North Carolina: Places to Dig for Gemstones in North Carolina (2024)

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North Carolina: Places to Dig for Gemstones in North Carolina? ›

Gem Mining in North Carolina and Other Great Family Activities. In the Smokies region of Western North Carolina you will find gem mines in Franklin: Gold City Gem Mine, Jewelry and Rock Shop; Rose Creek Mine; Ruby City Gems and Minerals; and Sheffield Mine. In Highlands visit Jackson Hole Trading Post.

Gem Mining in North Carolina and Other Great Family Activities. In the Smokies region of Western North Carolina you will find gem mines in Franklin: Gold City Gem Mine, Jewelry and Rock Shop; Rose Creek Mine; Ruby City Gems and Minerals; and Sheffield Mine. In Highlands visit Jackson Hole Trading Post.

North Carolina has the beautiful rhodolite garnet named after the colorful purplish-pink rhododendron which grows wild in the mountains of western North Carolina. Ruby and sapphire of-exceptional beauty are found in Cowee Valley in the Franklin County area of western North Carolina. Many of these gems exhibit asterism.

Gem Mining in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina

You could potentially find many natural gifts the Great Smoky Mountains can share, like ruby, sapphire, topaz, emerald, amethyst, rose and smoky quartz, and more!

Opal Mines in North Carolina | Walker Creek Kyanite, Buncombe County, N.C. , The pegmatite area.

The Emerald Hollow Mine is the only emerald mine in the world open to the public for prospecting. Nestled snugly in the foothills of the beautiful Brushy Mountains, this North Carolina Emerald mine is located in the small town of Hiddenite, North Carolina.

Franklin, NC is known as the “Gem Capital of the World” for good reason. Gem mining in Franklin has a rich tradition, with native rubies and sapphires, both members of the corundum family, having been mined for years in the historic Cowee Valley.

Rhodolite was first discovered in Macon County in the 1880s and described in 1898 by mineralogists William Earl Hidden and Joseph Hyde Pratt. In North America, the mineral is only found in North Carolina. The gem was named for its color, which is similar to rhododendron blooms.

Rhodolite: A pink variety of garnet unique in North America to North Carolina. Pale pink, to rose-red, to purple, rhodolite was discovered in 1893 in Asheville and later discovered while for ruby in the Cowee Valley in 1895.

Where is gold found in NC? ›

Gold can also be panned at the Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County. This mine was purchased by the state in 1972, and is now operated as a state historic site. A portion of the underground workings has been restored and a visitor center offers exhibits illustrating the history of the mine.

Public lands: Many states and national parks have public lands where you can hunt for gemstones for free. Your own backyard: Believe it or not, you may be able to find gemstones right in your own backyard! Look for areas with exposed rock formations, as these are often good places to find gemstones.

North Carolina has a glittering mining history, and today we're still known for our gold, ruby, sapphire and emerald mines. In the early 1800s, you could hardly cross North Carolina without falling into a gold mine.

In the United States, jade can be found across the country, from the west coast of California to the eastern seaboard in North Carolina.

Emeralds were first found in Alexander County in 1874, and later in Mitchell County (1890) and Cleveland County (1897). Today, these are North Carolina's three known emerald districts. North Carolina's emeralds are found in pockets of quartz veins.

North Carolina is currently the only source of gem quality emeralds in the United States. Below is a list of a few notable emerald discoveries from North Carolina.

Emerald Hollow Mine is the only Emerald Mine in the world open to the public for prospecting. We are nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Brushy Mountains located in Hiddenite North Carolina. This is recognized as one of the most unique and interesting geological locations in North America.