Table of Contents Finding Gems in North Carolina The company boasts that they are one of the only gem mines in the world that sells their country rock. Ruby River - Wikipedia The people who find them are willing to do hard work, risking a few blisters and brush burns. Rubies have been found in the states of North Carolina, Montana, Wyoming, and South Carolina. Where Are the World's Rubies Found? - WorldAtlas Most of the land in North Carolina is owned by individuals, companies, or governments and is closed to gold prospecting. PDF GEMS AND GEM MINERALS OF NORTH CAROLINA* - Mineralogical Society of America Gold North Carolina was once a major gold producing state. Keep in mind that some of the gemstones might be extremely tiny or obscured by surface coatings. Chlorite, Goethite, Monazite, Quartz crystals (rutilated), Spodumene, Beryl, Columbite, Quartz crystals, Rutile, Tourmaline, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite, Galena, Malachite, Molybdenite, Pyrite, Silver, Sphalerite, Aquamarine, Beryl crystals (golden, large), Muscovite, Rock crystal (with chlorite, manganese, rutile), Epidote (gem-quality), Garnet, Hematite, Kyanite (gem-quality), Unakite, Chrysolite, Genthite, Talc, Tremolite, Asbestos, Magnesite, Albite, Allanite, Beryl (green), Columbite, Corundum, Garnet, Biotite, Muscovite, Sapphire, Chalcedony, Feldspar crystals, Garnet (gem-quality), Moonstone, Olivine crystals, Vermiculite, Corundum, Diamond, Garnet (pyrope), Rutile crystals, Tourmaline, Actinolite, Graphite, Manaccanite, Pyrophyllite, Itacolumite, Aquamarine, Beryl, Feldspar, Quartz crystals, Anglesite, Chrysotile, Cerussite, Galena, Marmolite, Pyromorphite, Serpentine, Calcite, Garnet, Quartz crystals, Staurolite, Chloritoid, Ottrelite, Garnet, Gold, Staurolite, Staurolite, Agate, Epidote, Feldspar (pink), Gold (placer), Petrified wood, Quartz crystals (smoky quartz), Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Quartz crystals, Citrine, Amethyst, Garnet,Aventurine, Sodalite,Peridot, Opal, Fluorite, Aquamarine, Topaz, Tourmaline, Pyrite,Amazonite, Labradorite, Corundum, Amphibolite, Opal, Quartz crystals, Smaragdite. It is due to the presence of chromium in the rubies and the ability for that elements electrons to get excited and emit photons when they are exposed to the upper parts of the visible light spectra and the UV. Malachite Malachite is a copper-based mineral that forms into brilliant green patterns. Corundum, Garnet (almandine), Quartz crystals, Asbestos, Corundum (gem-quality), Rutile crystals, Serpentine, Vermiculite, Corundum, Garnet, Hornblende, Quartz crystals, Beryl (blue), Apatite, Garnet, Kyanite, Thulite. He has recently written an article about the mine: http://wheretofindrocks.com/digging-ruby-crystals-in-north-carolina/, https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-destinations-for-gem-hunting-4158268. Dig For Rare Gems At Emerald Hollow In North Carolina If you want to read a great summary of North Carolina gemstones, see Joseph Hyde Pratt's classic article titled: Gems and Gem Minerals of North Carolina in the 1933 edition of American Mineralogist. At the Cherokee Ruby Mine, we DO NOT and WILL NOT offer gemstone ore that is Salted, Enhanced, Concentrated, or Enriched with low grade, semi-precious stones from elsewhere on earth. There are many mines in the area that are open to the public where, for a small fee, you can dig and pan for your own rocks and raw gemstones. In most counties (especially in the central and western part of the state) there are countless mines which have historically produced high-quality gemstones of minerals like amethyst, beryl, garnet, aquamarine, emerald, and many more. It's been a favorite of collectors for a long time, and it was also a primary ore of copper in the past. Look at this great deal on Amazon for some pocket UV LED flashlights. You can also pay a small fee and search for them in the Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine. Its perfect star is sharp, centered and exceptionally well-defined. Experts also agree that within the United States and its outlying territories, there are only three (3) gem mines considered by experts capable of producing WORLD CLASS investors or collectors grade sapphires.