Whether you’re new to the hobby of gem mining or you’re already knee deep into this fun past time, a visit to Rockhound Ridge Gem Mine near Sylva, North Carolina, will either ignite or reignite the passion for rockhounding. That’s because not all gem mines operate the same way. At some, you’ll mine natural, unpeppered soil and whether you find anything is up to chance. But at Rockhound Ridge, you’re guaranteed to find a certain amount of gems in that bucket of soil you purchase. The experience is a shoe-in for those just starting their rockhounding journey.
Welcome to Rockhound Ridge Gem Mine, found high on a ridge above US-441 and just off of NC-23 between Sylva and Franklin, North Carolina!
The $12 bucket, for instance, has 30 different gemstones in it weighing in at one pound. The Rockhound bucket costs $25 and has 40 different gemstones weighing in at three pounds. Or, you can narrow your gems to just emeralds, just ruby and sapphires, or just opals, with special buckets for each at a cost of $50 each. There are even more expensive and more heavily laden buckets, too. See the full list here.
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The specialty buckets contain gems that are large enough to cut.
Of course the friendly family that owns and operates this business is always willing to lend a hand and share their expert knowledge, but you can also refer to the giant gem identification chart at the sluice.
When you've finished mining for gems, be sure to step inside the gem store to see (and purchase) a variety of gems from around the world.
If you have yet to get into the fun activity of gem mining, then a visit to Rockhound Ridge Gem Mine is sure to kick off your new hobby in the best way possible.
Rockhound Ridge Gem Mine is open six days a week (every day except Wednesday) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more from the official website for Rockhound Ridge Gem Mine, and give it a follow on Facebook here.
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