Most mines are seasonal. Be sure to check their websites for dates and times mines are open.
| COUNTRY |
STATE |
CITY |
WEBSITE |
WHAT to DO |
Notes of Interest |
| USA |
AR |
Murfreesboro |
Crater of Diamonds State Park |
One of the few places the public can dig for diamonds. |
Dress to get dirty, bring your own equipment or you can rent tools. Good luck! |
| USA |
CA |
Coalinga |
Benitoite Mine |
Search for one of the worlds rarest gems. |
Let me know if you have been! |
| USA |
CA |
Big Sur |
Jade Cove Trail |
Public hiking trail. No tools allowed and you can only take what you can carry. |
|
| USA |
MT |
Butte |
The World Museum of Mining |
Exhibits and underground mine tour |
Let me know if you have been! |
| USA |
MT |
Philipsburg |
Gem Moutain Sapphire Mine. |
Shift through sapphire ore looking for gems. Will also mail you a bag if you can't come to them. |
Let me know if you have been! |
| USA |
NC |
Franklin |
Mason's Ruby and Sapphire Mine |
Native dig for sapphires and rubies, or get an enriched bucket. |
|
| USA |
NC |
Little Switzerland |
Emerald Village |
Mine tour, gold and enriched bucket panning, dump pile to dig in and gift shop |
|
| USA |
NC |
Marion |
Linville Caverns |
Privately owned active limestone caverns open to the public |
|
| USA |
NC |
Midland |
Reed Gold Mine |
Exhibits and you can pan for gold. Kid friendly! |
|
| USA |
NC |
Spruce Pine |
NC Gem Fest |
Hunt for opals in big dump pile. Plan to camp out and do some hiking while you are there. |
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| USA |
NV |
Virgin Valley |
Bonanza Opal Mine |
Ususally held the first weekend in August. |
Bring water and sunscreen. The fresh lemonade is awesome. Right off the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway with trails and waterfalls. Museum of NC Minerals is also close by and worth a visit. |
|
| USA |
NY |
Herkimer |
Herkimer Diamond Mines |
Mine for double terminated quartz that are bright and sparkle like diamonds. |
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| USA |
TN |
Chattanooga |
Ruby Falls |
Deepest underground waterfall open to the public |
No rubies, it was named for the wife of the man who discovered the cave. Wear a sweater, it gets chilly down there! |
| USA |
VA |
Amelia |
Morefield Gem Mine |
Mine for amazonite and other minerals by dump pile digging and sluice. |
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