Has anyone ever gone mining for gemstones or precious stones in NC or anywhere in the US?

Question

I have seen several shows on the Travel Channel about mining for gemstones or finding fossils and some of it looks like fun. Just curious if anyone has tried it. Might like to try it on vacation.

Answer 1

We have "mined" for gemstones several places in the country, and NC is one of the best. The western part of the state has a lot of old mines, and places you can go to tour or mine.



Franklin NC, in the Cowee valley, is a great place to start. There are a variety of "mines", ranging from the very tourist oriented (great if you have kids) to the more "natural" settings, where the ore is not salted. The latter places usually use tailings from the original mines, and you can purchase buckets of this material to search through in the onsite troughs, using the flowing water to separate out the interesting rocks.



There are also a lot of places to see relating to the mines, including a nice museum, and many lapidary places that you can pay to polish anything you may find, or even set the material into jewelry. If you enjoy rock hunting, the Franklin area is a really fun place to visit!



I must say that it's just for fun. The odds of finding anything truly valuable is rather remote, regardless of what the treasure-hunting shows tell you on TV. This is not to disparage the concept, it's still very fun. We have gone back several times.



One other place I would mention is in Arkansas, interesting because it's the only real diamond mine in the US, a very rare geological oddity in Murfreesboro. This is where the Crater of Diamonds state park is located. It used to be a real diamond mine, producing some nice gemstones. It was purchased by Arkansas and turned into a state park, where you can go and look for diamonds yourself. Anything you find is yours to keep, and every year quite a few nice diamonds are found. This is another fun place to visit.

Answer 2

Oh yes, all over. You can find fossils of various types just about anywhere you want to look. There are largeish diamond deposits in places like Arkansas and Alaska, even Minnesota and Wyoming. The most common gems in the US are beryl, coral, garnet, gem feldspar, opal, quartz, sapphire, ruby, shell, pearls, topaz, tourmaline and turquoise.



If you go on vacation somewhere, just hit the bookstore and pick up a Field Guide to Fossils / Gemstones / Rocks whatever it is that you're looking for in that particular area. You can go from easy picture books to more interesting and educational ones. They're only about $20 bucks or so, maybe a classic $49.95 if you get a really high-end book.



North Carolina is full of marine creatures, and more shark teeth than you could ever want in a lifetime. More locations, too. Just search for "fossil hunting north carolina" to give yourself a whole list of places.



So yes, there are all sorts of things in the US (remember the California and Alaska Gold Rushes, and the Silver Rush in Nevada, just for starters?).

Answer 3

Forty-five years ago, as a teenager in high school, I persuaded my family to visit the ruby mines near Franklin, NC. We did find a number of small rubies and sapphires and had loads of fun, so much so that my parents went back for years after I was married and gone! On one of those trips my mother recovered a large ruby suitable for a cabochon. Facet grade rubies and sapphires, of course, are rather rare. I understand very few of the mines now operating have the real stuff but instead "salt" the works with imported minerals. There is (was?) an emerald mine, but I do not know if any of the material was facet grade. But if you are doing it for fun - oh boy!!!! Just do some research before! I suggest contacting the North Carolina Geological Survey for information. I am placing a link to their website below.

Answer 4

Do not believe you will find a valuable stone like like on the TV shows they plant them so the show is interesting. Not that you can not find one but the odds are against you. It is a great family activity and a educational one as well and I rcommend it highly. It is inexpensive and fun. It is like going to the casino the thought of winning is a great lore and so is finding a big stone.



The kids love it they can get dirty, shash rocks with a hammer and play in big dirt piles.



The mines we went to were garnet in NH, did not find any, but my wife made out in the gem shop! Cost me a 100 dollars for her neckless. The other in NJ had a great museum and was a florite mine. We did find lots of small pieces of little value.



What was good about the experience was it got my younger son started as mineral and rock collector.



My older son likes to stop at the mines as he travels and now that we are retired I plan to take it up again as we travel. The mines in Georgia look interesting especially the emerald mines. So give it a try and good hunting you may find the big one.

Answer 5

have not got faith you will stumble on a helpful stone like like on the television shows they plant them so the tutor is exciting. no longer which you would be able to't discover one however the opportunities are against you. it relatively is an marvelous kinfolk activity and a academic one besides and that i rcommend it exceptionally. it relatively is low value and relaxing. it relatively is like going to the on line casino the seen triumphing is an marvelous lore and so is looking a huge stone. the toddlers like it they are able to get grimy, shash rocks with a hammer and play in massive airborne dirt and dust piles. The mines we went to have been garnet in NH, did no longer discover any, yet my spouse made out interior the gem save! value me a a hundred funds for her neckless. the different in NJ had an marvelous museum and became a florite mine. We did discover incredibly some small products of little cost. What became sturdy with regard to the journey became it have been given my youthful son all started as mineral and rock collector. My older son loves to renounce on the mines as he travels and now that we are retired I plan to take it up lower back as we return and forth. The mines in Georgia look exciting extraordinarily the emerald mines. So supply it a attempt and robust looking you're able to be able to discover the super one.