Where to Find Staurolite in North Carolina

North Carolina staurolite is the famous "fairy stone" of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge metamorphic belt. Franklin, Stokes, and Surry counties along the Virginia line yield well-formed twin crosses (cruciform staurolite) in mica schist saprolite, and the Pickaway and Fancy Gap areas straddle the same belt across the state line. Brown to reddish-brown crystals up to three centimeters are common, and the twin cross (sixty- and ninety-degree variants) is the prized form. Most field staurolite weathers out of saprolite clay; specimens clean up with a soft brush after a soak.

Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.

Standout staurolite spots in North Carolina

Hand-picked from the full list below, with the reason each one earns a trip.

Best counties for staurolite in North Carolina

Ranked by the number of mapped staurolite spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Every staurolite spot we track in North Carolina

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
North Fork New RiverBeau Rivage Drive	Ashe County	Staurolite	36.5047, -81.3857	Public
Hanging Dog and Persimmon CreeksBoiling Springs Road	Cherokee County	Staurolite	35.2106, -83.9988	Public
Hanging Dog CreekBoiling Springs Road	Cherokee County	Staurolite Tourmaline	35.2105, -83.9936	Public
Hyatt CreekHyatt Creek Road	Cherokee County	Almandine Garnet Staurolite	35.1965, -83.9361	Public
Little Snowbird MountainsFS 304	Cherokee County	Chloritoid Ottrelite Garnet Gold Staurolite	35.2367, -83.8703	Public
MarbleKinnins Cove Lane	Cherokee County	Sillimanite Staurolite	35.1672, -83.9257	Public
UnakaBeaver Dam Loop	Cherokee County	Staurolite Agate Epidote Pink Feldspar Gold Petrified Wood Smoky Quartz	35.1839, -84.1541	Public
Vengeance CreekFS 6148	Cherokee County	Calcite Garnet Quartz Staurolite	35.1490, -83.8886	Public
Chunky Gal MountainBuck Creek Trail	Clay County	Garnet Staurolite	35.0362, -83.5730	Public
Cowee CreekSheffield Farms Road	Macon County	Garnet Ruby Sapphire Corundum Beryl Hornblende Kyanite Pyrite +3 more	35.2721, -83.3936	Public
FranklinLyle Mill Road	Macon County	Amethyst Bronzite Epidote Fibrolite Garnet Jasper Kyanite Quartz +6 more	35.2261, -83.3606	Public
Bryson CityEast Deep Creek Road	Swain County	Allanite Garnet Magnetite Moonstone Quartz Pyrite Feldspar Mica +2 more	35.4436, -83.4402	Public
InezHugh Jones Road	Warren County	Amethyst Beryl Lepidolite Smoky Quartz Staurolite	36.2097, -78.0934	Public

Before you go

Read the staurolite identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Staurolite in the encyclopedia.

Staurolite in North Carolina FAQ

Where can you find staurolite in North Carolina?+

The mapped spots concentrate in Cherokee County, Macon County, and Ashe County. Known collecting areas include Franklin County saprolite (NC-VA line), Stokes County schist belt, and Surry County roadcuts. Every spot on this page appears on the map above with coordinates and access notes.

How many staurolite spots are mapped in North Carolina?+

13 spots across 6 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.

Is it legal to collect staurolite in North Carolina?+

Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 13 of the 13 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

How do you identify staurolite found in North Carolina?+

Fairy stones are the cross-shaped twin form. Single, prismatic staurolite crystals are far more common and equally valid as specimens; the twins are the prize.

Where else to find staurolite

More minerals to hunt in North Carolina

Hunt staurolite in North Carolina with the map in your pocket

RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.