Where to Find Rutile in North Carolina

17 mapped rutile rockhounding spots in North Carolina, across 11 counties. Rutile is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. North Carolina has the deepest gem-mining tradition on the East Coast.

Map of 17 rutile rockhounding spots in North Carolina

Rutile by county in North Carolina

Counties ranked by number of rutile spots in our database.

Every rutile spot in North Carolina

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

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
Emerald Hollow MineEmerald Hollow Mine DriveAlexander County35.9137, -81.0829Public
Hiddenite (area 2)Duncan LaneAlexander County35.9136, -81.0740Public
Piney CreekNC 93Alleghany County36.5560, -81.2943Public
Anson CountyWhite Store RoadAnson County34.9570, -80.1227Public
Hall Creek and Silver CreekLor RoadBurke County35.6357, -81.8257Public
Clubb MountainAlexis Lucia RoadGaston County35.4014, -81.0817Public
Crowder's MountainBackside TrailGaston County35.2326, -81.2749Public
Fox MountainFox Mountain RoadIredell County35.9978, -81.0001Public
AlexisMount Zion Church RoadLincoln County35.4107, -81.0886Public
Cowee CreekSheffield Farms RoadMacon County35.2721, -83.3936Public
FranklinLyle Mill RoadMacon County35.2261, -83.3606Public
Higdon MountainForest DriveMacon County35.1484, -83.2907Public
Little Scaly MountainLittle Scaly Mountain RoadMacon County35.0320, -83.2548Public
Poplar SpringsNoah Hayes RoadSurry County36.3164, -80.8336Public
White PlainsSurry County36.4549, -80.6003Public
Henderson PointDeer Tick LaneVance County36.5417, -78.3563Public
BurnsvilleRay Mine TrailYancey County35.8883, -82.2747Public

Rutile in North Carolina FAQ

Where can I find rutile in North Carolina?+
RockHoundR tracks 17 rutile spots in North Carolina, spread across 11 counties. The strongest concentration is in Macon County.
Is collecting rutile legal in North Carolina?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like rutile 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 rutile location in North Carolina?+
Macon County has the most rutile spots in our database for North Carolina. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.

Other states for rutile

Other minerals to find in North Carolina

Hunt rutile in North Carolina on the map

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