South Yadkin River: Beryl & Corundum Rockhounding in Iredell County, North Carolina
- Minerals reported
- 3
- Elevation
- 760 ft
- Best months
- Year-round
South Yadkin River is a mapped rockhounding spot in Iredell County, North Carolina. Reported finds include beryl, corundum, tourmaline. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Iredell County
- State
- North Carolina
- Nearest road
- Lespedeza Lane
- Postcode
- 28634
- Coordinates
- 35.91266, -80.80714
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
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.
Best time to visit South Yadkin River
Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)
Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 49°F in winter to 87°F in summer.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, STATESVILLE 2 NNE station (8 mi away).
Geology at South Yadkin River
This spot sits on Amphibolite and Biotite Gneiss, mapped as amphibolite and biotite gneiss 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
- Amphibolite and Biotite Gneiss
- Age
- 1000–485 Ma (Neoproterozoic to Cambrian)
- Rock types
- amphibolite and biotite gneiss
- Elevation
- 760 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
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The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for South Yadkin River.
Get the appSources & 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 South Yadkin River
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 South Yadkin River.
- Fox MountainIredell County, North Carolina · 12 mi awayRutile
- Stony PointAlexander County, North Carolina · 13 mi awayChlorite, Goethite, Monazite
- StatesvilleIredell County, North Carolina · 13 mi awayAgate, Amethyst, Quartz
- HiddeniteAlexander County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayEmerald, Quartz, Smoky Quartz
- Yadkin RiverAlexander County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayQuartz, Smoky Quartz
- Hiddenite (area 2)Alexander County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayAquamarine, Beryl, Quartz
- Emerald Hollow MineAlexander County, North Carolina · 15 mi awayEmerald, Aquamarine, Sapphire
- CatawbaIredell County, North Carolina · 17 mi awayGold, Calcite, Magnetite
Across the state line from South Yadkin River
South Yadkin River 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.
- GalaxGrayson County, Virginia · 48 mi awaySpessartine Garnet
- Hanks KnobCarroll County, Virginia · 49 mi awayGarnet, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite
- New RiverGrayson County, Virginia · 50 mi awayMagnetite
- Pipers GapCarroll County, Virginia · 50 mi awayHornblende, Serpentine, Talc
- GalaxCarroll County, Virginia · 56 mi awayGreen Apatite, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite
- Hurricane KnobPatrick County, Virginia · 58 mi awayKyanite
South Yadkin River FAQ
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More rockhounding in North Carolina
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