Where to Find Aquamarine in North Carolina
13 mapped aquamarine rockhounding spots in North Carolina, across 8 counties. Aquamarine is the blue-to-green-blue variety of beryl. North Carolina has the deepest gem-mining tradition on the East Coast.
Map of 13 aquamarine rockhounding spots in North Carolina
Aquamarine by county in North Carolina
Counties ranked by number of aquamarine spots in our database.
Every aquamarine spot in North Carolina
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Hollow MineEmerald Hollow Mine Drive | Alexander County | 35.9137, -81.0829 | Public | |
| Hiddenite (area 2)Duncan Lane | Alexander County | 35.9136, -81.0740 | Public | |
| South Hardin Mica MineInspiration Way | Ashe County | 36.3705, -81.5067 | Public | |
| Walnut Knob MineWhispering Breeze Ridge | Ashe County | 36.3281, -81.6082 | Public | |
| South Mountains | Burke County | 35.5973, -81.6946 | Public | |
| Emerald Hollow MineClarence Street | Catawba County |
| 35.6720, -81.1089 | Paid / fee |
| EarlRoseborough Road | Cleveland County | 35.1920, -81.5069 | Public | |
| GroverMargrace Road | Cleveland County | 35.2008, -81.4021 | Public | |
| ShelbySouth Lafayette Street | Cleveland County | 35.2453, -81.5652 | Public | |
| Stice Shoal Lake DamPowerhouse Road | Cleveland County | 35.3987, -81.5460 | Public | |
| Elijah Mountain Gem MineBrevard Road | Henderson County | 35.3244, -82.5034 | Public | |
| Sheep Knob Mountain | Macon County | 35.2786, -83.3736 | Public | |
| BurnsvilleRay Mine Trail | Yancey County | 35.8883, -82.2747 | Public |
Aquamarine in North Carolina FAQ
Where can I find aquamarine in North Carolina?+
RockHoundR tracks 13 aquamarine spots in North Carolina, spread across 8 counties. The strongest concentration is in Cleveland County.
Is collecting aquamarine legal in North Carolina?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like aquamarine is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in North Carolina, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always confirm rules before a trip.
What is the best aquamarine location in North Carolina?+
Cleveland County has the most aquamarine spots in our database for North Carolina. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for aquamarine
Other minerals to find in North Carolina
- Quartz in North Carolina54
- Garnet in North Carolina43
- Amethyst in North Carolina20
- Gold in North Carolina20
- Corundum in North Carolina18
- Rutile in North Carolina17
- Beryl in North Carolina14
- Kyanite in North Carolina14
- Sapphire in North Carolina14
- Tourmaline in North Carolina14
- Agate in North Carolina13
- Pyrite in North Carolina13
Hunt aquamarine in North Carolina on the map
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