We%26#39;re going to Franklin soon. We want to visit gem mines but not sure which ones since there are so many! No kids-- Just me and my husband! Which mines are the best for gem mining? Which places offer the best advice, tell you what to look for, etc.,? I%26#39;m a teacher and would like to take back ';something'; to show my students.
THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE!
Franklin, NC - Gem Mining
As to which is %26#39;best';, well that is one%26#39;s own interpitation. But there are several in the area. Do a search for ';gem mine franklin nc'; and click on the first one, which is the franklin CoC. On there you will see ';gem mines'; click there and then on MAP. You will see all in the area. If you notice the ';Rose creeck mine and Mason mine'; these are two that you will GET some gems in your buckets. Try one or both or even several. There are ';rock shops'; that will even evaluate and cut your stones that you find and will send them back to you after cutting. I have done this and was satisfied with the results. I have no preferance as to which is ';best'; but I would say try the rose creek first and then maybe mason mine. The one on cowee valley rd has ';natural (ruby) stones'; but a lot LESS of the other gems. Most all of the mines will have bags or buckets with ';enhanced'; gems from all over. If you buy buckets with only natural stones then you will find FAR less in then compared to enhanced buckets.
There are other places in NC that have gems like CANTON having natural rubys, Spruce pines which have emerals and other gems. Also Hiddenite which has quite a few differant gems, but you have to dig there for your riches.
I hope this helps and where ever you go, happy hunting. jim
ps Take along some OLD clothes that you don%26#39;t mind getting real dirty.
Franklin, NC - Gem Mining
My family and I mined the Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine several times while I was in college and enjoyed that experience. We also liked the gold and gem mine in Cherokee. At the Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine, you can actually buy bags of dirt to take back with you to show your students how to mine. You have to understand that most (if not all) of the mining companies ';enrich'; their bags. You%26#39;re not really getting the true mining experience because of this. I guess they want to guarantee success for each of their customers. If you go to Hiddenite near Statesville, you can get make the choice to get the ';real'; experience. It may be the same way at the emerald mines near Spruce Pine. Just remember that it%26#39;s all about the fun of the experience. I don%26#39;t believe you%26#39;ll be disappointed.
Have a great time!
If you%26#39;re looking for a non-commercial adventure in mining, try driving out Hwy 64 towards Murphy from Franklin to the Nantahala Forest. Turn left onto Deep Gap Rd (brown forestry sign) and drive down to the first campsite on the right. Armed with nothing more than a kitchen strainer %26amp; garden trowel, you can sift the garnets out of the sand in the creek %26amp; tell them all how you did it for free.
deltasunshine: Where exactly is Deep Gap Road? Is it in Hayesville or Murphy? I have a couple places in Murphy and am headed up there at the end of the week and want to check out the creek area you described, but can%26#39;t picture where Deep Gap is? Can you give me a landmark besides the forestry sign? Hopefully you will read this and let me know before I leave. micb63: We have gone gem mining at the Sapphire mine in Franklin (gave advice, showed us what to look for, etc.), they had regular buckets and fortified buckets. It is a blast, I also brought rubber gloves, flip flops, brought towels, bottled water to rinse off feet and wet ones to clean off before getting back in the car, it is very dirty, and fun for all ages, have a great time wherever you go!
We had our best experience at Gold City, a few miles above Franklin. I found a beautiful, native emerald and had it cut into a 2 carat gem. One of my kids found a native sapphire that was cut into 5 carats. We also found native rubies. They were slightly expensive ($25 a bucket and up) but as for the experience it was the most fun for our kids. Everyone found something of value and we learned how to identify rough gems. It wasn%26#39;t crowded, weather was nice and cool, trough was covered and plenty of room to spread out, people working there were extremely helpful and nice. I want to visit other mines when I return but I will definitely go back to Gold City. We visited one featured on the Travel Channel and were less than impressed and wouldn%26#39;t go back there ever again. I found the Franklin Chamber of Commerce website to have wonderful information on the mines. There is printable map on the website that shows the location of the mines.
It%26#39;s a late response but better late than never. My girlfriend and I go to the Franklin area at least 3 times a year to gem mine. We like Cherokee Ruby Mine because they don%26#39;t ';salt'; (enrich) their buckets. The staff is SO helpful and never seem to tire of your questions....no matter how many you ask. If you are members of M.A.G.M.A. (Mountain Area Gem %26amp; Mineral Association) you get discounts on the entry fee and bucket cost. Visit them. You won%26#39;t be disappointed. FYI: Bring a picnic basket and lots of water. There are no vending machines.
I went last year to Rose%26#39;s and had a ball! I found some nice stones and it wasn%26#39;t too expensive. I think you%26#39;d probably be fine anywhere.
Another mine that does not ';enrich'; is Mason%26#39;s Ruby %26amp; Saphire Mine www.masonsrubyandsapphiremine.com/index.htm they have shaded flumes and concessions but charge $30 for as long as you want to stay.
Cherokee is the only other that does not enrich. Not shaded and no snacks, but there is a $7 entry fee and $2.50 per bucket.
Sorry, that%26#39;s Cherokee Ruby Mine @
http://www.cherokeerubymine.com/index.php
Cherokee Ruby Mine and Mason Ruby %26amp; Sapphire Mine (Not Mason Mountain), are definately the way to go for the ';real'; mining experience. Ray, Tony, and Maria over at Cherokee are terrific very helpful people. They really give you an education on how to sluice and what to look for. As other posters have said, you should bring your own lunch, snacks and drinks, also rubber gloves are helpful and bring either ziploc bags or a cup for your finds. Maria provided us with empty pill bottles which was great. Only negative thing I have to say is the benches are too close to the flume and it is back breaking after a few hours. Mason Mine had a shaded waist high flume area, and you can actually go to the mine cave to dig. Expect to get wet and dirty at either location(wear boots!) but it%26#39;s a blast!
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