Whether you’re new to the game of collecting crystals or consider yourself a bit of a crystal aficionado, digging for your own crystals is a super fun experience. Sure, oftentimes your chances of finding one at one of these sites are pretty slim, but again, the experience itself is pretty incredible. After all, who doesn’t want to be outdoors digging in the dirt, nerding out with a bunch of other rock and crystal enthusiasts? If this sounds like the perfect way to spend the day, then check out our list of places you can go dig for your own crystals!
Craters of Diamonds State Park | Pike County, Arkansas
(image via: farm bureau insurance)
American’s only public diamond mine? Sign us up! What’s cool about this park is that there are three options when it comes to how you dig. The first is known as surfacing, and just as it sounds, this entails skimming the surface of a plowed field and is ideally done after a good rain; another digging option involves actual digging, roughly six inches to a foot into the soil, then sifting. And lastly, for the seasoned miner, you’ll be digging deep holes and strategically looking through the dirt. While there have been some pretty amazing finds, we’re talkin’ 40 plus carats back in 1924, a find is not guaranteed here, but a great time sure is!
Graves Mountain | Lincoln County, Georgia
(image via: mineral movies)
Just to set the scene here, this mountain was first mined by Tiffany & Co. back in 1920. Not to burst your bubble, but now an appointment is required for digs for Georgia Mineral Society members only. However, once a year you can attend a three-day rock swap complete with BBQ and rock nerds just as enthusiastic as you. We call that a big win.
Emerald Hollow Mine | Hiddenite, North Carolina
(image via: visit hickory metro)
Not only is this the only emerald mine in the country that is also open to the public for mining gems! Now, this area is of course known for its emerald, but you can find over sixty different minerals and crystals here making it an ideal place for gem enthusiasts!
Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine | Denio, Nevada
(image via: rainbow ridge opal mine)
This operation is cool for a lot of reasons, one of them being that this joint has been family-owned and operated since 1949. If you fancy opals, then you definitely need to check this place out! Opal colors vary from colorless to black, and while most of what you’ll find here is referred to as “specimen only”, meaning these pieces aren’t really made for modifying or turning into jewelry, these are still super cool additions to any collection!