She has been writing for Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist since 2010. The Sheffield Mine, You can also check out the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum in the old jail at 25 Phillips Street, where rock hounds like to hang out.īetsy Lehndorff came across this ruby patch in North Carolina while teaching pearl carving at the William Holland School of Lapidary.Klatt recommends these mines (but if you go on your own, be sure to call ahead!): Those are his hands in the picture above, holding a 162.8 carat piece of gem rough that, if cut properly, could yield a star ruby. Kevin Klatt’s family store at 130 East Main Street is loaded with rocks, gem displays, jewelry and equipment. Visit the Mine’s website for special events Mason’s Ruby and Sapphire Mine. Re-opened on May 8th Visitors use a flume next to the mine pile to sift for native gems. Buy a bucket of gravel, pour it in a screened box and sluice it in a channel of flowing water to look for gems.įor more information and museum grade examples, stop in at Ruby City Gems & Minerals. 5315 Bryson City Road, Franklin 828.524.4570 Rates: All Day Dig (9 am-5 pm ) 40, 4 Hour Dig 30. Head north from there and the Appalachian Mountains are sprinkled with ruby and sapphire mines open between now and October. In the far western nub of the state is the town of Franklin. A collapsed mine shaft is located at the base of the high wall in the background. In North Carolina, it’s now open season on rubies and sapphires. Masons Ruby and Sapphire Mine, Franklin, Ellijay Mining District, Cowee Valley, Macon Co., North Carolina, USA. The idea was that it is fun to find gemstones of your own, then cut and set them in your own jewelry. It was operated as a commercial abrasive mine.
However, the American Mining and Prospecting Company of New York originally prospected the mine somewhere in the 1895 period for gems. In the old days, Lapidary Journal devoted many issues to rock hounding. The original discovery of sapphires and rubies at the Raby Mine (which is now known as Mason's Mine) is not known.
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