Roberson Ridge: Ankerite & Apatite Rockhounding in Haywood County, North Carolina

Permission required8 mineralsHaywood County, North CarolinaUpdated July 2026

Minerals reported: 8
Elevation: 3,500 ft
Best months: February to December

Roberson Ridge is a mapped rockhounding spot in Haywood County, North Carolina. Reported finds include ankerite, apatite, biotite, garnet, muscovite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Permission required before collecting

County: Haywood County
State: North Carolina
Nearest road: Rocky Branch Road
Postcode: 28786
Coordinates: 35.41503, -82.99617

Get directions View on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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.

Best time to visit Roberson Ridge

44°J

47°F

54°M

63°A

70°M

75°J

78°J

77°A

73°S

64°O

54°N

47°D

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 78°F in midsummer and 44°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 20°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WAYNESVILLE 1 E station (5 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Roberson Ridge

This spot sits on Ashe Metamorphic Suite and Tallulah Falls Formation; Muscovite-biotite gneiss, mapped as gneiss and mica schist that formed roughly 1000 to 540 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: Ashe Metamorphic Suite and Tallulah Falls Formation; Muscovite-biotite gneiss
Age: 1000–540 Ma (Neoproterozoic)
Rock types: gneiss and mica schist
Elevation: 3,500 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.

Today's weather

Is today a good day to go?

The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Roberson Ridge.

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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 Roberson Ridge

Each name 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 Roberson Ridge.

Balsam Gap MineJackson County, North Carolina · 6 mi awayMagnesite, Albite, Allanite
Shinning Rock LedgeHaywood County, North Carolina · 8 mi awayRose Quartz
TuckasegeeJackson County, North Carolina · 11 mi awayGolden Beryl
Pink Beds Picnic AreaTransylvania County, North Carolina · 13 mi awaySmoky Quartz
Mount PisgahHaywood County, North Carolina · 14 mi awayChrysoprase
Pressley MineHaywood County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayCorundum, Sapphire
Pressley MineHaywood County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayAlbite, Amphibolite, Corundum
Looking Glass FallsTransylvania County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayGarnet

Across the state line from Roberson Ridge

Roberson Ridge 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.

Rag MountainCocke County, Tennessee · 28 mi awayUnakite
Mine RidgeCocke County, Tennessee · 30 mi awayCopper, Iron, Lead
Big CreekCocke County, Tennessee · 30 mi awayGreen Quartz
Laurel Creek MineRabun County, Georgia · 34 mi awayCorundum
Del RioCocke County, Tennessee · 34 mi awayUnakite
GatlinburgSevier County, Tennessee · 35 mi awayQuartz, Gemstone

Roberson Ridge FAQ

Where is Roberson Ridge?+

Roberson Ridge is in Haywood County, North Carolina, at 35.41503, -82.99617. Nearest road: Rocky Branch Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Roberson Ridge?+

Roberson Ridge is reported to produce Ankerite, Apatite, Biotite, Garnet, Muscovite, Pyrrhotite, Quartz, Tourmaline.

Is collecting allowed at Roberson Ridge?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Roberson Ridge?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Roberson Ridge?+

The most comfortable months at Roberson Ridge are February to December.

How do I get to Roberson Ridge?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 35.41503, -82.99617 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Rocky Branch Road.