Kings Mountain: Diamond Rockhounding in Cleveland County, North Carolina

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Cleveland County

State

North Carolina

Nearest road

Majesty Place

Postcode

28086

Coordinates

35.24566, -81.38795

Geology at Kings Mountain

This spot sits on Cherryville Granite, mapped as granite that formed roughly 360 to 345 million years ago. Plutonic rock like this weathers slowly into grus and boulders, and the most productive collecting is typically in weathered zones and drainages.

Mapped unit

Cherryville Granite

Age

360–345 Ma (Mississippian)

Rock types

granite

Elevation

790 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 Kings Mountain

Best months: August to June. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 53°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 27°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SHELBY 2 NW 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: April 1, 2026

• North Carolina Geological Survey
• Nantahala/Pisgah National Forests
• Emerald Hollow Mine (fee-dig operator)
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Kings Mountain

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

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