Gemstone Mining
Enjoy W.V. only gemstone mining
Try your hand at panning for mineral treasures. Purchase a bag of mining rough in the gift shop, and make your way to the water sluice to discover garnets, rose quartz, fool's gold, rubies, emeralds, and many other beautiful stones. All the treasures you find are yours to take home.
Mining Rough Prices:
Regular: 3 lb. bag - $4.00; 5 lb. bag - $6.00
Ruby or Emerald rough: 5 lb. bag - $9.00
Gemstones of the World
| Aventurine | A greenish or peach colored quartz containing tiny mica flakes. |
| Quartz | The milky color is caused by small bubbles of gas and liquid. |
| Peridot | From the Arabic word "Faridat" meaning gem. August birthstone. |
| Ruby | The "king of precious gems". July birthstone. |
| Raspberry Quartz | A quartz with mica flakes giving it its raspberry color. |
| Topaz | From the Greek word "Topazious" meaning to seek. November birthstone. |
| Rose Quartz | The pinkish color of this quartz comes from the impurity titanium. |
| Crystal Points | This is quartz in its purest form, and is totally free of impurities. |
| Sapphire | A Corundum and comes in colors including blue. September birthstone. |
| Obsidian | Also known as volcanic glass. Generally very deep black in color. |
| Smokey | Dark brown quartz, sometimes caused by exposure to natural radioactivity. |
| Moon Stone | A white, gray, or tan feldspar that typically emits a bluish white glow. |
| Amethyst | From the Greek word "Amethustos" meaning sober. February birthstone. |
| Emerald | A Beryl with traces of chromium in it. May birthstone. |
| Fluorite | A Feldspar in colors including purple, clear, yellow, and green. |
| Amazonite | A greenish form of gem-quality microline. |
| Blue Calcite | A sedimentary material that comes in a variety of colors. |
| Citrine | From the French word "Citrin" meaning yellow. |
| Pyrite | Better known as "Fools Gold". Iron material that occurs in ore deposits. |
| Garnet | From the Latin word "Garnatus" meaning seed-like. January birthstone. |