Dazzling display: The Muscadines of Oglethorpe, the state’s largest amethyst cluster, were dug from the ground in Stephens

  • The Muscadines of Oglethorpe, which were discovered on Lewis Sanders’ property in Stephens in 1994, are on display at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
    The Muscadines of Oglethorpe, which were discovered on Lewis Sanders’ property in Stephens in 1994, are on display at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
  • Cristina Harris (from left), John Koontz and Frank Harris look at the Muscadines as they appeared in 1994, before they were displayed at the Oglethorpe County Library. Koontz was part of the first dig and Frank Harris found the site. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
    Cristina Harris (from left), John Koontz and Frank Harris look at the Muscadines as they appeared in 1994, before they were displayed at the Oglethorpe County Library. Koontz was part of the first dig and Frank Harris found the site. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
  • Chester Karwoski holds a big cluster from the second dig that shows crystals with a purple hue. He said the crystals are partially covered with a layer of opaque white milky quartz, which is characteristic of amethyst from this area. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
    Chester Karwoski holds a big cluster from the second dig that shows crystals with a purple hue. He said the crystals are partially covered with a layer of opaque white milky quartz, which is characteristic of amethyst from this area. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
    When Lewis Sanders received a letter from Chester Karwoski in 1994, inquiring about digging up parts of his farm in Stephens for crystals, he didn’t have high expectations they would find much.&n...

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