Pigeon Forge Gem Mine
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Family-owned gem mining attraction in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. Walk-ins welcome daily. Offers immersive sluicing experience with authentic gemstone mix. Free gemstone identification included. Features a free gem & fossil museum with rare fossils including a woolly rhino. Custom jewelry available on-site.
🌐 Visit Official Site →🪨 What You Can Find Here
Amethyst
Purple quartz crystals found in geodes and pegmatites. Notable sources include Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Maine.
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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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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.
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...
Little River Gem Mine (Prospector's Rock Shop)
Sevierville, Tennessee · Fee Dig
Unique gem mining attraction in Sevierville with an old mining town atmosphere and whimsical features including pirate and animal statues. Features bo...
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Pigeon Forge Gem Mine 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