Cathedral Caverns State Park - Gem Mining
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Experience gemstone mining at Cathedral Caverns State Park. Purchase bags or buckets of mining dirt (ranging $6-$50) seeded with rough-cut gems, fossils, and seashells, then pan through custom-made flumes. Includes rock/fossil identification guide with each purchase. Ideal family activity suitable for all ages.
🌐 Visit Official Site →🪨 What You Can Find Here
Assorted Rough Cut Gems
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Fossils
From shark teeth in Florida to dinosaurs in Montana, the US offers world-class fossil hunting for all skill levels.
Also found at:
Seashells
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
📍 Nearby Locations in Alabama
Horseshoe Mine
Clay County, Alabama · Fee Dig
Historic pegmatite mine in the Alabama Piedmont. Known for quartz crystals, garnet, and tourmaline specimens.
Golden Stake Mine
Lineville, Alabama · Fee Dig
Alabama Piedmont mine producing garnet and kyanite crystals. Part of the mineral-rich eastern Alabama region.
Alabama Gold Panning (Clear Creek)
Wedowee, Alabama · Public Land
Recreational gold panning in the Clear Creek area. Alabama's gold belt was historically productive. Pan in streams on public lands.
M & G Mine
Ashland, Alabama · Fee Dig
Old mine in Clay County producing apatite, garnet, and smoky quartz crystals. Located in the pegmatite-rich area near Ashland. Permission required.
Hog Mountain
Alexander City, Alabama · Fee Dig
Historic gold mining area NE of Alexander City in Tallapoosa County. Known for gold, pyrite, galena, and other sulfide minerals. Old mines and prospec...
Millsite Tin Mine
Rockford, Alabama · Fee Dig
Historic tin mine 1 mile NE of Rockford in Coosa County. Produces cassiterite, apatite, epidote, garnet, lepidolite, topaz, tourmaline, and sillimanit...
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Cathedral Caverns State Park - Gem Mining with the right equipment.
Rock Hammer
The most essential rockhounding tool. Choose a hammer with both a flat striking face and a pointed pick end.
Typical: $25-45
Safety Glasses
Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.
Typical: $10-20
Chisel Set
Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.
Typical: $15-30
Geologist's Pick
A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.
Typical: $35-60
Sifting Screen
Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.
Typical: $20-40
UV Flashlight
Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.
Typical: $15-35