Devil Anse Gem Mine

Matewan, West Virginia
๐ŸŒ Land Type: Fee Dig (Private)
๐Ÿ’ฐ Fee: $39 (2-gal bucket), $69 (5-gal bucket)
Approximate โ€” check official site before visiting
๐Ÿ“… Season: Year-round (covered facility)
๐Ÿ“Š Difficulty: easy

The first gem mine operation on the Hatfield McCoy ATV trail system. Covered mining facility open rain or shine, 7 days a week. Guarantees gem finds in every bucket. Directly on Devil Anse trail #52, 3 miles east of the tunnel.

๐ŸŒ Visit Official Site โ†’
Ruby Sapphires Amethyst Garnets Quartz Crystals Emeralds Topaz ๐Ÿ’Ž Gem Hunting ๐Ÿ‘ช Family-Friendly

๐Ÿชจ What You Can Find Here

Ruby

Red corundum, one of the world's most precious gemstones. North Carolina's Cowee Valley and Franklin area are known US sources for rubies found in public mining operations.

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Sapphires

Montana is the only significant sapphire source in the US. Yogo Gulch and Missouri River sapphires are world-renowned.

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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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Garnets

Deep red almandine garnets are found in many states. Idaho's star garnets are among the rarest in the world.

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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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Emeralds

North Carolina's Hiddenite region is the only place in North America where emeralds are found naturally.

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Topaz

Blue topaz is Texas's state gem. Utah's Topaz Mountain produces clear and sherry-colored crystals.

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๐Ÿ“ Nearby Locations in West Virginia

West Virginia Fossil Beds

Valley Head, West Virginia ยท Public Land

Road cuts and exposures for Carboniferous plant fossils, marine fossils, and occasional flint/chert specimens.

Fossils

West Virginia Lithographic Limestone

White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia ยท Public Land

Greenbrier County limestone beds for high-quality lithographic stone and fine fossil specimens.

FossilsLimestone

Greenbrier County Flint Beds

Lewisburg, West Virginia ยท Public Land

Greenbrier limestone exposures for flint/chert nodules and Mississippian marine fossils. The Greenbrier Valley is rich in geological history.

FossilsFlint

Harpers Ferry Area Quartz

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia ยท Public Land

Potomac River and Shenandoah River gravels for quartz pebbles and other rocks. The area's metamorphic geology produces interesting specimens.

Quartz Crystals

Smoke Hole Caverns / Moonshine Mining Company

Cabins, West Virginia ยท Fee Dig

The premier gemstone panning and mining attraction at Smoke Hole Resort in the mountains of West Virginia. Over 50 different gemstone varieties and 30...

AmethystRubyEmeralds

Seneca Caverns Gemstone Mining

Riverton, West Virginia ยท Fee Dig

Purchase a bag of mining rough from the gift shop and head to the water sluice to sift for treasures. Larger buckets priced at $30, $50, and $70 for s...

AmethystGarnetsPyrite

โ›๏ธ Recommended Gear

Make the most of your visit to Devil Anse 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

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Safety Glasses

Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.

Typical: $10-20

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Chisel Set

Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.

Typical: $15-30

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Geologist's Pick

A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.

Typical: $35-60

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Sifting Screen

Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.

Typical: $20-40

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UV Flashlight

Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.

Typical: $15-35

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