StoneHunter

Popular Gem-Hunting Sites

• Crater of Diamonds State Park — Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The only public diamond mine in the world. Finders keepers.
• Herkimer Diamond Mines — Herkimer, New York. World-famous doubly-terminated quartz crystals in dolomite.
• Emerald Hollow Mine — Hiddenite, North Carolina. The only US emerald mine open to the public.
• Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine — Philipsburg, Montana. Sluice for blue, pink, and yellow sapphires.
• Spectrum Sunstone Mine — Plush, Oregon. Dig Oregon's state gem — labradorite sunstone.
• Opal Mountain — San Bernardino County, California. Free BLM land for fire opal in volcanic rhyolite.
• Hauser Geode Beds — Imperial County, California. Crack open your own geodes in the desert.
• Topaz Mountain — Juab County, Utah. Free-dig topaz crystals on BLM land.
• Virgin Valley Opal Mines — Humboldt County, Nevada. Precious black opal rivaling Australia.
• Rockhound State Park — Deming, New Mexico. The only state park where you keep what you find.

Rockhounding Regions

• Southern California — Fire opal, tourmaline, geodes, agate, and garnet across desert and mountain terrain.
• Montana — Sapphires, moss agate, and quartz crystals in the Northern Rockies.
• Oregon — Sunstone, thundereggs, obsidian, and agate along the coast and high desert.
• North Carolina — Emeralds, rubies, and sapphires in Appalachian pegmatites.
• Arkansas — The world's only public diamond mine and the quartz crystal capital of the world.
• Colorado — Amazonite, topaz, aquamarine, and rhodochrosite in high-altitude Rockies.
• Arizona — Peridot, fire agate, turquoise, and copper minerals in desert terrain.
• Great Basin (Nevada & Utah) — Opal, topaz, geodes, and jade in remote desert locations.
• Great Lakes — Lake Superior agates, native copper, thomsonite, and Petoskey stones.
• Northeast — Herkimer diamonds, tourmaline, garnet, and beryl in New England and New York.
• Idaho & Wyoming — Star garnets, fire opal, and nephrite jade in mountain backcountry.
• Southeast — Rubies, sapphires, gold, and corundum in Georgia and the Carolinas.

Ghost Towns & Historic Mines

Explore 238 mining ghost towns and historic mines across the American West. From Bodie, California to Tombstone, Arizona — these abandoned boomtowns tell the story of America's mineral rushes and many still have specimens scattered on the ground.

Prospecting Permits

For casual rockhounding on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, you do not need a permit. Collect up to 25 pounds per day plus one piece, not to exceed 250 pounds per year, for personal use. National Forest land has similar rules. Fee-dig mines charge admission but provide tools and access. Always check local regulations before collecting.

Essential Gem-Hunting Gear

Recommended equipment includes a rock hammer, safety glasses, UV flashlight (365nm for fluorescent minerals), GPS device, sturdy boots, and plenty of water for desert sites. StoneHunter's gear section features field-tested tools, safety equipment, camping gear, and travel essentials — all linked to verified products.