A literal hidden gem in Ashe County is located only 20 minutes from the center of Jefferson, and near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Gem Valley NC is a great place for young and young at heart to try their hand at prospecting for precious gems and gold hidden in the North Carolina mountain soil.
The gem mine owns their very own mine, which is part of the old Ore Knob Mine territory.
Ore Knob Mine was operated from the 1850s, when a vein of copper was found, until 1883, when the price of copper dropped and mining the copper there was no longer profitable. At one time, up to 700 men were employed to mine the copper that was found there. After intermittent mining through the years, the mine officially closed in 1962 and was sold to several Ashe County businessmen in 1972.
Gem Valley LLC opened for locals and tourists to continue in the mining tradition of the nearby Ore Knob Mine in 2006. Since then, many have found precious stones as well as gold in the buckets of ore sold at Gem Valley.
Recently, a customer at Gem Valley found a sapphire, which was later appraised at $16,000. While a find like this is rare, it is possible! Most gems found in the Ashe County gem mine are emerald or aquamarine.
Gem Valley NC is located at 2489 Little Peak Creek Road in Jefferson, NC. They are open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from the first week in May until mid October. For more information, visit their website at http://gemvalleync.com.
To read the article about the $16,000 sapphire found at Gem Valley, visit the Jefferson Post's website at http://jeffersonpost.com/news/home_top-news/153768820/Valuable-gem-found-in-Ashe.
We hope you enjoy reading about Ashe County history and news. When ready to purchase your very own Ashe County Real Estate, please contact our office at 336-846-4900. One of our experienced agents will be glad to assist you in finding your very own slice of this mountain paradise!
A literal hidden gem in Ashe County is located only 20 minutes from the center of Jefferson, and near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Gem Valley NC is a great place for young and young at heart to try their hand at prospecting for precious gems and gold hidden in the North Carolina mountain soil.
The gem mine owns their very own mine, which is part of the old Ore Knob Mine territory.
Ore Knob Mine was operated from the 1850s, when a vein of copper was found, until 1883, when the price of copper dropped and mining the copper there was no longer profitable. At one time, up to 700 men were employed to mine the copper that was found there. After intermittent mining through the years, the mine officially closed in 1962 and was sold to several Ashe County businessmen in 1972.
Gem Valley LLC opened for locals and tourists to continue in the mining tradition of the nearby Ore Knob Mine in 2006. Since then, many have found precious stones as well as gold in the buckets of ore sold at Gem Valley.
Recently, a customer at Gem Valley found a sapphire, which was later appraised at $16,000. While a find like this is rare, it is possible! Most gems found in the Ashe County gem mine are emerald or aquamarine.
Gem Valley NC is located at 2489 Little Peak Creek Road in Jefferson, NC. They are open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from the first week in May until mid October. For more information, visit their website at http://gemvalleync.com.
To read an article about the $16,000 sapphire found at Gem Valley, visit the Jefferson Post's website at http://jeffersonpost.com/news/home_top-news/153768820/Valuable-gem-found-in-Ashe.
We hope you enjoy reading about Ashe County history and news. When ready to purchase your very own Ashe County Real Estate, please contact our office at 336-846-4900. One of our experienced agents will be glad to assist you in finding your very own slice of this mountain paradise!
