What Happens When You Mine for Gems? (Step-by-Step First Timer Guide)

 If you’ve never tried gem mining before, you might be wondering…

What actually happens?

The good news is—it’s simple, fun, and designed for all ages. You don’t need any experience, and within minutes, you’ll be finding real gemstones.

Here’s exactly how it works.

Step 1: Choose Your Mining Bucket

When you arrive, you’ll start by picking a bucket of mining material.

Each bucket is filled with a mix of sand, dirt, and real gemstones waiting to be discovered. There are different options to choose from, but every bucket is designed to give you a successful experience—especially if it’s your first time.

Step 2: Head to the Water Flume

Next, you’ll head over to the water flume.

This is a flowing water station where the mining happens. You’ll get a screen tray to hold your material while the water washes everything away.

Step 3: Start Mining

Now the fun begins.

You’ll pour some of your material into the tray and gently shake it in the water. As the dirt washes away, shapes and colors start to appear.

At first, it might just look like rocks.

Then suddenly—you’ll spot something different.

A flash of purple.
A smooth, shiny surface.
A color that stands out.

That’s your first gem.

Within just a few minutes, you’ll start finding stones like:

⚬  Quartz

⚬  Amethyst

⚬  Citrine

⚬  And sometimes even fossils

Step 4: Discover What You Found

One of the best parts of the experience is learning what you actually uncovered.

Our gem experts will identify your finds completely free, so you don’t have to guess what you’re looking at.

Instead of leaving with a handful of random stones, you leave knowing exactly what each one is—and why it’s special.

What Makes This Experience Different

At Pigeon Forge Gem Mine, the experience goes beyond just mining.

You can also:

⚬ Step into a free museum and explore unique mineral displays

⚬ Touch a real mammoth bone, connecting your visit to ancient history

⚬  Learn more about the gems you found in a way that’s simple and interesting

It turns a fun activity into something a little more memorable.

Why People Love Gem Mining

There’s a reason people of all ages get hooked so quickly.

It’s:

⚬  Hands-on and interactive

⚬  Relaxing, but still exciting

⚬  Easy to do with no experience

⚬  Different every time you try it

Every scoop feels like a mini treasure hunt—and that first find is what pulls you in.