regarding Spruce Pine Gem Mine in NC

Born Free

Sr. Member
Oct 27, 2007
440
6
Davenport, IA
Detector(s) used
Minelab Xterra 705
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
The ground is frozen in Colorado so I ordered a bucket of mine rock from Spruce Pine Gem Mine in NC just for fun. Can't attach pix because they have too many pixels. Anyway, I took all the gems to a rock shop. There are about 10 kinds of gems, only two of which are from the NC area! The emeralds and rubys are from NC, all the others are from Brazil, Australia and other countries. None of them have any resale value. The emeralds and rubys are not high enough quality. So although it was fun going through it, I would not have gotten it if I'd known it was seeded. Because that tells me they are controlling what you get and they KNOW there isn't anything of value in there. It would be a fun but expensive gift for a child. Anyway, Mrs Ackley at the rock shop (Ackley's in Colorado Springs) said that some people who go to the mine DO get good rubys and emeralds.

For whatever that's worth.

I have some pretty rocks to put in the rock tumbler.
 

fossis

Gold Member
Jan 5, 2007
7,837
96
eastern Oklahoma
Detector(s) used
Whites Prizm 11 & White's XLT
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Born Free said:
The ground is frozen in Colorado so I ordered a bucket of mine rock from Spruce Pine Gem Mine in NC just for fun. Can't attach pix because they have too many pixels. Anyway, I took all the gems to a rock shop. There are about 10 kinds of gems, only two of which are from the NC area! The emeralds and rubys are from NC, all the others are from Brazil, Australia and other countries. None of them have any resale value. The emeralds and rubys are not high enough quality. So although it was fun going through it, I would not have gotten it if I'd known it was seeded. Because that tells me they are controlling what you get and they KNOW there isn't anything of value in there. It would be a fun but expensive gift for a child. Anyway, Mrs Ackley at the rock shop (Ackley's in Colorado Springs) said that some people who go to the mine DO get good rubys and emeralds.

For whatever that's worth.

I have some pretty rocks to put in the rock tumbler.

Thanks for the post, good to let folks know what their getting.

Fossis.................
 

Upvote 0

nuggetshooter323

Hero Member
Jul 22, 2005
963
870
Colorado Springs
Detector(s) used
The Legend, Anfibio Equinox 900, Gold Kruzer, XP Deus, ORX, Tesoro Tejon, Whites GMT, Falcon MD20, XP MI-6, Fisher F-Pulse, Pulse Dive, Vibra Probe, UniProbe.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
It kind of makes you wonder it all those places seed their gem bags. I guess the only ones you don't have to worry about are the gold ore bags, they can seed those all they want! ;)
 

Upvote 0

bedpanmoneyman

Hero Member
Jun 17, 2007
561
8
Lebanon, Ohio
Detector(s) used
Whites DFX
Most of those mines do "salt" their buckets of material with gemstones from other countries. However, we were able to find some nice emerald pieces from Gem Mountain...one we had cut for a pendant.
 

Upvote 0

spiffyman

Jr. Member
Nov 22, 2007
68
1
Walker County Ga.
Detector(s) used
Bounty Hunter Pioneer 202
i had a piece of topaz cut for my wife and a piece aquamarine cut for my mom for Christmas from Gem mountain. the cut stones are very nice.
 

Upvote 0

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top