Quality gemstones can be found in mines throughout North Carolina.
North Carolina is the home of popular gem mines that attract visitors who have the hope of finding a gemstone of their own. Several counties in the state have mines where visitors can pay to search for gemstones. According to the North Carolina Geology Survey, Mitchell County has quality deposits of beryl, aquamarine and emeralds while Alexander County has nice specimens of emerald and hiddenite. Macon County is a popular mining territory for rubies and sapphires while other counties throughout the state have mines with abundant gemstone specimens.
Instructions
1. Choose a mine that is open to the public for gem mining and allows the type of activities that you would like to perform. Mines will either sell you a bucket of sediment or will allow you to dig in the mine or nearby streams to fill an empty bucket. Lists of gem mines are available from the North Carolina Geological Survey, local Chamber of Commerce offices, and North Carolina rock and mineral clubs.
2. Purchase or dig your bucket of sediment from the mine. Take the bucket to the sluicing area at the mine, which is where you will wash your material.
3. Wash the bucket of sediments in the sluicing area using a sieve and water. The mines typically provide all the equipment for sluicing. To wash the sediment, place some of the material from your bucket on to the sieve. Lower the sieve into the water and shake it gently to wash away the dirt. Gemstones will not pass through the sieve and will remain in the sieve after the dirt is gone. Repeat the process until all the material in the bucket is washed.
4. Examine the stones left in the sieve to determine if they are gemstones. If you are unsure if the materials that you found are gemstones, ask an employee of the mine to help you identify your specimens. Gemstones can range in color, size and shape and rarely look in nature as they do in a jewelry store.
5. Collect your gemstones in a plastic bag or separate bucket and take them home from your day at the mine.
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