He also found an emerald, which he got cut, polished and set in a piece of jewelry to give Amanda for her birthday.
Troy found a 380-carat sapphire about five years ago. Troy and Amanda Morton of Pensacola have also had good luck at Rose Creek. “We’ve had really good luck here,” she said. While finding garnets and sapphires at Rose Creek is more common, Boyette once found a rare emerald during a mining trip. She also has had good luck at Rose Creek in the past. If you’ve never gone gem mining before, give it a try! It sounds old-fashioned, but we guess that’s sort of the way we do things in Franklin, North Carolina-and you’ll never have so much fun! Check out the mines below to plan your gem mining adventure.For several years, The Smoky Mountain News has partnered with the Haywood Chamber of…īoyette wasn’t at all surprised at her mother’s discovery. Other mining interests joined in, but the source for the gemstones was never located-and that’s why locals and visitors alike are still searching for the motherload of ruby and sapphire today!Įveryone needs to get muddy every once in a while! There’s a certain nostalgia to putting on an old set of clothes and beat-up tennis shoes, rolling up your sleeves, and digging into rich earth and red clay. In 1895, the American Prospecting and Mining Company intended to find the source of the rubies and sapphires by digging experimental shafts and test holes while gem mining in NC. Franklin’s gem and mineral heritage can be traced back to 1870 when companies began mining corundum (which is second only to diamonds in hardness) in Macon County. Not only is gem mining relaxing-you’ll also have the opportunity to dip into Franklin’s history as a town. There’s nothing like taking time to really enjoy the moment, and gem mining is a perfect way to slow down and breathe in that fresh mountain air. Listen to the water as it rushes through the flume and over your sieve, pulling away dirt and rubble and unveiling the glittering gemstones beneath. Some mines have a jeweler on site, but if yours doesn’t, we have several gem museums and jewelers in town for you to choose from.Įach mine around Franklin is nestled into the mountainside, just far enough from the road that you can easily drive to the site while still feeling wrapped up in the forest. It’s an all-natural treasure hunt!Īs if the gemstones themselves weren’t cool enough, you can also have them mounted into necklace pendants, rings, and bracelets to wear your memories wherever you go. Many of our mines have both native buckets (straight from the mines) or enriched ones (with gemstones added) as options, so you can choose between finding the gems they’ve hidden or trying your luck with untouched soil. That’s right-whether you find tiny tumbling gemstones or a rare star ruby, your haul is yours to keep.
Here are five reasons we believe you’ll love it if you try it, too. Gem mining? Really? People still do that? You see a brochure for gem mining, and maybe a part of you chuckles.
The sun is out but not too warm, and you’d love to spend a couple hours outside, but you already have plans to go hiking and swimming over the next two or three days. Picture this: You’re in the beautiful Smoky Mountains for a long weekend, looking for something to do.