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Where to Find Kyanite in North Carolina

Kyanite in North Carolina occurs in the high-grade metamorphic belt of the central Piedmont and along the Blue Ridge front. Crowders Mountain in Gaston County is the type locality for the local kyanite-bearing schist, although most of the mountain sits inside a state park closed to collecting. Henry Knob, just across the South Carolina line, and the Sandhill area near Salisbury (Rowan County) yield blue-gray kyanite blades up to ten centimeters in mica schist. Smaller occurrences turn up along the Brevard fault zone roadcuts. North Carolina kyanite is typically sky-blue to slate-gray and bladed, with sharp pinacoid terminations.

Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.

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Every kyanite spot we track in North Carolina

Standout kyanite spots in North Carolina

Hand-picked from the full list above, with the reason each one earns a trip.

Best counties for kyanite in North Carolina

Ranked by the number of mapped kyanite spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Before you go

Read the kyanite identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Kyanite in the encyclopedia.

Kyanite in North Carolina FAQ

Where can you find kyanite in North Carolina?+
The mapped spots concentrate in Macon County, Yancey County, and Mitchell County. Known collecting areas include Henry Knob (Gaston County), Sandhill schists (Rowan County), and Brevard fault roadcuts (Transylvania County). Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.
How many kyanite spots are mapped in North Carolina?+
15 spots across 10 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.
Is it legal to collect kyanite in North Carolina?+
Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 13 of the 15 mapped spots here sit on land marked public, and 1 is a fee-dig operation where you pay for access and keep what you find. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find kyanite

More minerals to hunt in North Carolina

Hunt kyanite in North Carolina with the map in your pocket

RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.

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