Emerald Hollow Mine
One of the major mines in the county is the Emerald Hollow Mine. This a public gem mine located in the Piedmont of North Carolina in Alexander County, specifically in the town of Hiddenite. Throughout the entire United States, this is one of the only emerald mines that is open to the public to search for emeralds.
At the mine, more than 63 different types of gems and minerals can be found including emeralds, amethyst, sapphire, aquamarine, topaz, garnet, as well as the stone Hiddenite, which is a stone only found in this local area. The ways in which gems can be uncovered in this mine is by sluicing, creeking, or digging. Sluicing is the process of taking a small amount of dirt or soil removed from the mine and sifting through it with a stream of running water known as a sluiceway. As the dirt is washed down the trough, the larger pieces of gems, minerals, and other stones are left in the sifter.
Digging in permitted areas allows for visitors of the mine to dig into the earth to search for veins that may contain gemstones. The use of the creek is a major part of the mine. Guests are allowed to enter the mountain water creek to search for valuable stones.
The mine is equipped with an on-site lapidary shop where visitor’s gem stones can be cleaned, finished, and made into jewelry. The Emerald Hollow Mine is owned and operated by Dottie Watkins.
Read more about this topic: Hiddenite Gem Mines
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