When visiting the Smoky Mountains, one popular form of entertainment is to try your hand at gem mining. The Smoky Mountains have a rich history of gold and gem mining. You can experience some of that history by touring one of the local mines or by picking up a bucket and a pan and looking for your own gems. Whether you're out by yourself or you have brought along the family, gem mining is an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
Pick one of the many recreational gem mining facilities located throughout the Smokys. The link in the References sections lists several.
Purchase a bucket. Recreational gem mining businesses operate by selling buckets of dirt that contain various gems and ordinary rocks. There are usually several bucket sizes available for different prices. Often the higher price buckets include the option to have one gem cut and polished for free.
Grab a pan and find a spot at the water trough.
Shovel some dirt into your pan and shake the pan in the water. The goal here is to wash dirt away so you can identify the gems. Most commercial gem mines have cases mounted to the back of the water trough with pictures of the various gems you are likely to find at that specific mine. Use these pictures to help identify gems.
