Click for gem
mine map
Gem mining has been a favorite activity for
visitors to the Franklin area for years. As
you read on you'll discover our heritage as
"Gem Capital of the World" as well
as how to mine, what to look for as you mine
and complete descriptions of active mines in
the greater Franklin area!
Keep in mind most mines are open from
spring through autumn. As always have
you have further questions or need additional
information call our toll free number or use
the request information form link found at the
top of this page.
Mining History In Macon
County - Franklin, NC
Mining
for ruby and sapphire began in Macon County
in 1870. Called corundum, the minerals were
mined commercially for abrasives and gave
work to many men. Corundum and other minerals,
mica and kaolin, were hauled to the railroad
by horse and wagon and shipped out of Macon
County in large quantities. Tiffany's showed
an interest in the area in the 1890's but
two other companies, American Prospecting
& Mining Co. and US Ruby Mining Co., began
work hoping to find the source of the rubies
found in the corundum mines. Both companies
ended the search in the early part of the
20th century leaving the area open to rockhounds
and gem enthusiasts. The source hasn't been
found - yet.
What To Bring To The Mines
Bring
ziploc bags or a plastic butter dish to take
your stones home in (no glass). Rubber gloves
are handy if it's chilly or you have a nice
manicure and a hat and some sunblock if it's
sunny although many mines provide cover on
the "flume". The wooden benches
get hard as the day goes on so you might need
a cushion to sit on or old towels work well
too and you can use them to wipe your hands.
Wear old clothes and tennis shoes or boots
and bring a plastic bag to put your muddy
shoes in and an extra pair to wear in the
car. Bring a picnic lunch, most mines provide
a place to eat out of rain or sun, plan to
spend the day! And you will need to bring
the camera for those pictures to show friends
you played in the mud in North Carolina and
found beautiful gem stones.
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How To Mine
Most mines sell gem dirt in a bucket or bag
(few allow digging) and you may have to pay
an admission fee for the day. You are provided
with a screen for washing and there is a flume
- a trough of running water - with a bench
along it's length. The dirt goes in the screen,
the screen goes in the water and the mud is
washed away. Well, it's not quite that easy
but it is completely safe and mine operators
are on hand to help with technique and identification.
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What To Look For At The
Mines
The
"3 c's" of gem mining are Color,
Clarity and Crystals. Gemstones come in every
color from white to black. Garnets are glassy
red , pink or reddish brown. Rubies are silky
red, sapphires are every other color, and
both have a crystal formation with 6 sides.
Moonstones are pearly white to gray and peach
to chocolate brown with a flat box-like shape.
Quartz comes in many forms, sometimes clear
colors like Amethyst and Citrine, sometimes
opaque colors with mica flecks like Aventurine
and of course clear with sides - quartz crystals.
That's just a few of the many gemstones found
at local mines. Stop in at one of the many
gem shops for a crash course in gem identification
or spend some time at The Franklin Gem &
Mineral Museum in the old jailhouse on Phillips
Street in historic downtown Franklin.
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Gem Mines gem
mine map
Cherokee
Ruby & Sapphire Mine
(Native Only) Come enjoy the fresh mountain
air, natural creek water running through the
flume line and the scenic beauty of Cowee Valley.
Our mine is not "salted" or "enriched"
and contains only native North Carolina
gemstones, including Rubies, Sapphires,
Garnets, Moonstones, Rhodolite, Rutile and Sillimanite.
These gems occur naturally in the Cowee Valley
and are not as plentiful as in "salted"
mines, but are much more valuable and many are
"facet quality". We will be glad to
help you identify your gems. The CHEROKEE CHIEF
RUBY was found here in 1993. This huge gem quality
ruby had a total weight of 1070 carats.
LOCATION: 41 Cherokee Mine Road off Ruby Mine
Road, 
828-349-2941
Cowee
Mountain Ruby Mine
Located 4 miles north of Franklin at the foot
of Cowee Mountain just off Highway 441,, Cowee
Mountain Ruby Mine is open 7 days a week from
9:00 a.m. until "The Last Person Leaves".
Two covered flumes allow you to mine rain or
shine. Mining instructions for the novice on
premises. Free Admission. Refreshing picnic
area by shade trees & running brook. Cold
drinks and snacks are available in the gem shop.
Buses, large or small groups welcome. Group
rates are available for groups of 15 or more.
Gem dirt to go is available all year. Family
owned and operated.
LOCATION: 6771 Sylva Road, 828-369-5271.
Gold
City Gem Mine
Home of the 1061 carat sapphire found at Gold
City, featured in PEOPLE WEEKLY, DISNEY ADVENTURES
and ROCK & GEM Magazines. Native and Enriched
Gemstones buckets. We also have Gold Panning.
New and Improved large covered flume for Gem
Mining rain or shine. New inside heated
flume for cold days. Located on Highway
441, 6 miles North of Franklin. Open most of
the year. Call for hours. Tour buses, group
rates available. Bring your rough stones in
for a free inspection and cutting from our professional
team in our jewlery store.
LOCATION: 9410 Sylva Rd., ph 800-713-7767 or
828-369-3905
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Jackson Hole
(Native and enriched stones) Located in waterfall
country above the breathtaking Cullasaja Falls
on Hwy. 28 & US 64 halfway between Franklin
and Highlands. Closed occasionally on Tuesdays.
Gem cutting available, snack bar and gem shop
on site. Covered gem mine. Friendly assistance
in the cleanest mine around. 
828-524-5850
- OPEN ALL YEAR
Mason's
Ruby & Sapphire Mine
(Native Only) Under new management. This mine
has an abundance of beautiful sapphires in all
colors along with pink and red rubies. It's
one of Macon County's oldest and most productive
mines. The only mine with a guarantee that all
will have success their first time. Dig your
own dirt. Open 8a.m. to 5 p.m. 828-369-9742.
Located in the Burningtown Community off Route
28 North. Follow signs.
Mason
Mountain Mine & Cowee Gift Shop
(The Johnson's Place)
(Native and enriched stones) Beautiful native
rhodolite garnets, kyanite, pyrope garnets,
and quartz along with other added gems. Assistance
to beginners and "old timers". Shaded
flume, clean restrooms, gift shop and snack
bar.
LOCATION: 5315 Bryson City Rd., ph. 828-524-4570.
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R
& S Gems and More
R & S Gems and More located in the Gem Capital
of the World, Franklin, NC, brings gem mining
to your own back yard with the GEM MINING KIT
and more.
Rose
Creek Mine
Rose Creek Mine Gift & Rock Shop. We have
rubies, sapphires, garnets, emeralds and so
much more. We also have special buckets, gem
kits, lapidary supplies, jewelry, Opals and
a world class collection of minerals. Last new
miner accepted at 4pm. Dig your own dirt, first
bucket free with admission. Help for beginners,
equipment supplied, covered flume line, clean
restrooms, covered picnic tables, snacks. Group
rates available as is gem dirt to go. Five miles
north of Franklin on Hwy 28, left on Bennett
before river. 115 Terrace Ridge Dr. For mining
info call 828-349-3774.
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Sheffield
Mine
As featured on the TRAVEL CHANNEL. NATIVE Rubies
& Sapphires (some will "STAR")
or Enriched Rainbow Buckets with Semi-Precious
Gems from around the world. Open 10am-5pm. Admission
includes 2 starter buckets. Mine rain or shine
at covered flumes. Picnic tables, Snacks &
Beverages. Gem Identification. Stone Cutting
and Setting available. Gift Shop. Clean Restrooms.
Group Discounts. Wire Wrap Classes available.
Gem Dirt to Go. Fun for all ages! Relaxing atmosphere,
friendly assistance, and all you need to bring
is yourself! 385 Sheffield Farms Rd., ph. 828-369-8383.
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Gem Shops
Burglens
Natural Gems
See us before mining, we'll show you what to
look for! See us after mining, we'll show you
what to keep, cut and mount. Located on the
corner of 441 North and Sanderstown Rd., ph.
828-524-9171.
Cowee
Gift Shop
Located 5-1/2 miles north on NC 28. Fine quality
lapidary, gem cutting, finished jewelry. 5315
Bryson City Rd., ph. 828-524-4570
Cowee
Mtn. Ruby Mine & Gem Shop
Located 4 miles north of Franklin on Highway
441. Open 9AM until the last person leaves.
Come visit our gem shop for friendly assistance
in stone identification. Stone cutting &
setting available. There is a large selection
of gifts ranging from bookends to carvings and
rock candy. There is also a large selection
of gold and silver jewelry. Located at 6771
Sylva Road, Ph 828-369-5271
cowee@smnet.net
Franklin
Gemstone & Jewelry Warehouse
Franklin Gemstone & Jewelry Warehouse is
a wholesale warehouse for gemstones and rough
rock. Included in the warehouse is a jewelry
and rock shop retail outlet. The jewelry outlet
holds one of the largest selections of sterling
silver jewelry in Franklin. Fine quality 10K
and 14K gold and gemstone jewelry are also featured
at outlet prices. The warehouse is open 9 am
to 6 pm Monday through Saturday. The warehouse
will also open at other times by appointment.
3002 Georgia Road, ph.828-524-6132
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The
Gem Factory
Located 3.5 south of Franklin, NC on Highway
441/23 the Georgia Road. The Gem Factory has
used time honored traditions of goldsmithing
and stone cutting to create one of a kind jewelry.
Our new expanded showrooms have a large variety
of jewelry, gemstones, rocks, minerals, carvings,
fossils, and gifts in a 
beautiful
nature inspired atmosphere. Come in for a free
guide to the mines and free stone inspections.
Contact the Martinez Family at 3348 Georgia
Road, ph. 828-524-9193.
Gold
City Jewelry & Gem Shop
Located at Gold City Gem Mine on Highway 441,
6 miles north of Franklin, NC. Open most of
the year. Call for hours. Bring your own rough
stones in for a free inspection and cutting
from our professional team, choose from gold
and silver mounts. Our Gem Shop features a 150lb
sapphire. We also have a full line of Minerals,
Specimens and gifts for every age. Located at
9410 Sylva Rd., ph. 800-713-7767 or 828-369-3905
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Jackson Hole
Located in waterfall country halfway between
Franklin and Highlands on NC 28 and US 64. Complete
gem service with on site gem mine. Expert cutting
and mounting. We feel we can meet all our gem
mine and gem shop expectations. ph.828-524-5850
Ruby
City Gems
We are one of the oldest and largest gem and
mineral shops in the Southeast, with over 50
years collecting and experience, and approximately
5000 sq. ft. of retail and museum space. We
have gem-mining screens for your trip to the
local mines, panning & mining materials
and tools. If you are a rock hound, we are an
authorized Graves & Lortone dealer. If you
need guidebooks or maps, we have those too.
Come by the shop on your way to the mines for
your FREE map.
For your jewelry needs, the options are endless!
We have a huge variety of stones that are cut
and ready to be placed in the mounting of your
choice, including precious diamonds, amethyst,
citrine, tanzanite, sapphires, emeralds, peridot,
tourmaline, aquamarine, and more! We have a
vast collection of Gold finished jewelry. For
spring, 2007, we are introducing 2 exclusive
designers of fine sterling & gemstone jewelry
for this entire region of NC, TN, GA, and SC.
We also offer full jeweler services, so as to
offer you one-stop-shopping. “As seen
on The Travel Channel”.
Tari's
RokGem
Located on HWY 441, 2 miles south of Franklin.
Gemologist on premises, specializing in opals.
Custom jewelry designing. Repairs done on premises.
Free gemstone inspection. Gem stones cut &
mounted. Gold & Silver mountings, copper
jewelry, rocks, gems & minerals available.
Lapidary equipment for sale or order. Fine selection
of books, bookends and gifts. Located at 1884
Georgia Rd., ph. 828-349-5411
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Museums
The
Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum
Located in the "Old Jail" on Phillips
Street across from the Macon County Courthouse.
Open daily May 1st - October 31st, 10am - 4pm.
Founded in 1974 by members of the Franklin Gem
& Mineral Society, with the cooperation
of county commissioners and local businesses,
the museum is renovated and maintained by volunteers.
Includes the North Carolina Room, the States
Room and the "Slammer". Free Admission.
25 Phillips St., ph. 828-369-7831
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Visitor Information 
