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Where to Find Quartz in North Carolina

54 mapped quartz rockhounding spots in North Carolina, across 30 counties. Quartz is the most abundant rockhounding mineral in the country. North Carolina has the deepest gem-mining tradition on the East Coast.

Map of 54 quartz rockhounding spots in North Carolina

Quartz by county in North Carolina

Counties ranked by number of quartz spots in our database.

Every quartz spot in North Carolina

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
BurlingtonBurch Bridge RoadAlamance County36.1212, -79.4548Public
Emerald Hollow MineEmerald Hollow Mine DriveAlexander County35.9137, -81.0829Public
HiddeniteRiverside Farm LaneAlexander County35.9102, -81.0677Public
Hiddenite (area 2)Duncan LaneAlexander County35.9136, -81.0740Public
Stony PointLinker LaneAlexander County35.8896, -81.0380Public
Yadkin RiverRevenuer Ridge LaneAlexander County35.9345, -81.0699Public
Long Shoals CreekShatley Springs RoadAshe County36.4789, -81.4117Public
Grandmother MountainGrandmother Mountain LaneAvery County36.0632, -81.8432Public
South MountainsBurke County35.5973, -81.6946Public
Wiseman's ViewWiseman's ViewBurke County35.9035, -81.9050Public
Reed Gold MineReed Mine RoadCabarrus County35.2852, -80.4665Public
Caswell CountyPage RoadCaswell County36.4310, -79.3772Public
DenverCobblefield LaneCatawba County35.5510, -81.0154Public
Emerald Hollow MineClarence StreetCatawba County35.6720, -81.1089Paid / fee
MooresvilleIsland Point RoadCatawba County35.6210, -80.9530Public
Vengeance CreekFS 6148Cherokee County35.1490, -83.8886Public
ElfElf Shore CoveClay County35.0235, -83.7480Public
Broad River and tributariesEllis Ferry RoadCleveland County35.1908, -81.6228Public
CasarGolden Valley RoadCleveland County35.5120, -81.6531Public
LattimoreMount Harmony Church RoadCleveland County35.4657, -81.6823Public
BullockGranville County36.5074, -78.5264Public
Superior Stone CompanyAgate RoadGuilford County36.1162, -79.6180Public
Pressley MinePressley Mine RoadHaywood County35.5729, -82.8127Public
Roberson RidgeRocky Branch RoadHaywood County35.4150, -82.9962Public
Elijah Mountain Gem MineBrevard RoadHenderson County35.3244, -82.5034Public
StatesvilleIredell County35.7292, -80.8815Public
Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire MineCrestview HeightsMacon County35.1700, -83.3800Paid / fee
Cowee CreekSheffield Farms RoadMacon County35.2721, -83.3936Public
FranklinLyle Mill RoadMacon County35.2261, -83.3606Public
Higdon MountainForest DriveMacon County35.1484, -83.2907Public
HighlandsMunger RoadMacon County35.0482, -83.2108Public
Mason MountainBuck Mountain RoadMacon County35.2470, -83.3617Public
OttoGeorgia RoadMacon County35.0668, -83.3877Public
Little Pine Garnet MineCaney Fork RoadMadison County35.7625, -82.7242Public
NeboHoneycutt LaneMcDowell County35.7057, -81.9485Public
Montgomery CountyMt Carmel Church RoadMontgomery County35.3472, -79.9739Public
Cabin Creek & Dry CreekGurney West RoadMoore County35.4183, -79.6271Public
HillsboroughBen Johnston RoadOrange County36.0713, -79.1314Public
Mt. TirzahSurl-Mount Tirzah RoadPerson County36.2819, -78.9070Public
FarmerFarmer Denton RoadRandolph County35.6603, -80.0103Public
Mount UllaBack Creek Church RoadRowan County35.6529, -80.7135Public
Huckleberry MountainOld CC RoadRutherford County35.5590, -81.7250Public
BurchCockerham RoadSurry County36.2785, -80.7418Public
Mount AiryGranite Quarry TrailSurry County36.5071, -80.5849Public
Pilot MountainPilot Knob TrailSurry County36.3407, -80.4745Public
Poplar SpringsNoah Hayes RoadSurry County36.3164, -80.8336Public
White PlainsSurry County36.4549, -80.6003Public
Bryson CityEast Deep Creek RoadSwain County35.4436, -83.4402Public
Henderson PointDeer Tick LaneVance County36.5417, -78.3563Public
Island CreekTungsten Mine RoadVance County36.5050, -78.4765Public
Nutbrush CreekNightingale LaneVance County36.3727, -78.4063Public
TownsvillVance County36.4927, -78.4473Public
WilliamsboroVance County36.4392, -78.4557Public
BurnsvilleRay Mine TrailYancey County35.8883, -82.2747Public

Quartz in North Carolina FAQ

Where can I find quartz in North Carolina?+
RockHoundR tracks 54 quartz spots in North Carolina, spread across 30 counties. The strongest concentration is in Macon County.
Is collecting quartz legal in North Carolina?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like quartz 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 quartz location in North Carolina?+
Macon County has the most quartz spots in our database for North Carolina. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.

Other states for quartz

Other minerals to find in North Carolina

Hunt quartz in North Carolina on the map

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