Foote Mine and other mines: Apatite & Beryl Rockhounding in Cleveland County, North Carolina
Updated June 2026
Foote Mine and other mines is a mapped rockhounding spot in Cleveland County, North Carolina. Reported finds include apatite, beryl, calcite, cassiterite, moonstone, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Map showing Foote Mine and other mines in Cleveland County, North Carolina
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Cleveland County
- State
- North Carolina
- Nearest road
- Kings Mountain Gateway Trail
- Postcode
- 28066
- Coordinates
- 35.21111, -81.35556
Geology at Foote Mine and other mines
This spot sits on Blacksburg Formation, mapped as mica schist that formed roughly 1000 to 485 million years ago. Metamorphic belts like this often host pegmatite dikes, the coarse-crystal bodies that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, and sheet mica.
- Mapped unit
- Blacksburg Formation
- Age
- 1000–485 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Cambrian)
- Rock types
- mica schist
- Elevation
- 870 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 Foote Mine and other mines
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 53°F in winter to 90°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GASTONIA MUNI AP station (11 mi away).
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.
State guidance last verified:
- North Carolina Geological Survey
- Nantahala/Pisgah National Forests
- Emerald Hollow Mine (fee-dig operator)
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Foote Mine and other mines
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Foote Mine and other mines.
- GroverCleveland County, North Carolina · 3 mi awayAquamarine
- Kings MountainCleveland County, North Carolina · 3 mi awayDiamond
- Crowder's MountainGaston County, North Carolina · 5 mi awayBarite, Chalcopyrite, Corundum
- EarlCleveland County, North Carolina · 9 mi awayAquamarine, Garnet
- ShelbyCleveland County, North Carolina · 12 mi awayBeryl, Aquamarine, Emerald
- Beaverdam CreekGaston County, North Carolina · 13 mi awayCassiterite
- Broad River and tributariesCleveland County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayQuartz
- Stice Shoal Lake DamCleveland County, North Carolina · 17 mi awayAquamarine, Beryl, Emerald
Across the state line from Foote Mine and other mines
Foote Mine and other mines is close enough to the North Carolina border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Henry's KnobYork County, South Carolina · 7 mi awayAndalusite, Kyanite, Lazulite
- King's CreekCherokee County, South Carolina · 10 mi awayBarite, Chalcopyrite, Galena
- Bowens River and tributariesTop pick in South CarolinaCherokee County, South Carolina · 13 mi awayCorundum, Garnet, Sapphire
- GaffneyCherokee County, South Carolina · 14 mi awayCassiterite, Feldspar, Kyanite
- Cherokee CountyCherokee County, South Carolina · 14 mi awayBarite, Hematite, Kyanite
- SmyrnaYork County, South Carolina · 16 mi awayCalcite, Galena, Gold Nugget
Foote Mine and other mines FAQ
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More rockhounding in North Carolina
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