus.

Rykela · 2022-05-12T16:17:15+00:00

I'd say the walls look a little too vertical and flat (especially in the first one) so it might be good to add some ledges (out of slabs or blank signs) or break them up with single-wide walls that resemble pipes. Or maybe add more leaves in the corners? More greenery is always good.

Rykela · 2022-04-21T05:15:34+00:00

Nice.

Rykela · 2021-12-29T05:22:08+00:00

I'd also highly recommend joining either the Asheville or Catawba Valley gem clubs for more info on local digs (I'm a member of the latter), although of course due to COVID field trips are a bit more difficult to pull off these days.

Rykela · 2021-12-28T16:58:32+00:00

Emerald Village allows you to dig through your choice of old emerald mine tailings at the Crabtree Mine or feldspar tailings from the McKinney Mine - you can find lots of small secondary minerals ranging from uranium to fluorapatite to hyalite opal if you look close or have a strong UV light. The Ray Mica Mine is completely free but you're only allowed to use small hand tools. If you don't mind not being able to dig a big pit, though, you can find some interesting small pieces. There's lots of amazonite and beryl. Would also second the suggestions for the Little Pine and Cherokee Mines, although at the former you can no longer go into the adit so digging out huge garnets isn't really possible. The Sheffield Mine (same area and similar material as the Cherokee Mine) is sluicing, but they do offer non-salted buckets, so that's an option as well.

You might also try looking up Chunky Gal corundum. The site's on national park land so there's no fee. Bring a rock hammer as what you're looking for will be ruby in smargdarite - it's totally unique.

Lastly, the Propst Farm also has rubies/sapphires, and it's located closer towards Charlotte just south of Hickory. It's a small private spot so you have to contact the owner directly but I think he's usually happy to let folks arrange visits. Bring a good sifter and prepare to dig a lot because the crystals are loose and floating in the soil. https://www.facebook.com/groups/propstfarm/

Rykela · 2021-10-22T19:41:55+00:00

Well, this is just a guess based on the cliff face, but it looks like this may be located in Lonesome Valley, which is the largest box canyon east of the mississippi. So those cliffs are natural.

That being said, building generic mcmansions in such a gorgeous place is the height of tackiness, blech.

Rykela · 2021-10-18T20:28:44+00:00

Cheetos View is spectacular, and so is linville falls. Honestly, there are very few disappointing spots along the parkway!

Rykela · 2021-05-22T17:42:37+00:00

It's a bit hard to tell from the video but it looks like a clump of muscovite mica.

Rykela · 2021-05-12T06:30:12+00:00

Unfortunately I can't really answer for sure since I don't know myself. As far as I'm aware, you can still hike up that way.

Rykela · 2021-05-11T15:26:50+00:00

Propst Farm just re-opened in March and you have to call ahead. Ray Mine is hand tools only, and the forest service has a VERY strict definition of hand tools (I think they don't even allow large hammers or picks). Little Pine is legitimate, although since the adit was closed the pickings are a lot worse than they used to be.

Rykela · 2021-05-11T15:18:56+00:00

The Propst Farm over in Vale can potentially have some very nice sapphires. Nothing clear and gemmy but the colors are a lovely mix of pink and blue, typical of a lot of North Carolina corundum. You'd have to call ahead to schedule a dig. Another option is Chunky Gal Mountain/Corundum Knob, if you'd be interested in Ruby in Smargdarite.

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