Blue Ridge Parkway
Museum of North Carolina Minerals, NC

The Museum of North Carolina Minerals showcases the mineral resources of the state and especially the Spruce Pine Mining District (Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey counties). Located at milepost 331 in Spruce Pine, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals is just one of the places visitors will want to explore in Mitchell County. A longstanding interest in gems, geology, and minerals has grown in Mitchell County and surrounding areas for centuries. In 1956, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals was dedicated so that a local interest could be shared. Exhibits installed in 2003 tell the story of regional geology and give insights on early mining endeavors.

Geological activity formed the wide variety of minerals that can now be found in the Southern Appalachians. 400 million years ago in a continental collision, molten rock was forced into cracks in a dark rock called gneiss. Because the rock cooled very slowly, huge deposits of minerals formed. Today, geologists find minerals like quartz, feldspar, mica, and gemstones.

Learn more about North Carolina's geological past and view these treasures of the earth for yourself at the Museum of North Carolina Minerals.