Crater of Diamonds State Park, Murfreesboro, Arkansas
Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas is a special place for people who love looking for gemstones. It's the only public spot in the world where you can hunt for diamonds. The park is on an old volcano, and visitors can search for diamonds in a ploughed field covering 37 acres. If you find any diamonds or other gems, you get to keep them! Some visitors have seen charming diamonds, like the famous "Strawn-Wagner Diamond." The park has facilities like a visitor centre, gift shop, and campground. You need to pay an entrance fee, and if you want, you can rent tools like shovels and screens for your search. Crater of Diamonds State Park is not just about rocks; it's an excellent place for a unique gem-hunting adventure!
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| Photo Copyright Ā©ļøRolling by the Dozen |
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| Photo Copyright Ā©ļøĀ Expedia.com |
Emerald Hollow Mine, Hiddenite, North Carolina
The Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, North Carolina, is a famous place to find gems. You can pay a fee to go inside and use tools to look for gemstones like emeralds, sapphires, and more. They have a visitor centre that teaches you about gems and the history of mining. You can also check out their gift shop to buy gemstones and cool stuff. Before you go, it's a good idea to check their website or call them to know when they're open and how much it costs. It's a fun place for a gem-hunting adventure!
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| Photo Copyright Ā©ļøĀ Pinterest |
Gem Mountain, Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Gem Mountain in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, is a fun place where you can go looking for gems. It's in the Appalachian Mountains, and people like it for the gems in the area. You can find gems like rubies and sapphires there. When you visit, you pay a fee, and they give you tools to help you discover gems. Gem Mountain has a place where you can learn about gems and how they are found, and there's also a spot where you can sift through materials to find gems. It's a good idea to check their website or call them before you go to know when they're open and how much it costs. Gem Mountain is an excellent place for a gem-hunting adventure!
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| Photo Copyright Ā©ļøĀ sarasota magazine |
Photo Copyright Ā©ļøĀ gemmountain.com
Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine, Franklin, North Carolina
Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine in Franklin, North Carolina, is a gem mining spot where visitors can enjoy searching for various gemstones, including rubies and sapphires. Located in the gem-rich region of western North Carolina, the mine typically operates on a fee mining basis, allowing visitors to pay a fee for access to the mining area and the use of tools to hunt for gemstones. It's often a hands-on experience where visitors can keep the gems they find. Educational opportunities may be available, providing insights into the gemstones found in the area and the process of gem mining. Facilities at Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine include a visitor centre, offering information about gemstones and local mining history, as well as a gift shop for purchasing gems and related items. Before planning a visit, it's recommended to check the official website or contact the mine directly for the latest details on operating hours, fees, and available services.
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Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine, Philipsburg, Montana
Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine in Philipsburg, Montana, is a popular spot for gem enthusiasts, offering the exciting opportunity to search for Montana sapphires. Located in the southwestern part of the state, Philipsburg is known for its rich sapphire deposits. Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine typically operates on a fee mining basis, allowing visitors to pay a fee for access to the mining area and providing them with tools to hunt for sapphires. The mine is particularly renowned for producing high-quality sapphires in various hues, including blue, green, and yellow. Educational experiences may be offered to visitors, sharing insights into sapphires, the local geology, and the process of gemstone mining. Facilities at Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine may include a visitor centre offering information about sapphires and the region's mining history, along with a flume for mining. In this channel, visitors can sift through materials to uncover these precious gems. To plan a visit, it's recommended to check the official website or contact the mine directly for the latest details on operating hours, fees, and available services.
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| Photo Copyright Ā©ļøĀ gemmountainmt.com |
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| Photo Copyright Ā©ļøĀ capistranomining.com |
Morefield Mine, Amelia, Virginia
Morefield Mine in Amelia, Virginia, is an excellent place for people who like rocks and fossils. It's in Amelia County and is known for having lots of different stones and fossils. At Morefield Mine, you can find things like amazonite, quartz, and feldspar. You usually have to pay to get in and use tools they provide, like hammers and chisels, to collect rocks and fossils. The mine might also teach you about the stones and the history of mining in the area. Before you go, it's a good idea to check their website or ask them about when they're open and how much it costs. It's a fun spot for collecting rocks and fossils.
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| Photo Copyright Ā©ļøĀ virginia.org |
Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine, Virgin Valley, Nevada
Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine, located in Virgin Valley, Nevada, is a renowned destination for gem enthusiasts seeking the beauty of opals. This unique mine is celebrated for producing various precious opals, including black opal, crystal opal, and fire opal. Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine typically operates on a fee mining basis, allowing visitors to pay a fee for the chance to explore the mine and hunt for opals. The fee often includes tools and equipment necessary for opal hunting, with visitors usually permitted to keep the opals they find. The mine offers an educational experience, providing insights into opals, the geological features of the area, and the history of opal mining. Before planning a visit, it's recommended to check the official website or contact the mine directly for the latest information on operating hours, fees, and any additional services. Be prepared for a distinctive and potentially rewarding gem-hunting adventure in the opal-rich Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine.
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| Photo Copyright Ā©ļøĀ nevadaopal.com |
Bonanza Opal Mine, Denio, Nevada
Bonanza Opal Mine in Denio, Nevada, is an excellent place for people who love opals. It's in a part of Nevada known for having different types of opals, including the special ones that shine with bright colours. If you want to go look for opals, you usually have to pay to get in. They'll give you tools like picks and shovels to dig for opals, and you can keep whatever opals you find. The mine also teaches you things about opals and how they are found. Before you go, it's good to check their website or ask them about when they're open and how much it costs. It's an excellent place for a unique adventure in finding beautiful opals.
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Crystal Grove Diamond Mine, St. Johnsville, New York
Crystal Grove Diamond Mine in St. Johnsville, New York, is a popular spot for gem enthusiasts seeking quartz crystals. While the name suggests diamonds, the mine is well-known for its diverse collection of quartz crystals, coming in various sizes and shapes. Crystal Grove usually operates on a fee mining basis, meaning visitors pay a fee for access to the mining area and are provided with tools like hammers and buckets to search for quartz crystals. The crystals found during the visit are typically keepers for visitors. This mine may also offer an educational experience, providing insights into the minerals in the area and the fascinating process of crystal formation. Before planning a visit, it's recommended to check the official website or contact the mine directly for the latest information on operating hours, fees, and any additional services. Visitors can anticipate a unique and potentially rewarding adventure in searching for beautiful quartz crystals at Crystal Grove Diamond Mine.
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| Photo Copyright Ā©ļøĀ mindat.org |
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Gem Hunting Alternatives
Considering a gem-themed getaway but not particularly keen on outdoor adventures? In the United States, there are plenty of gem shows that allow you to indulge in your passion for gem hunting within the confines of indoor spaces or, at the very least, in shaded areas.
- Every February, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in Arizona attracts visitors from around the world.
- Quartzsite, Arizona, also hosts a well-known annual gem show from January to February.
- Denver, Colorado, hosts an annual Gem and Mineral Showcase with many diverse offerings.
Exploring Mineral Treasures: A Guide to Gemological Museums and Exhibits Across the USA
The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois
Magnificent gemstones, minerals and jewellery from around the world will delight you at the Field Museum. The exhibits in the Grainger Hall of Gems show the transformation of gemstone rough into jewellery.
Web : fieldmuseum.org
T +1 312 922 9410
Smithsonian Natural Museum of History, Washington, DC.
Waiting for you is the Hope Diamond and the 10,363-carat Dom Pedro aquamarine. After viewing those wonders, you can wander around over 20,000 square feet of the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals permanent exhibit.
Web : naturalhistory.si.edu
T +1 202 633 1000
Email : [email protected]
Gemological Institute of AmericaĀ® (GIA), Carlsbad, California
GIAĀ® in Carlsbad is one of the world's excellent gemological research facilities and grading centres ā and it's also a stunning gem and jewellery museum. Exhibits include Riches in the Rocks, trilliant-cut gems and Symphony in Gemstones. Check the website for special exhibits, including Centuries of Opulence: Jewels of India, through October 2018. Call 24 hours in advance to schedule a tour.
Web : GIA.edu
T +1 800 421 7250, ext. 4116
Email : [email protected]
Mineral & Gemological Collection at Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts
Harvard's museum is home to more than 3,000 specimens. The collection has 1,200 gems from New England, allowing you to take a gemological tour of the region within their galleries.
Web : mgmh.fas.harvard.edu
T +1 617 495 3045
Email : [email protected]
Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas, Texas
A museum you and your children will be sure to love. In the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall, you'll find The Eye of Africa (a spectacularly vivid fluorite crystal from Nambia) and a five-foot-tall amethyst geode. The entire family can participate in a scavenger hunt.
Web : perotmuseum.org
T +1 214 428 5555Ā
Email : [email protected]