Rocks, Gems, & Minerals - Oh My!

The local gems and mineral society is having a big show at the fairgrounds, and I’m going to miss it.  I didn’t even know there was such a society, but I just googled it and found a list of more than 15 such groups in the mid-Atlantic region. These groups include fossil clubs, lapidary groups, and the Maryland Geological Society.

What a wealth of resources for my new mystery series. The first book in the series, tentatively titled, An Epitaph for Emeralds, draws on the fact that emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and garnets can be found in North Carolina. Last year, I went to a ruby panning site in North Carolina. Years ago, on a hike through dense woods in North Carolina, I dug in the dirt, probably tailings, at an abandoned amethyst mine and actually found a few pieces of this gemstone.

I was thrilled, even though my meager find in no way resembled the wall of amethyst crystals I’d seen at the Smithsonian. Also at the Smithsonian in its Hall of Gems and Minerals is a beautiful large emerald found, yes, in North Carolina. Aquamarines are also found in North Carolina.

Opals can be found in Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. Jade is found in California and Wyoming.

In Tennessee, I stopped at a place that sold freshwater pearls from oysters found in the local river.

As you can see, I’ll have no trouble finding new gem  sites to cause trouble for my characters in this new series.

A caution here. Be sure to get permission before you try digging or panning or searching for gemstones. You don’t want to get shot for trespassing or arrested for breaking the law.