Old Pressley Mine

About Old Pressley Mine
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240 Pressley Mine Road, Canton, NC
Waynesville, United States 28716
828-648-6320
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If you a.) like to go off the beaten path, and b.) have always wanted to go gem mining, especially to a mine that still has some actual stones left in it, the Old Pressley Mine is your best bet, at least in the North Carolina region of the United States. We decided to go to Waynesville, NC, just to relax and take mountain pictures, and take a couple of side trips. This mine was in our guide book, so we took a chance. It is WAAAAY off the beaten path, and very low tech.  You get a bucket of dirt with (maybe) gems mixed in, or a shovel. We picked the bucket, as we were pressed for time, plus I couldn't imagine either of us digging.  The proprietresses sold us our large dirt bucket for $45 (no other admission charge and you keep what you find) and pointed us toward a long wooden thingie of flowing water. We washed the dirt off the stones and the ladies came over and identified the gems for us, dumping the bum stones over the side. Imagine our surprise when we realized we had found about 15 sapphires, one of which has potential to cut down to a 10-carat beauty!  I recommend a visit to this establishment if you ever happen to be in the area.  It's fun, it's easy, and not too expensive!
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Getting there:
Google it or visit their website.  Very good instructions online.  The last little bit is rough gravel one-lane road.
Last edited on May 27, 09 7:53 PM.
Contributors: Connie W. Show History
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1 Reviews of Old Pressley Mine  
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First To Review: Connie W.
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May 25, 2009
Bring your camera, and if it's raining, a poncho. On a pretty day, there are several beautiful photos to be taken. Don't worry if you're not fit enough to dig for the sapphires. Buy a small ($25) or large ($45) bucket and sluice the dirt through the flowing water until you run out of dirt. If you find a stone, it's yours! The place has a man called a "cutter", who will cut your sapphire into a mountable stone for $35 for the first 5 carats plus $5 per carat after the first 5 carats. In order to see the "star" in the sapphire, choose a round, not an oval, cut.
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