Known for prized rubies, sapphires, and other gems, North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains hold rich treasure for rockhounds. This guide covers over 30 rock and mineral collecting sites in 13 western counties. Visit the mine where the 1,445-carat "Star of the Carolinas" star sapphire was discovered; explore creeks and streams to screen for almandine garnet; and experience the glow of Chalk Mountain hyalite opal, said to be the most highly fluorescent opal in the world. This book will lead you to where you will be able to find the following rocks or minerals: actinolite, albite, almandine garnet, amazonite, apatite, aquamarine, autunite, azurite, banded marble, barite, beryl, calcite, cerussite, chaldedony, chlorite schist, chromite, chrysocolla, columbite, corundum, calcite, dravite, edenite, emerald, epidote, feldspar, fluorite, galena, golden beryl, hedenbergite, hyalite opal, kyanite, limonite, magnetite, malachite, marble, mica, microcline, monazite, moonstone, oligoclase, olivine, opal, orthoclase, pyrite, pyromorphite, quartz, ruby, sapphire, schorl, serpentine sphalerite, staurolite, talc, thulite, torbernite, tourmaline, travertine, tremolite, unakite, vermiculite, and wollastonite.