(from an article in USA Today)
Here is a list of great places to hunt for precious stones around the U.S.
The country is scattered with mines and sites that welcome treasure hunters. (Gem Hunt, a series about the gem industry, premieres Oct.15 on the Travel Channel.) Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, a family travel expert at MiniTime.com, shares some favorite spots with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
Alabama Gold Camp
Lineville, Ala.
Visitors can also find red garnets, fossils, citrine and Indian artifacts. 256-396-0389; alabamagoldcamp.com
Spectrum Sunstone Mine
Plush, Ore.
Open May through October. 775-772-7724; highdesertgemsandminerals.com
Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine
Franklin, N.C.
Open April through October. 828-349-2941; cherokeerubymine.com
Crater of Diamonds State Park
Murfreesboro, Ark.
When visitors get tired of mining, the park also has an elaborate water park that’s open during the summer. 870-285-3113; craterofdiamondsstatepark.com
Herkimer Diamond Mines
Middleville, N.Y.
“You can rent your equipment, a hammer and bag and visit a museum with an interpretative program,” Kelleher says. 315-891-7355; herkimerdiamond.com
Emerald Hollow Mine
Hiddenite, N.C.
Open year-round. 866-600-4367; hiddenitegems.com
Woodward Ranch
Alpine, Texas
Rare red plum agates are found scattered about at this working West Texas cattle ranch about 70 miles from Big Bend National Park. 432-364-2271; woodwardranch.com
Morefield Gem Mine
Amelia, Va.
Just 45 minutes from Richmond, this mine has more amazonite than anywhere else in the country. It produces more than 80 minerals. morefieldgemmine.com
California State Gem Mine
Coalinga, Calif.
In August, an Austrian tourist found a rare star-shaped piece of benitoite at this Central Valley mine, which specializes in the blue silicate mineral. “You pick up things and check them out in a special dark room with ultraviolet light. That’s how she knew she got it,” Kelleher says. 559-935-5909; calstategemmine.com
Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine
Virgin Valley, Nev.
Open late May through mid-September. nevadaopal.com