Your Bryson City or Cherokee vacation cabin rental from Yellow Rose Realty is only a short drive away from one of many gem mines in the area.
#Cherokee ruby mine franklin nc free#
To learn more, visit the Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum, which offers free admission. Other precious stones commonly found in our area include garnet, amethyst, amazonite, beryl, jasper, moonstone, peridot, quartz, topaz, tourmaline, aquamarine and emerald. All colors of corundum are called sapphire except one: red corundum is always a ruby. We tend to think of sapphires as blue, but they can be green, pink, yellow and other colors. Franklin, North Carolina, United States of America. The mines were abandoned and forgotten until locals and tourists became interested in them for mining their own rubies and sapphires! Compare 22 hotels near Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine in Franklin using 2731 real guest reviews. Commercial mining continued until synthetic corundum became a cheaper solution for industrial needs. A large sapphire or ruby at the native mines start at about 10 carats and a big haul of stones is about 50 to 100 carats in a day The geologic literature does not mention emeralds, topaz, aventurine, sodalite, etc. Tiffany’s showed an interest in the area in the 1890’s but because a steady, consistent source of corundum could not be found, they did not set up operation. Commercial mining of corundum began in and around Franklin in 1870 and was an important industry for many years. Second only to diamonds in hardness, corundum is used as an industrial abrasive.
If you live in the area, or if you are visiting plan on checking these spots out: Points of Light a Crystal & Mineral gallery located in the mountains of Western NC. Here are some places in Asheville NC that feature Quartz Crystals. Sapphires and rubies are both variations of corundum. If you don’t already know, Quartz Crystals are a big deal in the Asheville North Carolina area. 1884 Georgia Rd. 41 Cherokee Mine Road, Franklin, NC 28734 (828) 349-2941 Emmas Place Mine for rubies and sapphires. While there are mines throughout the area, the nearby town of Franklin, NC is known as the Gem Mining Capital of the World! Cherokee Ruby Mine in Franklin, NC Mine for native gems and minerals like rubies, sapphires, garnet, and rutile. Some truly incredible finds have been made over the years, including the 1070-carat Cherokee Chief Ruby and the world’s largest blue star sapphire. Thousands of people visit gem mines in Western North Carolina each year in the hopes of discovering their own unique treasures. Western North Carolina has a complex geologic history, resulting in rich deposits of beautiful gems and minerals that attract gem hunters, rock collectors, mineralogists and geologists alike. One fun and exciting way is to try your hand at gem mining!
While visiting the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains, there are many great ways to enjoy nature while getting a little dose of local history. The Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine 41 Cherokee Mine Road Franklin, NC 28734 Ph: (828) 349.2941 gps: Latitude: 35.2727 Longitude: -83.3504.