🪨 Garnets
Deep red almandine garnets are found in many states. Idaho's star garnets are among the rarest in the world.
Best Places to Find Garnets
Crater of Diamonds State Park
Murfreesboro, Arkansas · State Park
The only diamond-bearing site in the world open to the public. 37-acre plowed field atop an ancient volcanic pipe. Over 33,000 diamonds found since 19...
Emerald Hollow Mine
Hiddenite, North Carolina · Fee Dig
America's only public emerald mine. 70-acre site with sluiceways, prospecting, and digging areas. The only place in North America where emeralds are f...
Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine
Franklin, North Carolina · Fee Dig
Accessible sluicing operation for all ages. Screen through dirt to find rubies, sapphires, garnets, and rutile. Affordable family activity in the Blue...
Hiddenite Gem Mines
Hiddenite, North Carolina · Fee Dig
Historic gem mining area where hiddenite (a rare spodumene variety) was first discovered in 1881. Multiple fee-dig operations in the area.
Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine
Philipsburg, Montana · Fee Dig
Montana's premier sapphire mining destination. Unique blue-green Montana sapphires increasingly popular for engagement rings. Staff clean and assess y...
Eldorado Bar Mine
Helena, Montana · Fee Dig
Private sapphire mine accepting summer reservations. Known for producing significant quantities of Montana sapphires alongside diverse other gemstones...
Topaz Mountain
Juab County, Utah · BLM Land
BLM land producing gem-quality topaz crystals, red beryl, garnet, and obsidian. Surface collecting permitted for personal use. Desert terrain requires...
Graves Mountain
Lincolnton, Georgia · Fee Dig
Famous mineral collecting site known for world-class rutile crystals, kyanite, and quartz. A classic southeastern rockhounding destination.
Morefield Mine (closed)
Amelia, Virginia · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite mine once renowned for amazonite, garnet, and beryl. Now closed and sealing underground workings. Exhibits at the Smithsonian.
Mt. Mica
Paris, Maine · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite mine known for producing world-class tourmaline specimens. One of America's most famous mineral localities.
Oceanview Mine
Pala, California · Fee Dig
Famous pegmatite mine in San Diego County known for gem-quality tourmaline, kunzite, and morganite. Guided digging tours available.
Pala Chief Mine
Pala, California · Fee Dig
Historic gem mine in the Pala district producing colorful tourmaline and garnet specimens. Part of California's rich pegmatite mining heritage.
Benson Mines
St. Lawrence County, New York · Fee Dig
Historic mining area in the Adirondacks producing garnet crystals and iron minerals. Garnet mining was once a major industry here.
Gore Mountain
North River, New York · Fee Dig
World-famous for giant almandine garnet crystals, some exceeding 2 feet in diameter. Home of the world's largest garnet deposit.
LCT Lithium Mine
Benson Mines Area, New York · Fee Dig
Pegmatite deposit producing beryl, garnet, and quartz crystals in the Adirondack region.
Emerald Creek Garnet Area
Clarkia, Idaho · USFS
The only place in the world (outside India) where star garnets are found. USFS-designated garnet collecting area. Stunning four-ray star garnets.
Garnet Ghost Town Gold
Garnet, Montana · BLM Land
Ghost town area with gold panning and garnet collecting in streams. Historic mining district open to recreational prospecting.
Horseshoe Mine
Clay County, Alabama · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite mine in the Alabama Piedmont. Known for quartz crystals, garnet, and tourmaline specimens.
Golden Stake Mine
Lineville, Alabama · Fee Dig
Alabama Piedmont mine producing garnet and kyanite crystals. Part of the mineral-rich eastern Alabama region.
Connecticut Pegmatite Mines
Portland, Connecticut · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite mines in the Middletown district. Fee-dig operations for garnet, beryl, and quartz crystals. Classic New England rockhounding.
Buckland Pegmatite Quarry
Buckland, Massachusetts · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite quarry in western Massachusetts. Known for beryl, garnet, and tourmaline specimens.
Roxbury / Hickory Flat Garnets
Roxbury, Connecticut · Public Land
Road cuts and exposures in western Connecticut for almandine garnet crystals. Part of the New England garnet belt.
New Hampshire Pegmatites (Beryl & Smoky Quartz)
North Conway, New Hampshire · Fee Dig
White Mountain pegmatites known for smoky quartz, beryl, and topaz. Fee-dig operations near North Conway and the Moat Mountain area.
Vermont Garnet Beds
Roxbury, Vermont · Public Land
Road cuts and exposures in central Vermont for grossular garnet crystals. The Green Mountains produce excellent garnet specimens.
Maine Beryl / Aquamarine
Stoneham, Maine · Fee Dig
Pegmatite quarries in Oxford County known for beryl, aquamarine, and garnet. Classic Maine mineral collecting.
Wade Mines / Maine Feldspar Quarries
Auburn, Maine · Fee Dig
Historic feldspar quarries in the Auburn area. Collecting for beryl, garnet, and tourmaline from quarry dumps.
Stevens Garnet
Santa Fe, New Mexico · BLM Land
BLM area near Santa Fe producing almandine garnet crystals in schist. Popular local rockhounding spot.
Chesterfield Beryl Mine
Chesterfield, Massachusetts · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite mine in western Massachusetts. Known for beryl crystals, garnets, and smoky quartz. Classic New England mineral locality.
New Hampshire Beryl Quarries
Keene, New Hampshire · Fee Dig
Numerous pegmatite quarries in the Keene area for beryl, smoky quartz, and garnet. Some fee-dig operations available.
Belvidere Mountain Asbestos Mine
Lowell, Vermont · Public Land
Historic asbestos mine dumps for grossular garnet, diopside, and other metamorphic minerals. Safety note: avoid airborne dust.
Strickland Quarry
Portland, Connecticut · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite quarry in the Portland area. Known for beryl, tourmaline, and garnet specimens. A classic Connecticut mineral locality.
Llano Uplift Granite & Minerals
Llano, Texas · Public Land
The Llano Uplift exposes some of the oldest rocks in Texas. Collect garnets, quartz crystals, and unusual minerals along the Llano River.
Cornwall Iron Mine Dumps
Cornwall, Pennsylvania · Public Land
Historic iron mine dumps for garnet, pyrite, and magnetite specimens. Cornwall was one of the most productive iron mines in the US.