Where to Find Carnelian in North Carolina
5 mapped carnelian rockhounding spots in North Carolina, across 5 counties. Carnelian is reddish-orange chalcedony, traditionally a rounded, water-worn piece in beach gravels and dry washes. North Carolina has the deepest gem-mining tradition on the East Coast.
Map of 5 carnelian rockhounding spots in North Carolina
Carnelian by county in North Carolina
Counties ranked by number of carnelian spots in our database.
Every carnelian spot in North Carolina
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConcordShadowcrest Drive Southwest | Cabarrus County | 35.3619, -80.6279 | Public | |
| Granville County | Granville County | 36.3163, -78.6515 | Public | |
| CaldwellBailey Road | Mecklenburg County | 35.4655, -80.8270 | Public | |
| DanburySheppard Mill Road | Stokes County | 36.4083, -80.2000 | Public | |
| Yadkin CountyShore Road | Yadkin County | 36.1674, -80.6743 | Public |
Carnelian in North Carolina FAQ
Where can I find carnelian in North Carolina?+
RockHoundR tracks 5 carnelian spots in North Carolina, spread across 5 counties. The strongest concentration is in Cabarrus County.
Is collecting carnelian legal in North Carolina?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like carnelian 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 carnelian location in North Carolina?+
Cabarrus County has the most carnelian spots in our database for North Carolina. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for carnelian
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
- Aquamarine in North Carolina13
Hunt carnelian in North Carolina on the map
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