We went to the mines in GEORGIA, (LA GRANGE for ROSE QUARTz and TOURMALINE), CLEVELAND for AMETHYST.
LA GRANGE WAS WORTHLESS.
In La Grange at the Rose Quartz Mine the guides and owner stated that the crew and host was not a lady, but a spoiled brat. To put it lightly.

In addition at the Cleveland Amthyst Mine, It was OK. You paid money to BUY a "salted" bucket, which means the dirt and sand have stones form all over teh world put into them and you sit at the trough and wash it out and say "yaaaay!" when you get a stone.
The Creeking is NOT worth it.
They bring in dirt to two different piles, you can only take a bucket and screen, You fill your 5 gallon 20lb bucket and have to bring it DOWN 20 ft to the creek and wash it out.
BACKBREAKING WORK!.
But if you are there with family it can be fun.
It too is a JOKE from what you see on TV.
THEY LIE.
As for HIddenite, Emerald Mountain.
WE HAD A GREAT TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THE CREEK.
ITS BACKBREAKING WORK, BUT can be fun.
THEY SALT THE CREEK WITH SOME STONES.

Its Best To GET THERE EARLY.

The BUCKETS in THE TROUGH or SLUICE are the best out of ALL MINES from SPRUCE PINE to HIDDENITE to GEORGIA.
They really do well salting and adding some really good things. IF ITS NOT TO YOUR LIKING WHEN YOU PAY for the $50 and UP buckets...
TELL THEM!!!!!!
They will make sure you are happy.
They are great people and amongst the hundreds there that weekend the RIBLET sandwiches on the grill are unsurpassed in any 5 star LAS VEGAS restaraunt that I HAVE EVER PAID more for.
EXCELLENT COOK YOU HAVE!!
As for RIO DOCE gem mine and the mines in SPRUCE PINE which are simply road side tourist traps...STAY AWAY!!!!
THEY HAVE NOTHING THERE FOR YOU AND YOU WILL LOSE MONEY.
We have been to them all.
They salt with SHITTY stones and low end ditch fillers.
You will do better picking up rocks on the sides of the ditches.
The best places are the Hiddenite Emerald Mountain Gem Mine and thats it. We stayed there 2 days and had a blast.
You can also DIG in their dirt fields although its a hike with a bucket.
The best things to do their are the creeking and sluicing.
PAY YOUR money and get the biggest bucket you can. ALSO go for the surprise buckets for $25-50 and the emerald and ruby buckets for $10-25.
WE HAD GREAT LUCK and got tons and tons of great stones.
DO NOT GET SWEPT up in having pieces made.
Go to a jeweler or lapidary when you get home!

Stay in Hickory in the Main part of town at one of the hotels near the convention center.


Sincerely,
Troy Ziesmer
Realtor,
GIA Student and Collector
taziesmer@comcast.net

I call sheningans on this post. While the Hiddenite mine is salted, Hogg Mine is not worthless. I have the pounds of rose quartz that says otherwise.

As for your crew, I only heard it was a standard production affair with lots of b roll stuff and that the helpers were busy helping instead of mining (which is their compensation for helping at the mine).

I will agree that I am disappointed with the trips to known salted mines and finding salted material. A little more production prep, eh?

Tazie-smear,
Let me get this straight...carrying a 20 pound bucket 20 feet downhill is backbreaking work? You might want to stick to selling houses. I hope it works out better for you.
Yes, it's common knowledge that the East is full of salted sites. It has been my experience that if you ask before you go and they will tell you. and you can avoid them, if you dislike them so much. If you are an active member of a local club you already know the best spots.
Why are you using the hear-say of staff from a "worthless mine" to pan this show and host? Why respect their opinions if you don't respect their business? In short, hold your bellyaching (& swearing) to yourself. It does not befit the hobby.
Don't forget that the show is just that, A SHOW. Like any show they have a tight shooting schedule, and have to bring back entertaining and informative footage on time. If feet get stepped on, it is unfortunate, but they do it so we can sit at home and enjoy. I for one pray they will be back for many more seasons.
-Rocky

My son and I just went to the Himalaya Mine dig on Saturday and it was great! We came away with 2 pretty large gem quality bicolored chunks of toumaline and quite a few other pieces ranging from small single color pencils to broken pieces of bigger crystals. I'll try to post pictures in the next few days. The crew there was exceptionally nice and very helpful. It was really fun! We went to Gems of Pala about a year ago and that dig was AWFUL! Nothing but microscopic chips. The crew there was not very nice either.

sueb24
I'd love to see photos of your watermellon tourmalines. I found some nice 'pinkies' at Himalaya but no bicolors yet. Great job. Keep hunting.
-Rocky.

Sueb24,

It is good to hear you had a fun time at the Himalaya dig at Lake Henshaw and found some nice treasures in the tailings. I haven't been back there since last May and am hoping to get back later next month. I agree with your obersevations of the gems of Pala. But have you gone to the Oceanview Mine which is on the same road as Gems of Pala. The Oceanview Mine is what the setup at the Himalaya dig at the Lake henshaw Resort is modelled after. One big difference is that the Oceanview screening is done on the actual mine property and you get a tour of the mine included in the price for screening. The crew at the Oceanview is slao fantastic and includes Simon King on Thursdays and Saturdays. Simon was on the C&T episode of the Himalaya Mine last season and was the bearded miner who helped Kirsten find her gorgeous tourmaline that Meg Berry then cut for her. Go to www.digforgems.com for more info about the Oceanview Mine.

hmcx2 - Thanks for the info on the Oceanvew mine. I just learned about it on this message board and plan on visiting it as soon as I can.

I'll post pictures of my Himalaya finds as soon as I can get some decent pictures (it's not as easy as it would seem to get a good picture of a rock!)

Here's one picture:
Himalaya Mine finds

The stones surrounding the quarter are the best-a few are quite large and very clear. One is pink to very light pink and is the terminator of the crystal.

Here's another picture:
Himalaya Mine finds pic#2

Hi sueb24, you couldn't get any better info about tourmaline than from Ellen. she is an addict! lol Here are some pics of finds at the Oceanview Mine. This is the C and T wiki site, be sure to check things out while you are there. Here is the link, scroll down a bit to see the pics. http://cash-and-treasures-wiki.travelchannel.com/page/Y...+Mining+Materials%29

Those are some excellent finds you got at the Himalaya. The first pic, there is a larger light blue stone above and right of the quater. What is that?? That looks gemmy. Hve fun down there, just wish I was closer to the tourmaline action. lol

Paul

Hi Paul, Thanks for the comments on my Himalaya finds! The light blue stone you see in the first picture is actually easier to see in the 2nd picture (it's hard to get good color photos!). This stone is pretty big and really clear but it's not blue, it actually is dark green fading to very pale green.

I can't wait to check out the Oceanview Mine. Thanks for the link and pics from there!

Hi Sue, no problem for the info. I see that is it a green now. lol The first pic sure looked like it was blue. lol Amazing how the lighting can change things. Hope you can get down to Oceanview soon. If you dom you should contact Ellen and maybe you 2 could meet up and do a dig. I just wish I was closer to get there. (Probably be a good thing as I would probably be broke all the time. lol) Have fun and post some pics here or on the wiki page of your finds.

Paul

Hi Sue,

Paul is right, I'm a tourmaliaholic.

If you do pick a date for the Oceanview, please let me know. I'll use any excuse to get down there again. I work weeks and prefer the new Saturday dates since that is when Simon King will be there. However, if there is a Sunday that you pick, I'd certainly join you then.

As you may have noticed Paul's pictures of what he found in the mail order Oceanview dirt, the mix of stones you might find at the Oceanview is different that the Himalaya dirt. The Himalaya is primarily tourmaline - I especially love the wide variety of green tourmalines. I have found some quartz and a less common garnet.

At the Oceanview, I usually find more aquamarine, smoky quartz and the lavendar Kunzite that tourmaline. My last trip, I brought home a muddy clump with some quartz showing, about the size of a large orange. After I cleaned it off real well with Barkeepers Friend kitchen cleanser and a toothbrush, I had a nice smoky quartz point, with a little cleavelandite matrix and a sparkly bunch of tiny quartz and mica along one side. Sometimes, I think I am more excited by the less usual matrix pieces than the small gems I find. A lot of people overlook the larger rocks around the edge of the tailing pile. Along the road, I found a large aquamarine crystal on matrix - unfortunatly not the whole crystal and it is opaque rather than gemmy/clear. Still - I love it.

I may try to convince my husband to let me sneak down the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Ellen - hmcx2@aol.com

Hi Ellen,

I'm becoming addicted to gem hunting! I've always liked it but now that I've been able to find a few stones, I'm hooked!

I will definitely email you when I'm going to Oceanview. I'd love to have some company and my 20 year old son will probably appreciate it if I don't drag him along again! I can't go the Sat. after Thanksgiving though, my brother is visiting from AZ and I have to get him to the airport in the AM on Sat.

Paul - Now that I know where the digs are located, I want to go every weekend! If I give in to my whims, I'll be broke in no time at all!

Thank you for reaching out in friendship - I look forward to gem hunting at Oceanview!

Sue@connetic.us

Hi Sue, I hope you and Ellen can get together for some tourmalline digging. My mining will be pretty much limited to purchasing RMM several times per year and sorting here at the house. Someday I do want to get down there and spend a month (a real pipe dream) or so digging at all those gems. Hey several other things, if you haven't done so, you need to join the C and T wiki and join us there too. We are a pretty active group of like minded people. Also there is a C and T marithon on today plus a sneak peak at the new season on Nov 6th. Keep on rockin'! Paul