Where To Find Gemstones Found In North Carolina

Each year thousands of rockhounds tourists and educational field trip participants flock to this popular north carolina attraction to experience the thrill of finding rare gemstones in the rough.

Where to find gemstones found in north carolina. The mckinney mines have produced over 100 different rocks minerals and gems. Green gem variety of beryl first found in alexander county in 1874 and later in mitchell county in 1894 95. Below are just a few of the stones you can find in the mines of western north carolina. Gems are scarce but many rare minerals can be found.

The 1880s saw the largest emerald at that time an eight and one half inch crystal. Gems and gem minerals of north carolina in the 1933 edition of american mineralogist. We had a blast and found a lot of interesting stones the best were a gem quality 8 carat ruby that we are having cabbed plus a giant specimen quality ruby that weighed 116 carats. Their sluice table overlooked a marsh filled with beautiful plants dragonflies and an abundance of singing birds enjoying the bird feeders.

Any mineral or gemstone that forms as a result of geologic processes can be found in stream beds. Recreational gold and gem mining. A rare massive gem found on a farm in north carolina could be worth more than a million dollars and tells an interesting geological history of the tarheel state. This is perhaps the best state to find such a wide variety of gems and minerals in the united states particularly some of the most valuable types.

North carolina is another of the nation s hot spots for gem hunting. Information about locations and operating hours of the literally hundreds of gold and gem mining businesses can be found in many tourism publications and websites. If you want to read a great summary of north carolina gemstones see joseph hyde pratt s classic article titled. Hiddenite is also famous as being one of the few places on earth where the very rare gemstone hiddenite can be found.

In addition to the above mentioned minerals and gemstones other gem materials like staurolite topaz tourmaline aquamarine and citrine are also found in various counties across north carolina. View the documentary about this remarkable piece of western north carolina history gold fever and the bechtler mint that aired on unc tv. The last north carolina diamond was found in 1893 at king s mountain. Emerald village is a group of gem mining and historical attractions nestled deep in the blue ridge mountains of western north carolina just off the blue ridge parkway and within an hour s drive of asheville boone and blowing rock.

The 65 carat emerald was unearthed. Types of gems found in wnc. Recent reports on the huffington post and abc news websites describe how some visitors have found emeralds worth over 10 000 in the rough.