Where to Find Magnetite in North Carolina
10 mapped magnetite rockhounding spots in North Carolina, across 8 counties. Magnetite is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. North Carolina has the deepest gem-mining tradition on the East Coast.
Map of 10 magnetite rockhounding spots in North Carolina
Magnetite by county in North Carolina
Counties ranked by number of magnetite spots in our database.
Every magnetite spot in North Carolina
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullhead MountainArbor Lane | Alleghany County | 36.4574, -81.0302 | Public | |
| Helton CreekWillow Halsey Mtn Road | Ashe County | 36.5207, -81.4101 | Public | |
| Horse CreekCoy Ham Road | Ashe County | 36.5294, -81.6010 | Public | |
| Winston-SalemWaughtown Connector Greenway | Forsyth County | 36.0820, -80.2043 | Public | |
| Clubb MountainAlexis Lucia Road | Gaston County | 35.4014, -81.0817 | Public | |
| Crowder's MountainBackside Trail | Gaston County | 35.2326, -81.2749 | Public | |
| CatawbaWest Lewis Ferry Road | Iredell County | 35.7121, -80.9919 | Public | |
| Higdon MountainForest Drive | Macon County |
| 35.1484, -83.2907 | Public |
| Gold HillSaint Stephens Church Road | Rowan County | 35.5128, -80.3437 | Public | |
| Bryson CityEast Deep Creek Road | Swain County | 35.4436, -83.4402 | Public |
Magnetite in North Carolina FAQ
Where can I find magnetite in North Carolina?+
RockHoundR tracks 10 magnetite spots in North Carolina, spread across 8 counties. The strongest concentration is in Ashe County.
Is collecting magnetite legal in North Carolina?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like magnetite 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 magnetite location in North Carolina?+
Ashe County has the most magnetite spots in our database for North Carolina. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for magnetite
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 magnetite in North Carolina on the map
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