Where to Find Emerald in the United States
11 mapped emerald spots across 3 U.S. states. Emerald is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. The map below shows where collectors most often find it on legal public ground.
Map showing where to find emerald across the United States, with 11 mapped spots
Top states for emerald
States ranked by number of emerald spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused emerald-in-state list.
Every emerald spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lily PondLily Pond Lane | Hampshire County |
| 42.4473, -72.8319 | Public |
| Emerald Hollow MineEmerald Hollow Mine Drive | Alexander County | 35.9137, -81.0829 | Public | |
| HiddeniteRiverside Farm Lane | Alexander County |
| 35.9102, -81.0677 | Public |
| Hiddenite (area 2)Duncan Lane | Alexander County | 35.9136, -81.0740 | Public | |
| Emerald Hollow MineClarence Street | Catawba County |
| 35.6720, -81.1089 | Paid / fee |
| 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 | |
| Crabtree Emerald MineEmerald Mine Road | Mitchell County | 35.8743, -82.1205 | Public | |
| BurnsvilleRay Mine Trail | Yancey County | 35.8883, -82.2747 | Public | |
| Bowens River and tributariesShelby Highway | Cherokee County | 35.1646, -81.5789 | Public |
Emerald rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find emerald in the U.S.?+
North Carolina, Massachusetts, South Carolina have the highest concentrations of emerald in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many emerald rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
11 mapped spots across 3 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect emerald on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like emerald is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify emerald in the field?+
Field identification of emerald comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt emerald on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
