GEM MINING IN THE GREAT SMOKIES

A Family Vacation Guide To The Appalachian Mountains

GEM MINING IS FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Western North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains is filled with precious and semi precious gem stones.

Some mine owners will take you to mountain sides that they privately own. At some of these mines one can observe stones being blasted right out of the mountain side with dynamite! Appalachian Mountains NC Gold Flume Mine

Appalachian Mountains NC Gold Flume Mine

For the less adventuresome you can just go to one of the many flume mines that are scattered throughoutt the Appalachians.

Appalachian Mountans Gem Mining Bucket

At Flume Mines mountainside dirt has been put into buckets. In these buckets of dirt are the gems that you are mining. In these buckets of dirt are the gem stones that you are looking for.

Gem Mining Sifter

Just place a scoop of this dirt from bucket on to a "sifter.'' The "sifter" is a square framed screen that is provided by the owners of the Fume Mine. Next rinse the "sifter" with the dirt on it with running water. This running water washes off the dirt exposing the gem stones that you are seeking.

When wet, the gem stones will reveal brillilant colors and crystal shapes. They may be big or small but most Flume Mines have guarantees if you don't find anything.

Do you know what your birth stone is? Or do know what gemstones belong to each calendar month? If not, just click here.

My favorite stone is the Emerald. I love to find Emeralds and when I do find them I am reminded of a legend about the Emerald. The Legend says that Satan lost the emerald from his crown when he fell. The emerald was shaped into a bowl which the Queen of Sheba sent to Nicodemus. Christ used the bowl at the last supper and Joseph of Arimathea used the bowl to catch blood from the cross, founding the order of the Holy Grail.