Pinhoti Mineral and Gem Mining Co. (Cheaha State Park)
Gem and fossil mining for all ages inside Cheaha State Park
- Where
- Cheaha State Park, behind the Native American Artifacts Museum and across from the Mountain Store
- How it works
- Buy a gem or fossil bag at the Mountain Store and wash it at the mine
- Finds
- Gems and fossils from around the world, such as moss agate, emerald calcite and green jade, with an identification brochure
- Material
- Brought in, not native to the park
- Phone
- (256) 488-5115
Attraction: buy a bag of paydirt and search it on site
Enriched material: the paydirt may contain added gold or gems.
Season: Year-round, store hours
Make a weekend of it
5 gem and mineral spots on open public land with no claim on record, within 50 miles.
No open public land on our fossil and meteorite map within 250 miles.
There are more on the map, some of them with a possible mining claim.
About Pinhoti Mineral and Gem Mining Co. (Cheaha State Park)
The Pinhoti Mineral and Gem Mining Co. is the gem mine of Cheaha State Park, on the highest mountain in Alabama, and shares its name with the Pinhoti Trail, which begins in the park. It sits behind the park's Native American Artifacts Museum, across the road from the Mountain Store at the park entrance.
It works the simple way: you buy a bag of gem or fossil material at the store and wash it at the mine to see what turns up. The material comes from around the world, with stones such as moss agate, emerald calcite and green jade among the possible finds, and each bag includes a brochure to identify them. The park pitches it at adults as well as children, and suggests Cheaha for children's birthday parties.
The store that sells the bags is also the park's front desk and opens every day of the week, so a stop at the mine fits easily around a hike on the Pinhoti or a drive up to the summit.
Clubs and places nearby
- GPAA North Alabama ChapterClub · 18 mi
- Alabama Gold CampPay-to-dig · 18 mi
- Alabama Mineral and Lapidary SocietyClub · 53 mi
- Alabama Paleontological SocietyClub · 55 mi
- Deep Earth Gem Mine at Andy's Garden CenterAttraction · 56 mi
- Birmingham Paleontological SocietyClub · 58 mi
Where to buy gear nearby
- History Seekers Metal DetectorsOnline shop · 18 mi
- Earthforged Rock ShopShop · 100 mi
Access
Inside Cheaha State Park, off Highway 281; the park entrance fee applies. Mountain Store phone (256) 488-5115.