While on vacation down in North Carolina my bro-in-law and I went to the Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, NC.( [www.hiddenitegems.com] ). You buy a bucket of dirt from the mine and screen it in a sluice. We found several emeralds, none worth anything, although one is heart shaped. I may have it polished and mounted in a neckless for my wife. I found a very nice aquamarine, may send it off and have it cut. Also some moss agate that could be polished and put into a setting, some lapis and other stuff. I won't be able to retire off of my investment, but it was an enjoyable day.
Next we drove through Alabama to spend a couple of nights with my brother. He and a friend had gone gold mining somewhere in Alabama back in the spring. He showed me the gold he found, probably $300 to $500 worth. I've got to try that someday. I do have a couple of places here in Oklahoma a friend and I are going to try when it cools off a bit.
I've also been to the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, but never found a diamond. I thought I found several, but they turned out to be quartz. When I saw someone else find a diamond, there was no doubt I had been finding quartz. Huge difference in the way they look.
[www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com]
Next we drove through Alabama to spend a couple of nights with my brother. He and a friend had gone gold mining somewhere in Alabama back in the spring. He showed me the gold he found, probably $300 to $500 worth. I've got to try that someday. I do have a couple of places here in Oklahoma a friend and I are going to try when it cools off a bit.
I've also been to the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, but never found a diamond. I thought I found several, but they turned out to be quartz. When I saw someone else find a diamond, there was no doubt I had been finding quartz. Huge difference in the way they look.
[www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com]