Open all year
Tresa McFarlin, digital specialist at Ron Coleman Mining, told BBC Travel that visitors come here looking for spots or clusters of pristine, clear quartz crystals. For $25 a day (kids under 6 dig for free), they can sift through tailings from the on-site commercial quartz mining operation and fill a five-gallon bag with their finds. Staff are available to help you. “Some people find a lot,” McFarlin said. “It really depends on how much you want to dig, how hard you want to work and how long you want to stay.”
Royal Peacock Opal Mines in Denio, Nevada
Open from May 15 to November 15
At Royal Peacock Opal Mines, diggers pay $190 a day and all their finds belong to them. Two years ago, Kyndall Stallings spotted a black opal here worth between $3,000 and $5,000. She says the staff are helpful and the mine’s website is full of practical advice for newcomers.
Herkimer Diamond Mines in Herkimer, New York
Early April until October
These seasonal mines open their 2024 season in April, and opening day will draw crowds of enthusiasts digging for Herkimer diamonds – a particularly clear, particularly hard type of quartz crystal unique to central Herkimer County. New York State. Adults pay $18 per day to dig on weekdays and $20 on weekends.
American Fossil Quarry at Kemmerer, Wyoming
End of May to mid-September
This quarry is known for its museum-quality fossilized creatures – from bats to fish to the Miohippus – a prehistoric three-toed horse. Adults can pay $159 per day, which includes all tools. The Stallings brought back fossilized stingrays, crayfish and more.
Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas
Open all year
The main event of this 911-acre Arkansas state park is a 37.5-acre plowed field where visitors can come and hunt for diamonds formed by the area’s ancient volcanic activity. More than 35,000 have been discovered since the park opened in 1972, and although about 100,000 people visit each year, according to Arkansas State Parks officials, one to two prospecting visitors report each day a precious treasure. Admission to the park for adults is $15 per day.
Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, North Carolina
Open all year
Another $25 per day opportunity, Emerald Hollow Mine, allows visitors to discover the property’s namesake gems, as well as tourmaline, quartz, manganese and more.
“I know the biggest emerald that came off the property was [worth] a million dollars,” Frank Stallings said. “And North Carolina’s emeralds are some of the best in the world.”
If someone has already won a million dollar emerald, does that mean there isn’t another great find to be discovered?
“There is a recurring theme in all these places: the best is yet to be found,” he added. “Some people will say it’s all been dug up, but it’s all still there.”
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