Little River Gem Mine (Prospector's Rock Shop)
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Unique gem mining attraction in Sevierville with an old mining town atmosphere and whimsical features including pirate and animal statues. Features both indoor rock shop and outdoor rock yard. Experienced staff assists with sifting and gem identification. Located in an area with abundant shopping and dining options.
🌐 Visit Official Site →🪨 What You Can Find Here
Agates
Banded chalcedony prized for their colors and patterns. Lake Superior agates, Fairburn agates, and Montana moss agates are especially famous.
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Moonstone
Feldspar mineral with a distinctive adularescent glow. North Carolina's gem mines are known sources for moonstone, often found alongside other pegmatite gems.
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Amethyst
Purple quartz crystals found in geodes and pegmatites. Notable sources include Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Maine.
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Turquoise
Blue-green gemstone found in arid southwestern states. Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico produce the finest specimens.
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Jasper
Opaque, fine-grained chalcedony prized for its rich earthy colors and patterns. Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alabama produce exceptional jasper varieties.
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Fossils
From shark teeth in Florida to dinosaurs in Montana, the US offers world-class fossil hunting for all skill levels.
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Quartz Crystals
Clear, smoky, and rose quartz crystals are among the most common and rewarding rockhounding finds. Arkansas produces world-class quartz.
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📍 Nearby Locations in Tennessee
Tennessee Agate Beds
Parsons, Tennessee · Public Land
Western Tennessee gravel pits and creek beds for agate and chert specimens.
Tennessee Fluorite Beds
Carthage, Tennessee · Public Land
Middle Tennessee mining district dumps for fluorite, calcite, and galena specimens. Historic Mississippi Valley-type deposits.
Cumberland Plateau Fossils
Sewanee, Tennessee · Public Land
Road cuts on the Cumberland Plateau for Mississippian fossils including crinoids, blastoids, and brachiopods.
Cosby Creek Gold Panning
Cosby, Tennessee · USFS Land
Great Smoky Mountains National Forest creeks for recreational gold panning. The area was historically mined for gold in the 1800s.
Pigeon Forge Gem Mine
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee · Fee Dig
Family-owned gem mining attraction in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. Walk-ins welcome daily. Offers immersive sluicing experience with authentic ge...
Cooper's Gem Mine
Blountville, Tennessee · Fee Dig
Family-owned and operated gem mine in historic Blountville, TN. Features a 300-foot on-site wooden flume, one of the South's most authentic mining exp...
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Little River Gem Mine (Prospector's Rock Shop) 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