Rio Doce Gem Mine, Spruce Pine

This place will put gem mountain out of business. Amazing owners, very friendly and knowledgeable. All gems are cut in house. Gem mountain wanted an extra $45 per stone for the same cut!! (Portuguese). the stones here are also much clearer than gem mountains. Will probably be back for a gem cutting class later in the year. highly recommend.

Rio Doce Gem Mine is a fantastic activity. Staff are very friendly and willing to help you with any questions. Also, they are willing to help you learn about lapidary. Classes are offered here. You will end up learning about gems and the precious stones that you find. You start by selecting a size of bucket you want to sift through. There are several options available for what bucket size to get, from the smallest is $15, 2 gallon to the best valued $65, 3.5 gallon bucket that comes with a free cut. Believe me when you see the gems that are processed you will wish you got the 3.5 gallon bucket with the free gem cut. The buckets come from North Carolina and Brazil. Recommended for all ages, go ahead and dig for some gems! Parking is easy and handicap accessible.