WEBVTT 00:00.934 --> 00:02.502 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% [bright piano arrangement] 00:02.602 --> 00:04.504 align:left position:87.5%,start line:5% size:2.5% ♪ 00:04.604 --> 00:07.574 align:left position:30%,start line:77% size:60% (male narrator) You may remember a scene like this 00:07.674 --> 00:11.211 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% from last week or last year or decades ago: 00:11.311 --> 00:13.146 align:left position:27.5%,start line:89% size:62.5% a school classroom. 00:13.246 --> 00:15.215 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% But bet you didn't hear words like this 00:15.315 --> 00:17.117 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% when you were comin' up. 00:17.217 --> 00:19.486 align:left position:15%,start line:89% size:75% Lukogranodiuriticmetatonalite. 00:19.586 --> 00:22.122 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5% Lukogranodiuriticmetatonalite. 00:22.222 --> 00:25.125 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% Uh, lukogranodiuriticmetatonalite. 00:25.225 --> 00:27.827 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5% Lukogranodiuriticmetatonalite. 00:27.927 --> 00:30.497 align:left position:15%,start line:89% size:75% Lukogranodiuriticmetatonalite. 00:30.597 --> 00:35.135 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5% Lukogranodiuriticmetatonalite. 00:35.235 --> 00:39.139 align:left position:12.5%,start line:83% size:77.5% The lukogranodiuriticmetatonalite-- 00:39.239 --> 00:42.509 align:left position:35%,start line:89% size:55% the Spruce Pine rock. 00:42.609 --> 00:44.477 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% (narrator) Lukogranodiuriticmetatonalite 00:44.577 --> 00:46.579 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% is just one tongue-twisting example 00:46.679 --> 00:49.249 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% of what Alex Glover brings to his classroom 00:49.349 --> 00:51.785 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine, 00:51.885 --> 00:53.553 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% where he teaches a course 00:53.653 --> 00:56.556 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% on the fascinating and unique geology of the region. 00:56.656 --> 00:58.158 align:left position:25%,start line:89% size:65% And to hear him talk, 00:58.258 --> 00:59.959 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% there's nowhere else in the world 01:00.060 --> 01:03.463 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% quite like right here, at least geologically. 01:04.831 --> 01:07.567 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% This is a man in love with his work. 01:07.667 --> 01:09.002 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% He ended up here 01:09.102 --> 01:11.971 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% in what amounts to his geologic mountain paradise 01:12.072 --> 01:13.907 align:left position:25%,start line:89% size:65% in a roundabout way, 01:14.007 --> 01:17.243 align:left position:12.5%,start line:83% size:77.5% when during summers in college he worked in a coal mine, 01:17.343 --> 01:19.679 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% which he described as "hot, nasty, and dirty," 01:19.779 --> 01:22.515 align:left position:32.5%,start line:83% size:57.5% 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. 01:22.615 --> 01:24.184 align:left position:15%,start line:89% size:75% And then something happened. 01:24.284 --> 01:26.586 align:left position:25%,start line:77% size:65% (Alex) I got to help the geologist one day 01:26.686 --> 01:28.521 align:left position:15%,start line:89% size:75% because his helper was sick, 01:28.621 --> 01:32.559 align:left position:30%,start line:5% size:60% and so I got to do that, and it was just awesome. 01:32.659 --> 01:35.228 align:left position:27.5%,start line:5% size:62.5% I mean, four-wheel drives in the woods, 01:35.328 --> 01:37.897 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% and we're drillin' and makin' maps and surveyin', 01:37.997 --> 01:41.234 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% learn how to survey and how to test the coal, 01:41.334 --> 01:44.671 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% how to run the lab samples, and it was just-- 01:44.771 --> 01:47.006 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% it was an unbelievable job for me. 01:47.107 --> 01:48.741 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% (narrator) He liked it so much 01:48.842 --> 01:50.743 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% that he encouraged the real geologist's helper 01:50.844 --> 01:52.479 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% to take more time off-- 01:52.579 --> 01:54.714 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% heh, heh-- so he could step in. 01:54.814 --> 01:58.218 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% (Alex) I just, uh, fell in love with the subject. 01:58.318 --> 01:59.586 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% [bright piano arrangement] 01:59.686 --> 02:01.387 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% (narrator) As you might imagine, 02:01.488 --> 02:04.090 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% Alex's classroom is as big as all outdoors. 02:04.190 --> 02:06.159 align:left position:27.5%,start line:77% size:62.5% (Alex) You're seein' just awesome stuff. 02:06.259 --> 02:09.829 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% I mean, uh, we had a class today in the field 02:09.929 --> 02:12.532 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% where I still have to pinch myself thinking, 02:12.632 --> 02:14.033 align:left position:32.5%,start line:89% size:57.5% how could this happen, 02:14.134 --> 02:15.768 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% the awesomeness of this happening, 02:15.869 --> 02:17.537 align:left position:37.5%,start line:89% size:52.5% and it happenin' here 02:17.637 --> 02:19.405 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% where we can actually have a class 02:19.506 --> 02:21.474 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% and take students to go see those things, 02:21.574 --> 02:24.711 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% and to be blessed with an area in the mountains 02:24.811 --> 02:27.046 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% to live like this and see geology 02:27.147 --> 02:29.449 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% that most people don't ever get to see? 02:29.549 --> 02:31.451 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% We see igneous rocks here. 02:31.551 --> 02:33.386 align:left position:32.5%,start line:83% size:57.5% We see metamorphic rocks here. 02:33.486 --> 02:37.257 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% We see some--some versions of sedimentary rocks here 02:37.357 --> 02:39.759 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% there are not many places in the world 02:39.859 --> 02:43.930 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% where you can see all of those and how they react together. 02:44.030 --> 02:46.633 align:left position:22.5%,start line:77% size:67.5% (narrator) You might easily think things happened fast 02:46.733 --> 02:49.068 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% when you hear Alex's quick explanation, 02:49.169 --> 02:51.070 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% but tectonic motion is measured 02:51.171 --> 02:53.907 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% in centimeters per year, so slow a pace 02:54.007 --> 02:57.677 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% that it's nearly impossible to stretch your mind around. 02:57.777 --> 02:59.712 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% When Africa and the Eurasian continent 02:59.812 --> 03:01.781 align:left position:32.5%,start line:89% size:57.5% were slamming together, 03:01.881 --> 03:04.951 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% this is where those pressures were focused, 03:05.051 --> 03:07.387 align:left position:45%,start line:83% size:45% so lots of things were buried deep, 03:07.487 --> 03:09.389 align:left position:25%,start line:89% size:65% and then these things 03:09.489 --> 03:11.457 align:left position:32.5%,start line:83% size:57.5% were, uh-- were uplifted. 03:11.558 --> 03:12.926 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% (narrator) One popular site 03:13.026 --> 03:14.727 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% where you can witness this thrusting 03:14.827 --> 03:18.198 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% is in Linville Gorge, not far from Spruce Pine. 03:18.298 --> 03:19.632 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% That's where you'll find 03:19.732 --> 03:21.534 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% the Linville Falls thrust fault, 03:21.634 --> 03:23.303 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% where something amazing happened. 03:23.403 --> 03:25.838 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% A slab of rock called the Cranberry Gneiss 03:25.939 --> 03:27.740 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% that's over a billion years old 03:27.840 --> 03:29.742 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% was thrust on top of a rock 03:29.842 --> 03:31.110 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% called quartzite, 03:31.211 --> 03:34.314 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% which is a mere 550 million years old. 03:34.414 --> 03:37.650 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% The crusty rock in the middle is mylonite, 03:37.750 --> 03:39.919 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% and it's 300 million years old-- 03:40.019 --> 03:41.888 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% quite a sandwich. 03:41.988 --> 03:44.290 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% Some of the oldest rocks in this state 03:44.390 --> 03:45.792 align:left position:35%,start line:89% size:55% and in the Southeast-- 03:45.892 --> 03:47.160 align:left position:45%,start line:89% size:45% it's been shoved 03:47.260 --> 03:51.164 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% up and over rocks that are 540 million years old 03:51.264 --> 03:54.334 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% with a half a billion years in between! 03:54.434 --> 03:55.835 align:left position:55%,start line:89% size:35% Awesome! 03:55.935 --> 03:59.072 align:left position:17.5%,start line:77% size:72.5% (narrator) "Awesome" is a reaction that comes easily to Alex, 03:59.172 --> 04:00.940 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% especially now that he's come home 04:01.040 --> 04:02.308 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% to the mountains 04:02.408 --> 04:05.044 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% after a career in commercial geology. 04:05.144 --> 04:08.514 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% And then came the mother lode of teaching opportunities, 04:08.615 --> 04:10.583 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% practically right in the Glover's 04:10.683 --> 04:12.719 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% mountain-loving, gemstone-hunting, 04:12.819 --> 04:14.887 align:left position:25%,start line:89% size:65% rock-strewn backyard. 04:14.988 --> 04:16.422 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% I started collectin' samples, 04:16.522 --> 04:18.791 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% and I thought, you know, when I retire, 04:18.891 --> 04:21.060 align:left position:42.5%,start line:83% size:47.5% I'd love to do some of this stuff. 04:21.160 --> 04:24.464 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% So I retired March 31st and thought, well, you know, 04:24.564 --> 04:26.666 align:left position:35%,start line:83% size:55% Mayland hasn't had a geography instructor 04:26.766 --> 04:28.968 align:left position:45%,start line:83% size:45% in 12 years, and here they are 04:29.068 --> 04:30.970 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% in the middle of a mining community, 04:31.070 --> 04:32.972 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% and I-- I just asked 'em 04:33.072 --> 04:35.975 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% if they'd like to have a part-time instructor, 04:36.075 --> 04:38.344 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and so they were very welcoming. 04:38.444 --> 04:40.580 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% And so I've been-- had my little class 04:40.680 --> 04:43.016 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% for the last two months, and it's just awesome. 04:43.116 --> 04:44.584 align:left position:45%,start line:5% size:45% Alex is great. 04:44.684 --> 04:46.919 align:left position:30%,start line:5% size:60% He really knows what he's talkin' 'bout, 04:47.020 --> 04:49.289 align:left position:25%,start line:5% size:65% and he helps explain to us very well, 04:49.389 --> 04:52.058 align:left position:35%,start line:5% size:55% to where we know what we can talk about 04:52.158 --> 04:54.127 align:left position:22.5%,start line:5% size:67.5% and to help us get a better understanding. 04:54.227 --> 04:56.029 align:left position:32.5%,start line:5% size:57.5% From the first day, uh, 04:56.129 --> 04:58.798 align:left position:25%,start line:5% size:65% I really just fell in love with the class. 04:58.898 --> 05:00.900 align:left position:35%,start line:5% size:55% He's just very patient and very kind, 05:01.000 --> 05:03.036 align:left position:22.5%,start line:5% size:67.5% and you can tell that he's really interested 05:03.136 --> 05:05.605 align:left position:12.5%,start line:5% size:77.5% in what he does, and he's very excited about it, 05:05.705 --> 05:07.807 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% and it makes you excited about it too. 05:07.907 --> 05:09.509 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% [piano patterns lead mellow chords] 05:09.609 --> 05:12.578 align:left position:25%,start line:5% size:65% I've never looked at rocks in the same way, 05:12.679 --> 05:15.081 align:left position:37.5%,start line:5% size:52.5% and I don't think anyone else will. 05:15.181 --> 05:17.650 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% If they ever take a course in geology, 05:17.750 --> 05:19.686 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5% especially from Alex, they're-- 05:19.786 --> 05:22.755 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% they're gonna look at rocks entirely differently. 05:22.855 --> 05:24.891 align:left position:27.5%,start line:89% size:62.5% [shuffling leaves] 05:25.425 --> 05:27.193 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% (narrator) Now matter how instructive 05:27.293 --> 05:29.062 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% the classroom experience may prove, 05:29.162 --> 05:32.432 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% most of this man's teaching happens in the field... 05:32.532 --> 05:34.567 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% because that's where the rocks are. 05:34.667 --> 05:37.236 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% So join the class for a short while 05:37.337 --> 05:39.238 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% and experience Alex Glover for yourself, 05:39.339 --> 05:40.940 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% where he's at his best 05:41.040 --> 05:43.176 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% and where you can learn the most. 05:43.276 --> 05:45.044 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% The next stop on the field trip 05:45.144 --> 05:47.113 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% is an abandoned mine that once provided minerals 05:47.213 --> 05:48.715 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% for early Native Americans 05:48.815 --> 05:50.249 align:left position:27.5%,start line:89% size:62.5% and later supplied 05:50.350 --> 05:52.418 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% the pioneers of the carbon age. 05:52.518 --> 05:54.153 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% We're in the Hoot Owl Mine. 05:54.253 --> 05:55.755 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% We're in Mitchell County. 05:55.855 --> 05:57.857 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% This mine is a large pegmatite 05:57.957 --> 06:00.326 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% of the Spruce Pine pegmatite district. 06:00.426 --> 06:03.496 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% This mine is named after the two big portals, 06:03.596 --> 06:06.199 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% which look like hoot owl eyes. 06:06.299 --> 06:09.569 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% The rock is actually lukogranodiuriticmetatonalite, 06:09.669 --> 06:12.905 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and our class has-- they have fun with that name, 06:13.005 --> 06:16.476 align:left position:12.5%,start line:83% size:77.5% but it's really composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica. 06:16.576 --> 06:18.277 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% The quartz in this rock 06:18.378 --> 06:20.613 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% is the most pure quartz on earth, 06:20.713 --> 06:22.615 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% and you can't make a semiconductor, 06:22.715 --> 06:24.384 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% a computer chip, 06:24.484 --> 06:26.953 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% without the quartz from this rock. 06:27.053 --> 06:29.622 align:left position:22.5%,start line:77% size:67.5% (narrator) The quartz is also used in automobile lights, 06:29.722 --> 06:31.624 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% street lights, and solar panels. 06:31.724 --> 06:34.360 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% The feldspar is used in ceramics, putty, caulks, 06:34.460 --> 06:35.995 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% sealants, even paints. 06:36.095 --> 06:38.898 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% And the mica, once used by Native Americans 06:38.998 --> 06:40.900 align:left position:15%,start line:89% size:75% for ornamentation and makeup, 06:41.000 --> 06:44.137 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% is now a primary ingredient for Sheetrock mud. 06:44.237 --> 06:46.472 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% [sparkling arrangement] 06:46.572 --> 06:48.875 align:left position:15%,start line:77% size:75% (narrator) Almost everything we clever humans have created 06:48.975 --> 06:50.977 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% in the last half-century 06:51.077 --> 06:53.846 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% has a little Spruce Pine inside. 06:53.946 --> 06:55.681 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% (narrator) The Hoot Owl Mine, 06:55.782 --> 06:57.483 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% while small by today's standards, 06:57.583 --> 07:01.721 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% is like a small playground for Alex and his class. 07:01.821 --> 07:03.790 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% These days, people come to this area more 07:03.890 --> 07:07.760 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% with the idea of fun in mind than mineral mining, 07:07.860 --> 07:11.063 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% but sometimes they're after riches of another kind. 07:11.164 --> 07:13.866 align:left position:15%,start line:77% size:75% (man) Whoa, look at that pretty, pretty blue one right there. 07:13.966 --> 07:15.802 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% See that pretty blue one? 07:15.902 --> 07:19.005 align:left position:87.5%,start line:5% size:2.5% ♪ 07:19.105 --> 07:20.873 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% (child) Oh, Mom, look at this one! 07:20.973 --> 07:22.942 align:left position:30%,start line:77% size:60% (narrator) There are places to hunt for gems 07:23.042 --> 07:24.544 align:left position:25%,start line:89% size:65% on and off the road, 07:24.644 --> 07:27.280 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% tucked in and around bends in the North Toe River 07:27.380 --> 07:30.149 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% as it curls through Mitchell and Yancey Counties 07:30.249 --> 07:33.486 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% where towns have names like Bandana, Wing, 07:33.586 --> 07:35.488 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% and, of course, Micaville. 07:35.588 --> 07:38.391 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Matt Housley can tell you about all of it 07:38.491 --> 07:41.594 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% here at the Spruce Pine Gemstone Mine jewelry shop. 07:41.694 --> 07:43.663 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% He grew up in these parts 07:43.763 --> 07:45.765 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% and hunted gems with his family. 07:45.865 --> 07:47.500 align:left position:32.5%,start line:83% size:57.5% Well, my grandfather used to say 07:47.600 --> 07:49.302 align:left position:32.5%,start line:89% size:57.5% that rocks had flavors. 07:49.402 --> 07:52.738 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% So we look for a specific sort of blend 07:52.839 --> 07:54.740 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% of certain minerals, uh, 07:54.841 --> 07:57.510 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% or flavors as he would call it, 07:57.610 --> 08:00.947 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% and if you have that blend, then it's an indicator 08:01.047 --> 08:03.449 align:left position:37.5%,start line:47% size:52.5% that you have the right building blocks 08:03.549 --> 08:06.219 align:left position:27.5%,start line:47% size:62.5% to have whatever you're lookin' for gemstonewise. 08:06.319 --> 08:08.921 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% This area is known for the largest variety 08:09.021 --> 08:11.524 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% of gems and minerals of anywhere on planet earth. 08:11.624 --> 08:14.060 align:left position:25%,start line:83% size:65% There are veins around this, uh,area 08:14.160 --> 08:16.095 align:left position:32.5%,start line:83% size:57.5% that produce 31 different types 08:16.195 --> 08:18.264 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% of gems and minerals, which is unheard of 08:18.364 --> 08:19.999 align:left position:35%,start line:83% size:55% in most places in the world. 08:20.099 --> 08:21.434 align:left position:25%,start line:89% size:65% Usually a mine produces 08:21.534 --> 08:24.237 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% one or two or maybe three different things, 08:24.337 --> 08:27.673 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% and so 31 is just a crazy number, um. 08:27.773 --> 08:30.676 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% This area has just about every precious gemstone. 08:30.776 --> 08:32.678 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% We have ruby; we have sapphire. 08:32.778 --> 08:35.214 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% We have emerald; we have aquamarine. 08:35.314 --> 08:37.917 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% We have beautiful garnets, beautiful kyanite, uh, 08:38.017 --> 08:39.652 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% moonstone, amazonite-- 08:39.752 --> 08:41.721 align:left position:32.5%,start line:83% size:57.5% it just goes on and on and on. 08:41.821 --> 08:43.589 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% (narrator) And where else on this planet 08:43.689 --> 08:45.324 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% could you actually scramble around 08:45.424 --> 08:47.793 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% on the earth's mantle-- heh, heh, heh! 08:47.894 --> 08:50.029 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% These are actually mantle deposits, uh. 08:50.129 --> 08:51.631 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% This is below the crust. 08:51.731 --> 08:54.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% This is a dunite or an olivine deposit. 08:54.500 --> 08:56.402 align:left position:17.5%,start line:89% size:72.5% They're mainly iron-based. 08:56.502 --> 08:59.272 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% They're very rare, and during subduction, 08:59.372 --> 09:02.208 align:left position:12.5%,start line:83% size:77.5% when you had the Eurasian continent bumpin' 09:02.308 --> 09:04.710 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% into the North American continent, uh, 09:04.810 --> 09:08.314 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% the ocean floor was bein' subducted down. 09:08.414 --> 09:09.782 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Ocean floor is material 09:09.882 --> 09:12.518 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that comes up from the mantle and spreads, 09:12.618 --> 09:15.021 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% which is what causes the mid-Atlantic Ridge. 09:15.121 --> 09:17.156 align:left position:12.5%,start line:83% size:77.5% So you had pieces comin' over here 09:17.256 --> 09:19.158 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and bein' subducted down, 09:19.258 --> 09:22.995 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and a few pieces were scraped off right here. 09:23.095 --> 09:25.097 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% So if this were a knife edge 09:25.197 --> 09:28.768 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and this were a chunk o' cheese goin' down like this, 09:28.868 --> 09:31.103 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% a piece of that cheese was scraped off. 09:31.203 --> 09:32.772 align:left position:32.5%,start line:89% size:57.5% And so this is 09:32.872 --> 09:34.807 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% high-temperature mantle material 09:34.907 --> 09:37.476 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% that is not where it's supposed to be. 09:37.577 --> 09:39.745 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% So this is very, very rare. 09:39.845 --> 09:41.180 align:left position:32.5%,start line:83% size:57.5% (narrator) Our final stop: 09:41.280 --> 09:43.583 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% just a short walk down the tracks, 09:43.683 --> 09:46.519 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% a marble deposit with an unusual heritage. 09:46.619 --> 09:49.021 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% (Alex) This is the Bandana marble, 09:49.121 --> 09:53.326 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% and this is rare marble in western North Carolina. 09:53.426 --> 09:55.528 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% There are other-- are other marbles, 09:55.628 --> 09:58.497 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% but this is a rare white crystalline, 09:58.598 --> 10:01.367 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% coarsely crystalline marble, and it's beautiful. 10:01.467 --> 10:03.469 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% This is actually a dolomitic marble, 10:03.569 --> 10:05.471 align:left position:22.5%,start line:89% size:67.5% so it's magnesium rich. 10:05.571 --> 10:07.540 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But it's about ten feet thick, 10:07.640 --> 10:10.242 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and it was a lens inside of this. 10:10.343 --> 10:13.746 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% All of this rock is foliated and dipping this way. 10:13.846 --> 10:16.616 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Then later, 380 million years ago, 10:16.716 --> 10:20.019 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% the Spruce Pine pegmatites, which is right here, 10:20.119 --> 10:23.055 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% came in and intruded through all of it. 10:23.155 --> 10:25.291 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% So this is a rare event, 10:25.391 --> 10:28.461 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% to see an early calcareous marble 10:28.561 --> 10:31.998 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% in an oceanic deposit, debris... 10:32.098 --> 10:35.401 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that's cut by a Spruce Pine pegmatite. 10:35.501 --> 10:37.269 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% So there are many things. 10:37.370 --> 10:40.406 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I could have a whole week's worth of classes 10:40.506 --> 10:41.974 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% here at this deposit. 10:42.074 --> 10:44.276 align:left position:15%,start line:77% size:75% (narrator) Unfortunately, we don't have that much time, 10:44.377 --> 10:47.113 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% so we'll leave the class to learn more about the rocks 10:47.213 --> 10:49.081 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% under their feet and over their heads-- 10:49.181 --> 10:52.151 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% like us, visitors to this part of our state, 10:52.251 --> 10:55.021 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% only from hundreds of millions of years back. 10:55.121 --> 10:56.922 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% And since we've learned something too, 10:57.023 --> 10:59.258 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% we'll now no doubt all be open 10:59.358 --> 11:01.727 align:left position:22.5%,start line:83% size:67.5% to learning even more about North Carolina's 11:01.827 --> 11:05.498 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% far distant and endlessly fascinating past. 11:05.598 --> 11:08.601 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% You could be lucky enough to find a gem or two 11:08.701 --> 11:10.936 align:left position:27.5%,start line:83% size:62.5% on your next visit to the area. 11:11.037 --> 11:12.972 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% And should you really luck out, 11:13.072 --> 11:15.808 align:left position:17.5%,start line:83% size:72.5% you may even encounter this knowledgeable fellow, 11:15.908 --> 11:18.644 align:left position:15%,start line:83% size:75% who can sum up the amazing geologic history 11:18.744 --> 11:22.148 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% of Spruce Pine in just one word. 11:22.248 --> 11:23.883 align:left position:55%,start line:89% size:35% Awesome!