How to Find Rare Stones

Visit a gem mining operation that is open to the public in states such as North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Purchase one or more buckets of gem dirt at the gem mining facility and pick up the screen box you will use to look for gems. Pay any fees associated with using the facility.

Place the screen box, which is designed for washing gem dirt, on the flume that holds the water. The flume is typically made of wood and is shaped like a long trough. Flumes are about 2 to 3 feet wide, have 1-to-2 foot high sides and are up to 50 feet long in some cases.

Fill the screen box 1/4 full with the gem dirt. Spread the dirt evenly across the surface of the screen with your hands.

Place the screen box in the water that is flowing through the flume. Hold the screen box by the sides and move it back and forth in the flowing water so it washes the dirt away from the gravel. Use your hands to break up any clumps of dirt and to wash rock and gravel onto the screen.

Lift the screen box out of the water and place it back on top of one side of the flume. Carefully pick through the gravel and rock on the screen, looking for rocks that are dull or bright red, green, blue or purple. Pick out any rare gem stones and place them in a plastic bag.