Gold occurs in placers in the McDowell belt which has a width of about 2 miles, with Hunt's Mountain and Nichol's Mountain for it's center. It is situated on the head water of North Muddy Creek and of the Second Broad River and for the most part to the east of the road from Marion to Rutherfordton. The largest nuggets found in the South Mountain area have been found in a gulch on the western slope of Huntsville Mountain and had a weight of 5 pounds.

MINES:
Marion Bullion Company Mine - This mine produced copper, lead, zinc with a by product of gold, with platinum and diamonds .

Sprouse Mine - operated from 1885-1935, and produced lode gold. The area stream gravels and slopewash deposits produce placer gold.

Vein Mountain Mine - a series of 13 parallel quartz veins crossing Vein Mountain in .25 mile wide belt had extensive area placer operations prior to 1908. The Nichols Vein, was large and productive for lode gold, copper.

SUGGESTED PROSPECTING AREAS:
Glade Creek - all gravels produce placer gold with platinum.

Hunt's Mountain - area stream gravels produce placer gold with platinum.

Second Broad River - at Glenwood (south part of county), south 5 miles, on the Second Broad River, the Vein Mt. Mine, a series of 13 parallel quartz veins crossing Vein Mountain in .25 mile wide belt the area had extensive operations prior to 1908. The Nichols Vein, large and productive for lode gold, copper. The Second Broad River also produces placer gold.

South Muddy Creek - all gravels of the creek produce placer gold, platinum. South Muddy Creek crossing of Route 26, in stream gravel deposits contains rich placer gold, with diamonds .

North Muddy Creek - all gravels of the creek produce placer gold, platinum.