Corundum Hill — Rockhounding in Macon County, North Carolina
Corundum Hill belongs to the Cowee Valley ruby and sapphire belt, one of the classic eastern U.S. corundum districts described in early USGS work. The appeal is specific rather than general: pink, blue, and green corundum occurs with chromite and olivine in a named Macon County ultramafic setting. Reported finds include corundum, ruby, blue sapphire, green sapphire, pink sapphire, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Map showing Corundum Hill in Macon County, North Carolina
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Macon County
- State
- North Carolina
- Nearest road
- Mount Laurel Road
- Postcode
- 28734
- Coordinates
- 35.15003, -83.28827
Land & collecting status
Generally open to casual rockhounding
Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.
Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.
Sources & verification
Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.
State guidance last verified:
- North Carolina Geological Survey
- Nantahala/Pisgah National Forests
- Emerald Hollow Mine (fee-dig operator)
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Corundum Hill
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
- CorundumEncyclopedia →
- RubyEncyclopedia →
- Blue SapphireEncyclopedia →
- Green SapphireEncyclopedia →
- Pink SapphireEncyclopedia →
- ChromiteEncyclopedia →
- OlivineEncyclopedia →
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Corundum Hill.
- Higdon MountainMacon County, North Carolina · 0 mi awayActinolite, Chalcedony, Chromite
- Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire MineMacon County, North Carolina · 5 mi awayRuby, Sapphire, Garnet
- FranklinMacon County, North Carolina · 7 mi awayAmethyst, Bronzite, Epidote
- Mason MountainMacon County, North Carolina · 8 mi awayCorundum, Garnet, Hornblende
- OttoMacon County, North Carolina · 8 mi awayAmethyst, Garnet, Quartz
- HighlandsMacon County, North Carolina · 8 mi awayCorundum, Almandine Garnet, Quartz
- Little Scaly MountainMacon County, North Carolina · 8 mi awayAsbestos, Corundum, Rutile
- Rockhound Ridge Gem MineJackson County, North Carolina · 9 mi away
Across the state line from Corundum Hill
Corundum Hill is close enough to the North Carolina border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- Laurel Creek MineRabun County, Georgia · 15 mi awayCorundum
- Charlie’s CreekTowns County, Georgia · 21 mi awayAmethyst
- Jack Branch & Shoal Branch AreaTowns County, Georgia · 23 mi awayAmethyst, Quartz
- Tallulah FallsRabun County, Georgia · 29 mi awayCitrine, Quartz, Smoky Quartz
- Towns CountyTowns County, Georgia · 30 mi awayAmethyst
- Chatuge LakeTowns County, Georgia · 32 mi awayCorundum, Garnet, Kyanite
Corundum Hill FAQ
Why is Corundum Hill one of the best rockhounding spots in North Carolina?+
Where is Corundum Hill?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Corundum Hill?+
Is collecting allowed at Corundum Hill?+
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More rockhounding in North Carolina
See all 198 North Carolina spots →Open Corundum Hill on the map
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