Gem Mining and Fee Digs in California
6 places in California where you pay to dig and keep what you find, each one mapped with coordinates. They produce quartz, lepidolite, obsidian, and tourmaline.
Fees, hours, and seasons are set by the operators and change often. Confirm with the site before you drive out.
Every fee dig in California
Himalaya Tourmaline Mine (Mesa Grande)San Diego County, CaliforniaFee dig · Tourmaline, Lepidolite, Quartz- Davis Creek MercantileModoc County, CaliforniaFee dig · Obsidian
- Hallelujah JunctionLassen County, CaliforniaFee dig · Quartz
- Benitoite Gem MineSan Benito County, CaliforniaFee dig
- Benitoite Mining CompanyFresno County, CaliforniaFee dig
- Dig for GemsSan Diego County, CaliforniaFee dig
California gem mining FAQ
Where can I go gem mining in California?+
6 fee digs are mapped in California: Benitoite Gem Mine, Benitoite Mining Company, Davis Creek Mercantile, Dig for Gems, Hallelujah Junction, and 1 more. San Diego County, Fresno County, and Lassen County have the most.
What can you find at pay-to-dig sites in California?+
The fee digs here most often report quartz, lepidolite, obsidian, and tourmaline. Each site's page lists what it produces.
Are there free places to dig in California?+
Yes. 76 of the 104 mapped rockhounding spots in California have public access, with no dig fee. Check the land rules for each one before you collect.
More places to dig
Plan a California dig day in the app
RockHoundR maps these fee digs next to free public-land spots, so you can pair a paid morning with a free afternoon on the same drive.
