Where to Find Tourmaline in North Carolina

North Carolina tourmaline comes from the pegmatite belts of Mitchell, Yancey, and Avery counties in the Blue Ridge. The Spruce Pine pegmatites yield black schorl in feldspar and quartz matrix, with rare green and brown elbaite crystals from the Wiseman and Ray mica mines. The Crabtree emerald mine produces tourmaline crystals alongside its emerald, and several smaller pegmatites in the Burnsville area carry blue and pink tourmaline. The Foote mine on the South Carolina line yields lithium-rich tourmaline. Most North Carolina tourmaline is small (under a centimeter) and embedded in matrix rather than freestanding.

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

Open the full map

Every tourmaline spot we track in North Carolina

Best spotBurnsvilleYancey County, North CarolinaPublic access · Albite, Amazonite, Apatite +13
Elijah Mountain Gem MineHenderson County, North CarolinaPublic access · Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald +15
Crowder's MountainGaston County, North CarolinaPermission required · Barite, Chalcopyrite, Corundum +10
Higdon MountainMacon County, North CarolinaPublic access · Actinolite, Chalcedony, Chromite +10
Emerald Hollow MineAlexander County, North CarolinaPublic access · Emerald, Aquamarine, Sapphire +8
Clubb MountainGaston County, North CarolinaPublic access · Corundum, Lazulite, Kyanite +7
Roberson RidgeHaywood County, North CarolinaPermission required · Ankerite, Apatite, Biotite +5
Stice Shoal Lake DamCleveland County, North CarolinaPublic access · Aquamarine, Beryl, Emerald +3
Hall Creek and Silver CreekBurke County, North CarolinaPublic access · Corundum, Diamond, Pyrope Garnet +2
White PlainsSurry County, North CarolinaPublic access · Beryl, Columbite, Quartz +2
ShelbyCleveland County, North CarolinaPublic access · Beryl, Aquamarine, Emerald +1
KernersvilleForsyth County, North CarolinaPublic access · Chrysolite, Bronzite, Tourmaline
South Yadkin RiverIredell County, North CarolinaPublic access · Beryl, Corundum, Tourmaline
Hanging Dog CreekCherokee County, North CarolinaPublic access · Staurolite, Tourmaline

Standout tourmaline spots in North Carolina

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

Burnsville
Yancey County
Ray Mine gives North Carolina a rare free public pegmatite locality, with Mindat documenting aquamarine, beryl, amazonite, muscovite, rutile, tourmaline, and other Spruce Pine district minerals.

Best counties for tourmaline in North Carolina

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

Before you go

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

Tourmaline in North Carolina FAQ

Where can you find tourmaline in North Carolina?+

The mapped spots concentrate in Cleveland County, Gaston County, and Alexander County. Known collecting areas include Spruce Pine pegmatites (Mitchell County), Crabtree emerald mine (Mitchell County), and Foote Lithium mine (Cleveland County). Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.

How many tourmaline spots are mapped in North Carolina?+

14 spots across 12 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 tourmaline 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. 12 of the 14 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find tourmaline

More minerals to hunt in North Carolina

Hunt tourmaline 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.