This Site is Maintained
by Geologist and North Carolina Resident
Ed Speer

Ed@SpeerMinerals.com

Please contact me with any corrections, additions or comments

As a kid growing up in the mountains of western North Carolina, I was always intrigued by the emeralds found near my home. By the third grade, I'd started my own rock collection--a passion I eventually turned into an exciting career. After two college degrees specializing in geology, I began earning my living as an exploration geologist and worked on some very exciting and rewarding mineral deposits around the world. My specialty is gold and diamonds! I worked throughout the western US, as well as parts of South America, Africa, and the Northwest Territories of Canada.
You can check out my resume here: Ed Speer Resume

Most recently, I've returned home and have been involved in emerald exploration at Hiddenite, North Carolina. To be working in this famous district is like a childhood dream come true! This district is still producing fantasticly large emeralds and to witness one comming out of the ground is trully exciting

Being active in emerald mining at Hiddenite has given me the oppurtunity to become familiar wtih all of the state's emerald occurrences. Building this web site allows me to share the story of these wonderful crystals with others

While only one emerald mine in the state is open to the public, excellent oppurtunity still exists for new mining discoveries on many of the properties

Please note that all of the emerald mine properties in North Carolina are privately owned and potential visitors should arrange permission before arriving on the property. The NAEM mine at Hiddenite is NOT open to the public. Only two mines are open to the public for mineral collecting:
1) The Crabtree Emerald Mine near Little Switzerland, NC http://www.wncrocks.com/resources/Collecting%20site%20crabtreemine1.htm
2) The Emerald Hollow Mine at Hiddenite, NC http://www.hiddenitegems.com/

For information on other mineral collecting sites in North Carolina, see: http://www.wncrocks.com/ and http://www.mcrocks.com