Gem hunting, or rock hounding, is a fascinating hobby that allows people to find rare rocks and stones from amethyst and ...

Western North Carolina offers several locations for gem mining and exploration. Emerald Village, near Spruce Pine, allows visitors to dig for gems and go underground. Other popular spots in and around ...

It's not often that a site formed over millions of years is open to the public for exploration, and once visitors arrive, there are treasures available for finding. The locale is known as Ruggles Mine ...