Treasure Hunting

I’m continuing on from yesterday’s post about where to go gem hunting in North Carolina. The picture to the left is a raw emerald. Looks pretty different from the ones cut and set into jewelry, doesn’t it? North Carolina is definitely emerald country though. But like I mentioned in yesterday’s post, North Carolina is home to tons of other different rocks and minerals, too.

Rose Creek Mine, located in Franklin, North Carolina, is another flume mining operation with a twist. You get to go dig your own bucket of dirt from the mining tunnel and then bring it back to the flume rather than have the bucket prepared for you. It’s possible to find rubies, sapphires, garnets, and amethyst among other things in this locale. The flume area is covered so you can even work in the rain.

Also located in Franklin is the Sheffield Mine. At this flume mine, you have a couple of options. Your general admission is $15 ($10 for those under 15 or over 60) and that includes two “starter” buckets of dirt. For your starter buckets, you can either choose two native buckets that may contain native rubies and sapphires, two enriched buckets, or one of each. On top of this, you can purchase special enriched buckets that can cost anywhere from $12-$100. These buckets might contain Mexican opals, Brazilian emeralds, and any other gem they have in stock. There’s also a special fossil bucket for those who lean more to that area. Here is a link to some pictures of items that were found by one person.

The Thermal City Gold Mine in Rutherford County, NC offers both gold mining and gem hunting. Here, the experience is more authentic - the dirt and gravel is not enriched or enhanced. In addition to their standard fare, they also offer special digs a few times each summer that require advanced reservations.

So, where are the best places to go gem hunting in North Carolina? It all depends what you’re looking for.

The Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine in Spruce Pine, NC offers both flume mining and trips to the Brushy Creek Aquamarine Mine. The flume mining is conducted in a covered area and consists of washing rough material with screens in the flume. If you happen to find something that you particularly like, you can have it cut and made into jewelry for an additional fee. The mine tours require a bit more planning, so if you’re interested in these, call for a reservation.

The Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, NC is another place to go gem hunting in North Carolina. It holds the distinction of being the only emerald mine in the United States in which the general public can go treasure hunting on their own. Emeralds aren’t the only gemstone in this locale. Over 60 other gems and minerals have been found here. A variety of gem hunting methods are offered here, including sluicing, creek digging, and mine digging.