Laurel Creek Mine: Corundum Rockhounding in Rabun County, Georgia

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Rabun County

State

Georgia

Nearest road

Burrells Ford Road

Coordinates

34.94776, -83.17403

Geology at Laurel Creek Mine

This spot sits on Metagraywacke/ Mica Schist, mapped as metagraywacke and mica schist that formed roughly 4600 to 250 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this is where garnet, staurolite, and kyanite typically grow as the rock recrystallizes under heat and pressure.

Mapped unit

Metagraywacke/ Mica Schist

Age

4600–250 Ma (Precambrian to Paleozoic)

Rock types

metagraywacke and mica schist

Elevation

1,850 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Laurel Creek Mine

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 51°F in winter to 83°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, JOCASSEE 8 WNW station (6 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Laurel Creek Mine

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

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