Some of Western North Carolina’s “rockhounds” are mining for rubies and emeralds worth $50M or more. Others dig for something deeper.

Gem hunting basics If you're already intrigued by the thought of digging up your own gems — great. You're not the first to hear the call of what lies beneath the dirt. But you may also be wondering ...

Traveling from Denio to Ely, and from Austin to Verdi, to on a rockhounding adventure. Discovering fire opals, garnets, fluorite and quartz in the heart of Nevada. We travel across the state from ...

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 ...

A Texas woman made the discovery of a lifetime while sitting in the shade watching a video, she says. Miranda Hollingshead, 27, wanted to do something fun with her visiting siblings, so she took them ...