Hiddenite,N.C - Finding Gemstones

[Michiganstategem]

i havent gone to hiddenite but i did go to some others out their N.C. and Mi. lots of fun

[HarrysSecret]

I'd love to have a go at that!

[RussellStuartIrwin]

That looks like so much fun!  I hope I can make it to NC sometime in the near future!

Your video showed up under my account because of one of my own videos. It's about gemstones, hope you can check it out (look under my page for "Precious").

[Allison99show]

you are so lucky do you know what kind of gems they are they kinda look like jade but i am not sure

[Dismalic]

I dont know about those kids,but damn man i be taking my shoes and socks off if your going to dip your feet in da water. good pairs of shoes gone to sinker.

[henshooten]

@Dismalic i would be inclined to disagree being the large hole i had in my foot from treading a creek without footwear ,never know what sharp things lay beneath your bare feet until you stand on it

[kayzen76]

I watch this mine on national geographic, and I want to come there from Italy to search some good stones. There are some cheap hotels, hostels for young or similar near the mine?

[ekacfeeb12]

I live in Florida, but I plan on purchasing some property in that area near Hickory and living there during the summer. I think North Carolina is one of the most beautiful places in all the US. I especially enjoy The Great Smoky Mountains National Forest. NC is the homeland, and it has stolen my heart.

[MyRealityBytes]

@ekacfeeb12 - Thank you! I agree - NC is a beautiful state! I have lived in NC most of my life. I think this state has a little bit of everything. We have tiny towns, big cities, mountains, coast, plenty to see and do....I love the Great Smoky Mtns. My family has actually been thinking about moving up there. I was born in the mountains of NC (Boone), but currently live in the Piedmont (Winston-Salem/Greensboro) area. The countryside around Hickory is gorgeous! Nice place to live.

[zLOSTNOMOREz]

@ekacfeeb12 I lived in NC all my (western NC) life up until a few ago. Even though the mountains of NC are beautiful the prices on real estate in western NC is ridiculous. Now I live in Western VA,just above the TN state line and i can tell you. The land here is every bit as gorgeous and even more untouched as NC plus, you can buy mountain top land out here for nearly nothing. Check VA out before you write the check for NC. Take care.

[Sanibeljune]

We love getting out there with the mud and the "extra's" are always so much fun too! We usually go to Franklin but Hiddenite looks like a great place to add to our vacation.

[22newname]

i want to go there too.

[NecipAksoy]

can i find gemstones in netherland?

[magicwhoha]

lol This vids Rockin IT

[sweettooth80]

is it hard to finding them faster then diamonds?

[IzzyBelle323]

its really fun to go there! Do you know what is even more fun?........

Living thereI I live right next to the mines it is amazing!

[MyRealityBytes]

@IzzyBelle323 - You ARE lucky! That area is beautiful!

[justinsnewchannel]

@IzzyBelle323 i bet you got millions of gems

[megashuttlecock]

CRACKWOOD the movie!!!! were pannig for gold tomorrow!!!!

[mogultech37]

great video thank you for sharing

[bbygirlkelly]

i am going on a field trip there on the 26 of october withc is tommorow and i am so excited and i jus found real diamonds at my house in the ground i dug really far in the ground near a power line

[MyRealityBytes]

@bbygirlkelly - I hope you have a lot of fun and find some really good stones! Let me know how you enjoyed your visit there.

[bbygirlkelly]

@MyRealityBytes i did it was fun wow i posted this a long time ago im 11 now and i was 10 when i posted this and i was in 4th grade but now im in 5th :)

[SuperBingo21]

Very nice video!

[TheCookieMonkey]

im jealous!!!

[worstphobia]

lol its funny that ya'll don't know they just throw pretty priceless rocks in there...

[MyRealityBytes]

@worstphobia - If you read the comments you would see that most everyone is quite aware the stream is "seeded". Doesn't really matter, it's still fun.

[worstphobia]

@MyRealityBytes yeh true true. i've been a little bit a times cuz i'm local.

[Dalrrr]

Thats amazing! i soooo with we had something like that near me in the uk *jealous*

[FLAREflare14]

that is cool i wanna do that too i wanna look for crystals

[MyRealityBytes]

@FLAREflare14 - It was alot of fun! You should go!

[davidfireman7]

Hey! I had fun watching your video. I love gems and it would be exciting to go to this Emerald Hollow Mine! =) thanks for sharing ( by the way NICE song!!!)

[MyRealityBytes]

@davidfireman7 Thanks!

[lenamify]

gemstones for sale - Vietnam. ensure quality products email: lenambp@gmail.com

[browniesbear]

where is this place at??

[MyRealityBytes]

@browniesbear - Google: Emerald Hollow Mine That should tell you everything you need to know.

[Deadlock703]

is there any in VA because mining looks like fun and i want to try it with my dad

[MyRealityBytes]

If you do a Google search for "gem mining in VA" lots of results come up. You should have a look for yourself, since I don't know what area of VA you are located in.

[pidner]

@Deadlock703 Yes there is a pay to dig place,Ive done forgot what county though,theres also some pretty good gold panning in VA. nothing real big,but a good way to spend a Saturday.

[jlt2005jlt]

hey guys, have a look at Legend of Someplace Special on youtube. Its a really cool place

[aintthatsomebigshit]

I'll try to answer a few quick questions about the E.H.M. as I worked there for a few months. Yes the sluicing and creeking activities are enriched to an extent (not picked through), but that is only to guarantee that you may find at least your money's worth. You can still find native stones which are usually of good quality and high value. Over the summer, a man found a small piece of hiddenite, arguably the 4th or fifth rarest gemstone in the world, and had us facet the stone as a......cont

[GriffinHwk]

awesome!!!! i really would like to go there now

im bummed

[OrmEmber]

It would be nice to know what kind of gems you found there. Not all of them are "seeded". Once in a while a genuine one turns up; that's the only reason I would go gem hunting...

[smellanalan]

you should look for arrowhreads in that creek

[baddscience]

Theres a ton of places to go rockhounding in NC and theres a book to guide with gps coords. these are the real thing. old mines...theres gold mines too!

[CosmicGrooves]

What kind of gems did you find?

[Michaeltanase]

What was the name of the creek?

[MyRealityBytes]

That is a very good question. I have no idea what the name of the creek that runs through the gem mine is.

[doctorwintercold]

The aliens have enslaved them for using seeded gems to run their intergalactic spacepods and quark meters!...

[MyRealityBytes]

LOL!

[Twicebakedtaters]

There is no way that creek produces gems over and over. They seed the creek.

[MyRealityBytes]

Yeah, I know. It is still a fun thing to do with your family.

[Twicebakedtaters]

Oh, I agree. I and my fiance are considering a trip.

It would be great to have some rings to wear made from our own gold and stones.

But I would want to dig my own. then what you find is for sure not picked through. : )

[777dingo]

Whats the most valuable stone someone has found in that creek so far?

[MyRealityBytes]

I'm not sure about the most valuable stone that has been found in the creek there, however - a 1,861.9 carat emerald was found at the Hiddenite mine! It is one of the world's largest emeralds.

[777dingo]

Wow!..lets go digging!

[MyRealityBytes]

C'mon down! lol

[vladheather]

I once found a dinosour poop. A 27-pounder!

[thirdphaseofmoon]

looking for old bottles is fun too!

[rustynail874]

i found some pretty good stones. it went fairly well. definately wanna go back soon.

[NemoAlfa]

thats not gemstones!

[MyRealityBytes]

Why do you say they are not gemstones? They are gemstones (granted not high quality, fine gemstones - but yes, they are gemstones.)

[NemoAlfa]

because gemstones is a kind of diamond who is flawless and pure... they are not a "wild" stone but stones who God puts in the hands of some guy or at the floor in the church!

[MyRealityBytes]

The dictionary defines the word "gemstones" :

"gemstone - a precious or semiprecious stone. Including such stones as: diamond, quartz, sapphire, ruby, amethyst, agate, emerald, aquamarine, hiddenite, topaz, opal, jade and many others."

[FaeVamp]

Wow! That place was EMPTY when you went there. Or where you just far away from everyone?

Your son wasn't kidding when he said you guys found a HOT SPOT! I took my Family there today, and we only found THREE nice rocks like that! :( And we were there for two hours. :(

Where did you go in the creek? Where you closer to the entrance, or way far down?

I'm sad we didn't find really cool ones like you did. You all got lucky! :)

~Fae

[MyRealityBytes]

I'm sorry to hear you didn't find many stones. We went down the creek from the very beginning (at the entrance) to the very end (where it runs into a much larger river).

The time we went that is in this video, we got there right when they opened and were there probably 4-5 hours. It was hot and that cold shady creek felt good!

[bucz2]

you found way cooler rocks than i did. yeah i believe they are thrown in there as well. Too bad they get u excited about the inexpensive rocks and crystals, and you forget the real money is in the emrald, which is harder much harder to find.

[MyRealityBytes]

Sorry you didn't have much luck. The emeralds are worth more, but we go for the fun of it, not to get rich.

Unfortunately, we haven't gone to Hiddenite this year. I hope to get there before it gets too cold to get in the creek.

[sepireshmaat]

Cool! I plan to go there with a friend at the end of this month.

[MyRealityBytes]

Great! I hope you have a good time and find lots of nice stones.

[rustynail874]

i'm going there tomorrow!

[MyRealityBytes]

How did your trip to Hiddenite go?

[jurgun12345678]

To bad i live in California. :-(

[TheJB2009]

very nice vid :)

[HellspwanTTC]

Those stones were planted in the creek... They have 55 gallon drums of stones that they salt the buckets, mine area and creek. They do have natural Emeralds there, but very few and far between. It's just a scam that Dottie Jenkins is pulling.

[MyRealityBytes]

I kinda figured that. But it is fun to hunt for them - the kids really enjoy it.

[toothlessfatoveralls]

cool-makes me want to go to the diamond mine here when it cools off....tooth

[BulletteKitty]

wow all of those gems are there naturally in that creek? That's a lot- I thought they'd be hard to find. That creek is gorgeous. I've panned for gold before, but never went gem searching. Great video!

[MyRealityBytes]

Hey girl! Yes, those stones are just laying in the creek bottom (although I am quite sure most of them are placed there by the mine owners). It is still a fun place to go, especially when it is in the middle of the hot summer. That creek is cold!

BTW - I got your PM. I am still in. Will do it this weekend.

[BulletteKitty]

lol yeah I'm sure some of them have been thrown in there. GAH! I wish it were summer right now- skip muddy wet spring.. Yay! Yeah, I haven't gotten a lot for it so far at all- but it'll be a great vid. Thanks for all of the help! How have things been for you?

[PiratePoltergeist]

nice video. i found a 41 ct pink tourmaline at the stewart mine in southern ca

[MyRealityBytes]

Nice find! I wish I would get that lucky!

[PhazeVideos]

Awesome, i didn't think rocks like that were that easy to find in creeks.

[mucktractorboy]

looks like great family fun!

[MyRealityBytes]

It is alot of fun! I can't wait until it gets warm enough to go back.

[mucktractorboy]

yeah i agree, 4 degrees here last night. .....HAPPYCABBIE for prez 2012!!!!!!!!!

[BirdOfParadise777]

That looked like so much fun:) He playes beautifully! It's nice to see a family enjoying time together. So peaceful. How long of a drive was it? Loved the comment at the end! lol

Toodle-oo!

BOP

[maineiacts]

Hey There!! what fun! I found this looking for anything from Mt.MIca Maine,,where I used to go 'hounding,,I sure miss finding gemstones,but since I live in s.w.iowa,GOOD LUCK!! and,,since I see you said your hubby made the music for this vid,OUTSTANDING!! I am also a muscian [hobby],but I would LOVE! to have a copy when it comes out on C.D.! maybe you could make enough collecting rocks to pay for recording some,,THATS YOUR TRUE GOLD MINE RIGHT THERE!!,thanks,next tim in N/C going rockhounding :)

[MyRealityBytes]

Wow! thanks for all your kind remarks!

Glad you enjoyed my husband's music so much too.

The CDs are availible at:

waitingcd dot com

What type of music/instrument do you play?

[shadowhedgehog1]

if u want to get rich think about this for a sec while reading thing u used to go to the bank and demand silver or gold for paper money but with our little prob wit the economy u sell the gems for paper money witch represents how much gold u have in the bank but with inflation if u thinkl really hard in reaturn ur getting bassicly nothing just a piece of paper that seys a number but wat if we go bankrupt in the end u realy have nothing ur trading gems for paper save them GET GOLD ITS BETTER

[MyRealityBytes]

I see what you are saying about gold and you are correct. But, my son and I collect rocks as a hobby - not to make money.

[icecoldgirl678]

AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG­GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGg

[shanejensen]

This is really cool, very beautiful stones you found there. Watching this video makes me want to do this. Looks like a very relaxing thing to do and lots of fun. Especially with family and friends. When I was a kid I was obsessed with stones and would have loved to do this. I still would like to do something like this. Good video and beautiful music, too.

[MyRealityBytes]

Thanks for the compliments on my video! We had a very good time visiting this place.

The music is a song my husband wrote and recorded.

[byront37]

all that matters is that you had fun. as a rock hound myself its not always the quality of the rock but the fun you had in finding it

[byront37]

sorry but this mine and many other have a track record of salting the buckets the creeks and any bags they sell. If they didn't do this they would very quickly go out of business. There just is not enough minerals to be found to not justify the salting of these operations. The clue to this being a salted operation is the very jagged rock that have come out of the creek. If it truly was creek material it would be worn smooth from the action of the water. But either way i hope you had fun.

[MyRealityBytes]

It was alot of fun. I don't doubt for a minute some of the stones have been dumped in the creek. Some you find are smooth from the water, others are not. Still fun for the kids to go "treasure hunting".

[guccika1416]

very very Good family trying to work together,

Are you have stones for sale??

i lived in hungary an you can find Opal amethyst and somewhere you can find very valuable stones and GOLD,

I live in the United Kingdom now and you can't find many things here:( uk's underground is poor no gems no gold:(

[POKVARENISIR]

the group of five of us in our 20's are planning for a trip there next week...we wanted to stay there for 2-3 days, since we are coming from ky. is there anything else to do there? anyone know of any cheap cabins? it looks like ppl on this vid had a lot of fun

[MyRealityBytes]

The people in this video are my family and myself. Yes, we had alot of fun. I am not sure whether there is anything else in that exact place to do for 2-3 days or even if there is anywhere to stay. It is a very tiny little town. However, Statesville,NC is just 14 miles away. There are plenty of places to stay and resturants. Also, since you are coming from so far away, you should take the time to check out Lake Norman/Charlotte area. Hope your crew has a safe and fun trip!

[thoughtstore]

My wife and I just took our grandaughter and had a blast. It ended uo costing more than I expected because we got caught up in the search for gems and bought more buckets than expected. We didn't find much in the creek but highly recommend it. Food is great hotdogs and ribs $4-$5 per sandwich $1.50 for drinks.

[MyRealityBytes]

They didn't have food when I was there. That is something new. I am glad they added a food stand, they needed one!

[myspotsrock]

Wow! Ya'll must have fun is you are going for the third time! Thanks for letting me know where you went. I had put Emerald Hollow Mine on my list, so that's where we'll go! I'll let you know what we find! Thanks!

[GIA13615093]

I'm a gemologist living in the Philippines. Youcan visit any jeweler with an in house gemologist and they will help you for free.

Or join the forums of International School of Gemology. You can posts photos and expert gemologists will give free estimates about the value of your gems. Joining is also free!

[MyRealityBytes]

Cool! I will check that out! Thanks for the info.

[myspotsrock]

I'm getting ready to take my children ages 8, 9, 11, and 13 "geming" in Hiddennite. I enjoy your video and found it inspiring! I can't wait! My 9 year old is a "rock star/future geologist" and I really want her to have a good experience. Would you recommend sluicing or creeking for kids this age? How do you find the most for your money and where did you go? I was looking at Emerald Hollow Mine....

Appreciate any info/feedback! Thanks!

[MyRealityBytes]

You can try both sluicing and creeking for one price. I think you get one bucket free with the admission. My family liked the creek better. Although you have to be careful down there, the rocks are rather slick on the banks and you should definitely plan on wearing old sneakers while in the creek. I think the sluicing thing was incredibly messy and boring. We had friends there that day that did only the sluicing and we found ALOT more in the creek than they found sluicing.

[MyRealityBytes]

One more thing - you should take a picnic with you if you plan on spending the day. They have a small picnic area. There is not a snackbar or anything there(not that I saw).

[myspotsrock]

Thank You so much for the insight! I don't want them to be bored, so we'll try the "both for one price" do one sluicing bucket and spend more time in the creek! What place did you go to?

[MyRealityBytes]

It was Emerald Hollow Mine. I'm warning you - when you get there, you're gonna say,"This is it???" It is not much to look at. Just a dirty little shack "village" down at the end of a dusty, bumpy, gravel road. Nothing fancy there. But it's FUN!!! You may want to take an extra set of clothes for the ride home (you WILL get wet & dirty). Let me know if you find any good stones. My son and I are talking about going back soon. This will be our 3rd trip.

[kazlab67]

Good video. I just took my 6 year old daughter there this weekend and had a blast. I too wondered if they sprinkle gems in the creek but it really didn't matter. The joy on my daughters face while hunting for gems is priceless. I take her all over the place on different outings pretty much every week but this one was truly special for some reason. Well worth the little bit of money spent.

[MyRealityBytes]

I totally agree! The kids love it!

[bustaga]

cool vid im from lincaten n.c.

[GIA13615093]

I'm sure the value of the gems you found are worth more than the money you spend on that journey. Trust me. I study gemology.

[MyRealityBytes]

I am not sure of the value of the stones we found. I never had them checked out. I wonder how much a gemologist would charge to look at them?

[GIA13615093]

I personally believe that we citizen of the World should have mops so that we can locate Hiddinite and dig some stones and make money to feed ourselves and do better things like educate the US, AYraq, South East Asian countries uh for a better future of the the Planet and our children...

[Newayu]

We're planning to go to Hiddenite tomorrow to try our luck at finding some gems. :) I'm really looking forward to it! Looks like tons of fun.

[MyRealityBytes]

Good luck - hope you find lots of nice stones! Let me know how you did.

[McMike321]

it was both the sluice and the creek they were filled to the make. Hiddenite has become a very big attraction.

[McMike321]

went during the summer and OMG!!! it was crammed to the max they had like a 2 hour waiting period to get a spot.

[MyRealityBytes]

2 hour wait? I have only been there twice, but it was never even near that crowded! Were you going to the creek or waiting for a spot to sit down at the sluice?

[huggybear5555]

are there places in louisiana to find cool rocks

[TainTasTic]

Nice video... I'm in Charlotte, and was thinking of heading up to Hiddenite to see what is was all about. Did you and your family have the chance to dig anywhere and use buckets (I checked their website)? Telewanger's comment is a bit unsettling, and some of the gems you found in the creek looked kinda 'too nice', but I don't see how the owners could rebury rocks/gems in the wee hours. Thanks for any info!!

[MyRealityBytes]

I am going to send you a personal message to respond to your questions.

[Telewanger]

Hiddenite is a lot of family fun, but the Owners must "salt" the creek by throwing in minerals. The creek flow does the rest. If they didn't, people would stop coming. There is only so much you can find in that small creek area. Once minerals are gone, they have to be replaced somehow. Now, if you are a real die hard rockhound, you will need to break out the shovle and pick and hit virgin areas in the woods. There are a lot of trees and giant roots to deal with and it is a lot of hard work.

[MyRealityBytes]

I don't think my 13 year old son is going to go dig in the hot sun when he could be in a nice cold creek instead! I don't really care how the gemstones get in the creek. It was just fun to hang out with my family. I DO figure the most valuable gems would be the ones you dig out yourself...but too much work for me to call that fun. LOL!

[Telewanger]

About Hiddenite: There has not been a flood in years to wash new minerals downstream. Thousands of people have picked up every rock in the creek over and over. At night when no one is around, the owners throw minerals in the creek for people to find. Some are not even native to NC.

[MyRealityBytes]

This could be true. I have never heard that and I live not too far from there. Everything I found the two times I was there, were native gemstones. I don't really care how they get there, my son and I had a blast finding them.

[uni000ver000sal]

Why do you people drive on the wrong side of the road comapred to the rest of the world?

[MyRealityBytes]

I do not have a reply for that question. I don't know why. That's just the way it has been ever since roads in the US were built.

[uni000ver000sal]

No, you don't have to reply at all! I was just having a lend of ya!

I just admire the way you went out with your family and had a good day out!

Just out of curiosity, what kins of gemstones are these tou been panning for?

I wish all the best for 2008 my dear american friends! God Bless!

[MyRealityBytes]

We found emeralds,sapphires,agates,rose quartz,quartz crystals,ameythest,opals and some other odd stones that I am not familiar with(some reddish looking stones)... Sorry it took so long to reply to you, YouTube sometimes doesn't notify me of new comments!

[kazam371969]

i wanna search 4 jems i saw it on the travel channel if there really is such a place i wanna come down sometime to find some i m a treasure hunterand i live 4 that hobbie its like a drug to me so if jems are real to find down there i wanna come down

[MyRealityBytes]

Oh, they are real gemstones alright. The quality - I have no idea about. I haven't asked anyone how much mine are worth (if anything). One recent find in the area is currently valued at over one million dollars!

[stpetepatrick]

On the way home,someone in the car made a comment on how much you spent,rather than what you found. Did you all ever figure out what the gems were worth that you found. I am thinking of visiting there. Love the video,great family and sceanery.

[MyRealityBytes]

I really don't know who or where to take uncut stones to find out how much they might be worth. It would be interesting to know if they are worth anything. If you are planning on visiting Hiddenite - let me prepare you. There is nothing there to speak of(no real town). The mine itself is just a dusty, dirty little place. Be prepared to get wet and very dirty. If you like "treasure hunting", it is a fun place to visit.

[benjaminchu]

are there any places like this in Southern California?

[MyRealityBytes]

I have no idea. I live in North Carolina.

[T97Frida]

Oh man! What a beautiful place and trip. The stones look really awsome :) I am from germany and would love to do something like that. I am crazy for gems. You are very lucky to live there!

[MyRealityBytes]

I have always wanted to visit Germany! Nice to meet you.

[lakenitlisa]

Great job and nice size stones! I live in Ca. and in the "gold country" I go panning from time to time all I get is flecks!! LOL I am learning where to look! ~Lisa~ :D

[mwakin26]

We live like 30 minutes away - awesome place! I got some really nice emeralds there.

[MyRealityBytes]

I live not far from you then - I'm approx.45 minutes from Hiddenite. It is a beautiful place. We like wandering around there.

[SquiggMonster]

I never knew you could just find them lying in a river bed...that's cool. If I found a emerald as big as my head, I wouldn't be able to lift it.

I'm signing up for FISH CAMP next year! I can't wait!

[MyRealityBytes]

If I had found an emerald as big as my head, I would be sitting on my own private island right now...

[weezie63]

that was cool..family time is always time well spent...your richer for going..god bless,,weezie

[theden0minat0r]

I just wanted to comment on your video. It was great to see something that I have never personally seen before. GEM searching. I'll have to look into the subject a bit more closely. Great video with a nice family. It's a nice distraction to the BS here on Youtube.

[MyRealityBytes]

Wow - thanks for the compliments!

[cooles1]

Hi!!! I don't know why but that happens to many people, but some other must use much better cameras I think that is the reason... it is a pity, quality get lost.. but your's nice, with those beautiful pebbles. If anyone has an advice that would be great, because I have something to upload too from a vidcamera, but I am afraid the same will ocurrs.. thanks!

[MyRealityBytes]

Thanks for the comment, but it's just so disappointing to make a good video and it comes out on YouTube looking like this. By the way, those "beautiful pebbles" are actually gemstones - amethysts,emeralds,sapphires,t­opaz,and garnets! Finding them was so much fun!

[cooles1]

Oh sorry! beautiful gemstones!! hope you'll find a way to upload in a better quality your videos!

[MyRealityBytes]

Can someone tell me why my videos look crystal clear and in focus UNTIL I upload them on YouTube? Anyone have any advice?