Our native dirt pile is where your gem mining experience begins. 100% native dirt (unsalted – nothing added) from our private mine site located atop Mason Mountain is brought down to the water flume for miners to sift through. Here is where you'll find a wide variety of minerals including Rhodolite Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire, Kyanite, Moonstone, Cordierite and Smoky Quartz.

Our experienced staff will guide you in how to discover the native gemstones. We have gemstone charts available to help you identify your findings as well. Just place the dirt in the screen and rinse thoroughly in the water flume. Concentrate on material that is smooth, heavy and has color. Until you become familiar with the native material, our staff will help you find all of the hidden treasures!

100% Native dirt. Nothing added. This is as real as it gets!

Native Dig Pile

• 9am-5pm
• Unlimited buckets!
• Adults: $40.00 per person
• Children ages 6-12: $20.00 per person
• Children under age 6 are free with a paid adult (max of 2 children per adult)
• All children must be accompanied by a paid adult to dig in the pile

Private Native Dig Pile

For our avid rockhounds, we now offer a fresh private dig pile just for your group. This is still 100% native dirt.

• $500.00 for the day 9am-5pm
• This pile is exclusively for your group
• Maximum of 10 people on a pile
• This option is prepaid reservation only

Super Buckets

To ensure gems are discovered, miners can purchase enhanced (“salted”) buckets that have gems added to the native dirt. This will guarantee a find of additional minerals.

These buckets are many of our miners’ favorites!

• $50.00 Bucket = average of 10 pounds of gems
• $100 Bucket = average of 20 pounds of gems

Barrels

For our serious rockhounds, we offer gem-filled barrels that range from $500.00 to $1,500.00. You'll definitely get your money's worth in these!

​These barrels are said to “Rock your world” as a rockhound.

At Mason Mountain Mine you can have your treasures turned into jewelry that will last forever. Our knowledgeable staff can assist you in identifying which findings would best make into a beautiful keepsake.

You'll find a wide selection of mountings from rings, pendants, earrings, and bracelets to help you design your one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.

Pricing of cutting and mountings vary depending on the size of stones and whether mounts are silver and gold.

We also offer a wide variety of beautiful custom-crafted jewelry with stunning gemstones from all over the world. If you're in the market for a truly unique and special gift, we've got you covered!

GEM CUTTING

Tom teaches gem cutting lessons throughout the season.

Cutting demo lesson: $150.00

All lessons are by appointment only. ​To schedule a lesson call (828) 421-1457.

In the late 1800’s, a mine was discovered in northern Macon County, North Carolina that was rich in Rhodolite garnets and six other minerals. The mine was a well-known treasure to the county’s earliest inhabitants and in 1965, when Tom Johnson was just six months old, his father purchased the mine. Today, the mine is still in the family with Tom and his wife, Ginger, continuing the family’s legacy of opening the mine, now known as Cowee Gift Shop and Mason Mountain Mine.