Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine: Ruby & Sapphire Rockhounding in Macon County, North Carolina

Updated June 2026

Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine is a mapped rockhounding spot in Macon County, North Carolina. Reported finds include ruby, sapphire. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Macon County
State: North Carolina
Nearest road: Ruby Mine Road
Postcode: 28734
Coordinates: 35.27290, -83.35166

Geology at Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine

This spot sits on Coweeta Group; Biotite Gneiss, mapped as biotite gneiss and amphibolite that formed roughly 1600 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: Coweeta Group; Biotite Gneiss
Age: 1600–540 Ma (Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic)
Rock types: biotite gneiss and amphibolite
Elevation: 2,210 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 Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 48°F in winter to 84°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, FRANKLIN station (7 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 Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine

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 Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine.

Across the state line from Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine

Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine 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.

Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine FAQ

Where is Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine?+

Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine is in Macon County, North Carolina, at 35.27290, -83.35166. Nearest road: Ruby Mine Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine?+

Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine is reported to produce Ruby, Sapphire.

Is collecting allowed at Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine?+

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. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine?+

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 Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine?+

Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine is workable year-round.

How do I get to Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 35.27290, -83.35166 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Ruby Mine Road.

More rockhounding in North Carolina

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Open Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine on the map

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