Western North Carolina is known for its hills full of hidden treasures. From rubies and sapphires to emeralds and gold, the region is stocked with gems, stones and minerals still waiting to be ...

This story was published in partnership with The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from the Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletter here. The ...

Rockhounding is not a hobby you hear about every day. Loosely defined as the practice of recreationally hunting for gems and semi-precious stones in their natural habitats, it's primarily seen as a ...

A quiet Gold Rush continues in Oregon’s high desert. Serious rockhounds, weekend prospectors and people selling the state’s official gemstone are staking claims and digging for sunstones. Sunstones?

What is now desert was once under water, back when giant marine reptiles swam freely in a shallow sea that would later become Nevada’s Great Basin. Major geological activity happened, making way for ...

Gem- and jewelry-themed tours and excursions mix treasure hunting with adventure and cultural experiences. Text by Amy Elliott Illustrations by Ben Pearce Last year, when Roberto Ruiz visited the ...

To mark International Women’s Day we’re digging into an often overlooked, but critical sector for the global economy, and for many millions of women: Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM). From gold, ...

From this Virginia village with peaceful trails and a picturesque vineyard to "The Hiking Capital of Western North Carolina," the Blue Ridge Mountains offer so much culture and natural beauty to ...

Magic Valley Gem Club hosted its 74th annual Rock and Gem Show on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer. Rock enthusiasts could peruse aisles of fossils, gemstones, ...