Sink Hole Mine and other area mines: Blue Beryl & Apatite Rockhounding in Mitchell County, North Carolina

Updated June 2026

Sink Hole Mine and other area mines is a mapped rockhounding spot in Mitchell County, North Carolina. Reported finds include blue beryl, apatite, garnet, kyanite, thulite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Mitchell County
State: North Carolina
Nearest road: NC 80
Postcode: 28705
Coordinates: 35.97568, -82.17660

Geology at Sink Hole Mine and other area mines

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 belts like this often host pegmatite dikes, the coarse-crystal bodies that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, and sheet mica.

Mapped unit: Ashe Metamorphic Suite and Tallulah Falls Formation; Muscovite-biotite gneiss
Age: 1000–540 Ma (Neoproterozoic)
Rock types: gneiss and mica schist
Elevation: 2,660 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 Sink Hole Mine and other area mines

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 45°F in winter to 84°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BURNSVILLE AG station (6 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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 Sink Hole Mine and other area 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 Sink Hole Mine and other area mines.

Across the state line from Sink Hole Mine and other area mines

Sink Hole Mine and other area 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.

Sink Hole Mine and other area mines FAQ

Where is Sink Hole Mine and other area mines?+

Sink Hole Mine and other area mines is in Mitchell County, North Carolina, at 35.97568, -82.17660. Nearest road: NC 80.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Sink Hole Mine and other area mines?+

Sink Hole Mine and other area mines is reported to produce Blue Beryl, Apatite, Garnet, Kyanite, Thulite.

Is collecting allowed at Sink Hole Mine and other area mines?+

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 Sink Hole Mine and other area mines?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Sink Hole Mine and other area mines?+

Sink Hole Mine and other area mines is workable year-round.

How do I get to Sink Hole Mine and other area mines?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 35.97568, -82.17660 in Google Maps. The nearest road is NC 80.

More rockhounding in North Carolina

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Open Sink Hole Mine and other area mines on the map

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