Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Get a guide book that identifies the types of gemstone found in different areas of the United States. You can devote your time to finding gemstones in your local area, or you may want to plan a trip to an area with a specific type of gemstone. Guide books often provide pictures of what gems look like in their natural forms, which can help you identify the stones you find.
Visit a gemstone fee dig site. These sites, located throughout the United States, allow gem hunters access to a specific mine for a specific amount of time. Anything the gem hunter finds he gets to keep. An example of a fee dig site is the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.
Work with a company offering access to several mines. Some companies own mines in more than one state, providing access to different gemstones. While you pay for each mine visit, you can sometimes take advantage of packages offered by the company in order to reduce the cost.
Head out into the surrounding area. Many gem hunters prefer to find potential locations on their own. If you want to do this, you will want to make sure you have the right equipment to search for the types of gemstones in your area. For example, some stones weigh more than the dirt, which means you can sift the dirt and the stones will be on top when you empty the pan.
Purchase or lease a mine. There are several reasons why an owner or a company might want to sell or lease a mine. In most cases, the mine is no longer producing the volume the owner wants to see; however, this doesn't mean the mine is dry. If you decide to use this method to find gemstones, you'll want to make sure you understand all the financial and legal obligations of the transaction.