Little Pine Garnet Mine — Rockhounding in Madison County, North Carolina
Little Pine is a focused almandine locality where Mindat records red garnets up to 6 inches in green chlorite schist, a scale that separates it from ordinary garnet-bearing roadcuts. NCGS collecting-site references and later geologic work tie the mine to unusual Mg- and Al-rich schists in the western Blue Ridge. Reported finds include garnet, quartz, chlorite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Little Pine Garnet Mine photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material, with source and license attribution.
Map showing Little Pine Garnet Mine in Madison County, North Carolina
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Madison County
- State
- North Carolina
- Nearest road
- Caney Fork Road
- Postcode
- 25753
- Coordinates
- 35.76255, -82.72424
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 Little Pine Garnet Mine
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Little Pine Garnet Mine.
- Ivy CreekMadison County, North Carolina · 7 mi awayChrysolite, Genthite, Talc
- Roaring Fork CreekMadison County, North Carolina · 12 mi awayUnakite
- DemocratBuncombe County, North Carolina · 13 mi awayChalcedony, Feldspar, Garnet
- Lemon GapMadison County, North Carolina · 13 mi awayAllanite
- Reems CreekBuncombe County, North Carolina · 13 mi awayGarnet
- Newfound GapHaywood County, North Carolina · 13 mi awayRuby
- Pressley MineHaywood County, North Carolina · 14 mi awayAlbite, Amphibolite, Corundum
- Pressley MineHaywood County, North Carolina · 14 mi awayCorundum, Sapphire
Across the state line from Little Pine Garnet Mine
Little Pine Garnet Mine 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.
- Rag MountainCocke County, Tennessee · 18 mi awayUnakite
- Flag PondUnicoi County, Tennessee · 20 mi awayUnakite
- Del RioCocke County, Tennessee · 21 mi awayUnakite
- Del RioCocke County, Tennessee · 21 mi awayBarite, Calcite, Celestite
- Big CreekCocke County, Tennessee · 21 mi awayGreen Quartz
- Mine RidgeCocke County, Tennessee · 23 mi awayCopper, Iron, Lead
Little Pine Garnet Mine FAQ
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More rockhounding in North Carolina
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