Where to Find Smoky Quartz in North Carolina
9 mapped smoky quartz rockhounding spots in North Carolina, across 7 counties. Smoky Quartz is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. North Carolina has the deepest gem-mining tradition on the East Coast.
Map of 9 smoky quartz rockhounding spots in North Carolina
Smoky Quartz by county in North Carolina
Counties ranked by number of smoky quartz spots in our database.
Every smoky quartz spot in North Carolina
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Hollow MineEmerald Hollow Mine Drive | Alexander County | 35.9137, -81.0829 | Public | |
| HiddeniteRiverside Farm Lane | Alexander County |
| 35.9102, -81.0677 | Public |
| Yadkin RiverRevenuer Ridge Lane | Alexander County | 35.9345, -81.0699 | Public | |
| UnakaBeaver Dam Loop | Cherokee County | 35.1839, -84.1541 | Public | |
| Stice Shoal Lake DamPowerhouse Road | Cleveland County | 35.3987, -81.5460 | Public | |
| Montgomery CountyMt Carmel Church Road | Montgomery County | 35.3472, -79.9739 | Public | |
| Big CreekLynchburg Road | Stokes County | 36.4500, -80.2901 | Public | |
| Pink Beds Picnic AreaPink Beds Loop Trail | Transylvania County | 35.3519, -82.7759 | Public | |
| InezHugh Jones Road | Warren County | 36.2097, -78.0934 | Public |
Smoky Quartz in North Carolina FAQ
Where can I find smoky quartz in North Carolina?+
RockHoundR tracks 9 smoky quartz spots in North Carolina, spread across 7 counties. The strongest concentration is in Alexander County.
Is collecting smoky quartz legal in North Carolina?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like smoky 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 smoky quartz location in North Carolina?+
Alexander County has the most smoky quartz spots in our database for North Carolina. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for smoky quartz
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 smoky quartz in North Carolina on the map
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