chrisperez
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 457
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Post by chrisperez on Apr 14, 2010 17:59:30 GMT -5
Hey everyone ( that's right, I'm still here ). I got a question for y'all.... A friend of mine is heading to North Carolina for a few days and she asked me where she should go to do some rock or gem hunting. I figured my best bet would be to ask you all. She's not looking to go blaze any new trails or anything ... something fairly simple ( a park or mine maby? )..... any suggestions?
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Post by frane on Apr 14, 2010 18:40:00 GMT -5
Hey Chris, It is great to see you on the board! I hope Ken sees this. He has a lot of experience with locations in N. Carolina so he will be able to give you some good information. There are several others on here. Unfortunately, I have never been able to make a trip there. You may want to PM him (rockmanken). Fran
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chrisperez
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2009
Posts: 457
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Post by chrisperez on Apr 15, 2010 17:53:57 GMT -5
Thanks Fran, I'll mail Ken......
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gemhunter
starting to spend too much on rocks
"Rock On"
Member since November 2009
Posts: 243
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Post by gemhunter on Apr 16, 2010 8:54:58 GMT -5
Hello Chris, your talking my favorite area. The best site in NC that is as easy or as hard as you want to make it is Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, NC. About 20-30 miles west of Statesville. Great place to sluice, dig if you like or...creek. They will supply you the tools. Price is Great $5, and you get a $2 bucket to sluice FREE. This is where I discover rock, and gem collecting. There is a shop on site that will tell you what you have dug up, and will make it into jewelry. It is very inexpensive. I found a large emerald, had a cab made in a inexpensive setting all for about $60. And they sent me the leftover pieces. One of the Great things is they do not charge by carat weight, only by piece. Anything you dig up is yours, or sluice. Fun Day. Say hi to Wayne if you go.
There are a ton of sites in NC, if you go over toward Franklin there are some great sites there.
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Post by rockmanken on Apr 16, 2010 12:02:10 GMT -5
Chris, Emerald Hollow near Statesville and Emerald Village near Spruce pine are both 100% salted. Doesn't mean they are not fun. Just NO native stones. The ruby/sapphire mines near Franklin are all salted except for 2, Cherokee and Mason(out past the airport). Diamond Hill, Antreville,SC is a very good place for crystals. Have to make prior arrangements to visit.(info on Also, Crabtree emerald mine(not for newbies) is my favorite place for emeralds and beryls. Have to have prior permission to visit. Ken
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Post by frane on Apr 17, 2010 7:43:41 GMT -5
Chris, for a first timer, I think your friend will love the places in Hiddenite. I want to go there sometime also even though they are salted. They are still a lot of fun! Fran
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