Pinehaven's Gem Mining
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Gem mining attraction at Pinehaven Farm where children and adults pan through treasure bags in a real sluice. Each bag is seeded with a variety of gems and minerals, and every miner is guaranteed to take home treasures. More of a farm-themed family attraction than a natural rockhounding site, but offers a fun gem-panning experience for all ages.
🪨 What You Can Find Here
📍 Nearby Locations in Minnesota
Jay Cooke State Park
Carlton, Minnesota · State Park
Located along the St. Louis River near Lake Superior. Known for agates, thomsonite, and other Lake Superior gemstones in river gravels and outcrops.
Lake Superior Agate Beds
Grand Marais, Minnesota · Public Land
Lake Superior shoreline and gravel pits for the prized Lake Superior agate. These banded agates were distributed by glaciers across Minnesota.
Thomsonite Beach
Grand Marais, Minnesota · Public Land
Beachcombing for thomsonite — a zeolite mineral found in beach pebbles. Unique to Lake Superior's north shore.
Moose Lake Area Agates
Moose Lake, Minnesota · Public Land
Gravel pits and creek beds known for Lake Superior agates. The Moose Lake agate show is a major annual event. Agate Capital of Minnesota.
Get Pickin
Cloquet, Minnesota · Fee Dig
A unique fee-dig attraction where visitors pick through piles of locally sourced rocks for Lake Superior agates, quartz, jasper, fossils, and other on...
Cross Rocks at Blanchard Dam
Royalton, Minnesota · Public Land
Blanchard Dam area near Royalton and Little Falls is a well-known public collecting site for staurolite crystals (cross rocks/fairy crosses). These na...
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Pinehaven's 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