5 Public Gem Mines In Virginia Worth Visiting

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Public Gem Mines In Virginia

It goes without saying that Virginia is an incredible state, but it’s also one that’s rich in a wide variety of minerals and gemstones. An enthusiastic rockhound can rack up quite the collection of items in this state. In order to locate some of these gemstones, especially when travelling with a family to simply visit gem mines that are open to the public. To do this, all you need to do is know where to look.

So, let’s take a look at some of the gemstone mines in Virginia that are open to the public. This may not be a comprehensive list of public gem mines in Virginia, but it is a great place to start your search.

And as always, be sure to verify for yourself that any mine you plan on visiting is indeed open before you head out.

A Word About Public Gem Mines?

I just want to take a moment and clarify what it is I mean when I say public gem mines and the type of gem mines I’m including in this list.

In short, what I’m referring to are pay-to-dig sites. These are properties that are most often time privately owned where you can dig, pan, or search for gemstones in exchange for a fee. And generally speaking, whatever you find is yours to keep.

Where To Hunt For Gemstones In Virginia

1. Lucky Lake Gem Mine

2. Appalachian Gem and Gold Mine

3. Monroe Park Gold & Gemstone Panning

4. Fairy Stone State Park

5. Morefield Mine (Closed)

What Types of Gemstones Can Be Found in Virginia?

1. Amazonite

Amazonite is a blue-green variety of microcline feldspar. It’s often used for jewelry and decorative carvings due to the masses it occurs in. Despite a long history of use, the mineral was only formally described in the 1800s. Oddly enough, we’re not 100% sure what causes the color, instead it appears to be a conglomeration of effects from iron, lead, and others that are held in the crystals.

The samples from Virginia are among the best in the nation, easily rivaling the material that comes from other sources including the famous ones in Colorado. It’s even the unofficial state mineral of Virginia! That’s led to it being a mineral that’s highly sought-after by collectors.

The majority of the mineral found in the state is found in Amelia County, and especially from the Morefield Mine which is sometimes open to the public.

2. Kyanite

Kyanite is one of the stranger minerals out there. It’s a deep blue crystal that often appears as large blades or fans, but it also appears as single crystals of gem quality. One of the defining features of the mineral is its directional hardness. Kyanite is actually softer when you cross the fibers of the crystals than when you move along them.

Gem-quality material and blades are both found in Virginia, so it’s just a matter of trying in the right spot until you find what you’re looking for. Many samples are grey or close to black, especially with bladed crystals, due to impurities trapped in the crystals.

If you’re looking for kyanite, try the area around Hurrican Knob. This area is known to house gem-quality kyanite for those who are willing to put in the effort and look.

3. Beryl

Beryl is a large family of gemstones, containing some of the classics. Aquamarine and emerald are both forms of beryl with impurities lending them color, but morganite, heliodor, and others are of the same type.

Beryl samples from Virginia are generally white and opaque. Here and there a free press into the aquamarine range of coloration but these are vanishingly rare and not of gem-quality. They’re the primary “score” for most collectors on the hunt but the locations where they’re commonly found are kept secret due to the gem’s value.

For those interested in self-collecting a sample of this mineral, you’re best to look in Amelia County. There are also occurrences of greenish beryl at the area around Ladysmith if you’re looking for something unique.

4. Unakite

Unakite is a metamorphic stone with splotches of green and pink. It’s generally comprised of epidote (the green bits), feldspar (the pink bits), and clear quartz. It’s a common stone to collect thanks to its intense coloration and hard surface. Unakite will take a great polish, and tumbles are a common find in rock shops.

Unakite is technically an epidote-rich granite. It’s a hard stone and gem-quality samples are prized. Since it occurs in larger pieces, you’ll often find that it’s also used to make small carvings and other decorative objects. While not uncommon, it is a bit rarer than most granite types and it’s often worth it to dig your own samples.

Virginia bears some of the best unakite in the world, and it’s surprisingly common in the areas it occurs. This material is hard, solid, and suitable for all manner of use by lapidaries. It’s often mined in larger amounts and then sold as rough or tumbles, both low-effort ways to move it on to the person who will either keep it in their collection or process it further.

Unakite is easily found in Western Blue Ridge near Roanoke. There are other places it occurs, but that’s the best lead for someone who isn’t local to a good location.

5. Epidote

Along with the epidote in unakite, epidote can also be found on its own. It takes the form of a green crystal, often spread across another surface. These crystals occur as both a light dusting and as their own distinct crystals locked into a matrix within other stones. These crystals are a prized collector’s item and epidote is an often-seen mineral specimen in shops.

Virginia’s epidote is substantial in amount but not exceptional. It will generally occur as a black-green crystal when not found in combination with other massive minerals like you’ll find with unakite. It can also be found mixed only with quartz, forming a stone called epidosite.

Epidote can be found in and around the Rose River.

6. Quartz/Amethyst

Quartz is the macrocrystalline form of silica. Its form is an easy one to remember: a six-sided crystal with pyramidal termination. They can be found as singular points, clusters, or inside of geodes depending on the location where you’re prospecting.

Amethyst is a variation of quartz, colored purple by iron ions trapped in the crystalline lattice of the mineral. It varies quite a bit in color, from a purple lavender to a deep purple. The latter can be quite valuable, although they still don’t rise to the level of true precious stones.

Virginia has a ton of quartz and others in the family spread through the area. One of the cooler forms of quartz to come out of Virginia is blue quartz which occurs in several locations. For quartz lovers, this is a great state for a hunt.

Samples can be found all over but the most abundant place to look is in gravels, waterways, and roadcuts in the area around Charlottesville.

7. Apatite

Apatite is actually a group of phosphate minerals, but the most commonly seen samples are deep blue masses of interlocked crystals. These masses are often worked and polished by lapidaries since apatite is a softer mineral. Larger crystals can also be found, which are sometimes cut into faceted gemstones. In jewelry, this stone needs special protection, but it’s still in relatively common use due to the deep range of blues it displays.

Apatite crystals and masses can be found in Virginia. Most of the samples I’ve seen have been the usual blue masses, but it appears that gem-quality material shows up in a few locations. This is generally greenish, rather than dark or neon blue like the majority of gem-grade apatite.

If you’re going to take a look then your best bet is to start looking to the north of Galax in mine dumps. Here gem-quality material is occasionally found, making it a good spot for hunters.

8. Staurolite

Staurolite is a neat silicate mineral that has a unique habit. Specifically, the crystals which staurolite forms often twin and create right angles. These are sometimes known as Fairy Crosses, depending on who you ask, and the mineral has become quite collectible. This crystallizing process is called cruciform penetration twinning.

Staurolite has no other use but collecting. Nothing is extracted from it and the crystals aren’t suitable for cutting and faceting. Instead, staurolite is most often graded on the perfection of the crystals and their angles. A euhedral (ie: well defined) staurolite with right angles is worth more on the collector’s market.

Staurolite is a common find in Virginia, and it’s often found alongside other interesting stones like apatite and quartz. Virginia is known to house samples with great angles right out of the ground, at areas like Fairy Stone State Park. Just be aware some of the perfect ones are altered with files to achieve the “ideal” angle.

Staurolite can be found in Patrick County. Some great crosses come from this area, and they can be dug from the Earth or bought in tourist shops.

Can Diamonds Be Found In Virginia?

Virginia is not known for being a large producer of diamonds. But does that mean diamonds cannot be found here? Not at all. There have been five diamonds found in the state of Virginia since 1836 all from various locations.

  •  The Vaucluse Mine in Orange County (1836)
  • Ninth and Perry streets in Manchester, now part of the City of Richmond (1854)
  • The Whitehall Mine in Spotsylvania County (around 1878)
  • Near Pounding Mill in Tazewell County (1913)
  • Rich Creek near Peterstown (1928) – the “Punch Jones” diamond

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