Gem Mining and Fee Digs in North Carolina
9 places in North Carolina where you pay to dig and keep what you find, each one mapped with coordinates. They produce garnet, ruby, quartz, sapphire, amethyst, and aquamarine.
Fees, hours, and seasons are set by the operators and change often. Confirm with the site before you drive out.
Every fee dig in North Carolina
Mason Mtn Garnet MineMacon County, North CarolinaFee dig · Rhodolite, Garnet, Ruby +3- Emerald Hollow MineCatawba County, North CarolinaFee dig · Emerald, Amethyst, Quartz +2
- Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire MineMacon County, North CarolinaFee dig · Ruby, Sapphire, Garnet +1
- Reel MineLincoln County, North CarolinaFee dig · Amethyst, Beryl, Quartz +1
- Mason's Ruby & Sapphire MineMacon County, North CarolinaFee dig · Ruby, Sapphire, Garnet
- Propst Farm Ruby MineCatawba County, North CarolinaFee dig · Ruby
- Rose Creek MineMacon County, North CarolinaFee dig · Garnet
- Emerald VillageMitchell County, North CarolinaFee dig
- Rockhound Ridge Gem MineJackson County, North CarolinaFee dig
North Carolina gem mining FAQ
Where can I go gem mining in North Carolina?+
9 fee digs are mapped in North Carolina: Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine, Emerald Hollow Mine, Emerald Village, Mason Mtn Garnet Mine, Mason's Ruby & Sapphire Mine, and 4 more. Macon County, Catawba County, and Jackson County have the most.
What can you find at pay-to-dig sites in North Carolina?+
The fee digs here most often report garnet, ruby, quartz, sapphire, amethyst, and aquamarine. Each site's page lists what it produces.
Are there free places to dig in North Carolina?+
Yes. 185 of the 207 mapped rockhounding spots in North Carolina have public access, with no dig fee. Check the land rules for each one before you collect.
More places to dig
Plan a North Carolina 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.
