Where to Find Pyrite in North Carolina
13 mapped pyrite rockhounding spots in North Carolina, across 13 counties. Pyrite — fool's gold — is brassy iron sulfide that often forms perfect cubes. North Carolina has the deepest gem-mining tradition on the East Coast.
Map of 13 pyrite rockhounding spots in North Carolina
Pyrite by county in North Carolina
Counties ranked by number of pyrite spots in our database.
Every pyrite spot in North Carolina
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StratfordWalnut Branch Church Road | Alleghany County | 36.5189, -81.2207 | Public | |
| Anson CountyWhite Store Road | Anson County | 34.9570, -80.1227 | Public | |
| Long Shoals CreekShatley Springs Road | Ashe County | 36.4789, -81.4117 | Public | |
| Grandmother MountainGrandmother Mountain Lane | Avery County | 36.0632, -81.8432 | Public | |
| Davidson CountySilver Hill Road | Davidson County | 35.7057, -80.1995 | Public | |
| Bullock | Granville County | 36.4700, -78.5157 | Public | |
| Medoc Mountain State ParkSummit Loop Trail | Halifax County |
| 36.2562, -77.8821 | Public |
| Elijah Mountain Gem MineBrevard Road | Henderson County | 35.3244, -82.5034 | Public | |
| Cowee CreekSheffield Farms Road | Macon County | 35.2721, -83.3936 | Public | |
| EldoradoCoggins Mine Road | Montgomery County | 35.4824, -80.0228 | Public | |
| MoriaHelena-Moriah Road | Person County |
| 36.2714, -78.8825 | Public |
| Bryson CityEast Deep Creek Road | Swain County | 35.4436, -83.4402 | Public | |
| Flint Knob | Wilkes County | 36.1853, -81.4496 | Public |
Pyrite in North Carolina FAQ
Where can I find pyrite in North Carolina?+
RockHoundR tracks 13 pyrite spots in North Carolina, spread across 13 counties. The strongest concentration is in Alleghany County.
Is collecting pyrite legal in North Carolina?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like pyrite 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 pyrite location in North Carolina?+
Alleghany County has the most pyrite spots in our database for North Carolina. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for pyrite
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 pyrite in North Carolina on the map
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