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Burnsville: Albite & Amazonite Rockhounding in Yancey County, North Carolina

Public accessBest spot16 mineralsYancey County, North CarolinaUpdated June 2026
Minerals reported
16
Elevation
3,360 ft
Best months
February to December

Ray Mine gives North Carolina a rare free public pegmatite locality, with Mindat documenting aquamarine, beryl, amazonite, muscovite, rutile, tourmaline, and other Spruce Pine district minerals. Its strength is the combination of a historically worked mica mine and Forest Service surface-collecting access, provided current closures and mine hazards are respected. Reported finds include albite, amazonite, apatite, aquamarine, autunite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Nearest road
Ray Mine Trail
Postcode
28714
Get directionsView 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

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.

Access note: This pick is for the Ray Mine area in Pisgah National Forest. Forest Service rules allow limited noncommercial surface collecting on most open national forest land, but visitors should confirm current closures and stay out of mine openings.

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 Burnsville

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 43°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 25°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BURNSVILLE AG station (3 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Burnsville

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
3,360 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.

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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:

Found at Burnsville

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 Burnsville.

Across the state line from Burnsville

Burnsville 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.

Burnsville FAQ

Where is Burnsville?+
Burnsville is in Yancey County, North Carolina, at 35.88832, -82.27474. Nearest road: Ray Mine Trail.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Burnsville?+
Burnsville is reported to produce Albite, Amazonite, Apatite, Aquamarine, Autunite, Beryl, Emerald, Fluorite, Garnet, Kyanite, Muscovite, Feldspar, Rutile, Quartz, Sunstone, Tourmaline.
Is collecting allowed at Burnsville?+
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 Burnsville?+
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 Burnsville?+
The most comfortable months at Burnsville are February to December.
How do I get to Burnsville?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 35.88832, -82.27474 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Ray Mine Trail.

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