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Feature article
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Hidden treasures aplenty at Cooper’s Gem Mine
By Marci Gore
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Editor’s Note: As part of our Hidden Treasures series, which runs each Thursday during the summer months, GoTriCities staff writers highlight places and events right here in our own back yard that many folks don’t know even exist. Got an idea or suggestion? We’d love to hear it. Write to the Kingsport Times-News, c/o Jessica Fischer, at 701 Lynn Garden Drive, Kingsport, Tenn. 37662 or e-mail jfischer@timesnews.net.
By MARCI GORE
mgore@timesnews.net
When my family and I went gem mining last weekend in historic Blountville, I quickly realized I did not pay close enough attention in my college geology class.
For my latest Hidden Treasures assignment, my family and I headed to a place called Cooper’s Gem Mine. Visitors to this “mine” actually get to “sluice” mine ore in a 300-foot long flume. And, the best part is, you get to keep whatever treasures you find.
When we arrived, owner Johnny Cooper met us and gave us all of our necessary supplies. We were given a scoop, a two-gallon bucket full of mine ore to share and plastic Ziploc-type bags to hold our goodies.
We chose our seats on a wooden bench along the flume and put about two scoops of the mine ore into a sifter of sorts — a square framed screen that allows the smaller pieces of sand and dirt to be filtered out in the running water that shoots down the flume. We each had our own sifter and before the afternoon was over a friendly competition had begun to see who would find the most gems. (I think I won. My son says I cheated, though.)
I wasn’t sure what to expect, not even sure if we’d find anything, but was pleasantly surprised. As the water rinsed away the debris from our scoops of mine ore, we found lots of rose quartz (this one was my favorite), small pieces of emeralds, amethysts, citrine (my son’s birthstone), fool’s gold (it actually does look like the real stuff!) and garnets. There were lots of other rocks and gems in there that, had I paid closer attention in geology class, I might have been better able to identify.
Fortunately, Johnny kept tabs on us and frequently came over to check on our progress, and we were able to ask him questions about our finds. We learned that the mine ore we were sifting through comes from actual gem mines along the Appalachian Range, stretching from Virginia to Florida. Some of those mines have been closed to the public for various reasons, but the mines’ owners still sell the mine ore to people like Johnny and Amy who want to buy it.
Truckloads of that mine ore are brought in and dumped in a shed at Cooper’s Gem Mine, providing visitors a chance to find any number of gems that are indigenous to the Appalachian Range.
The most valuable gem ever discovered at Cooper’s was a tourmaline. And one woman found a very large amethyst that she had cut and crafted into several different pieces of jewelry.
The idea for Cooper’s Gem Mine came about when Johnny and Amy visited a gem mine while on their honeymoon in 1991. It was then that Amy decided she wanted a gem mine of her own.
Eventually, plans were made and Amy’s dream became a reality. After 17 years in business, Cooper’s Gem Mine continues to grow, welcoming thousands of visitors each year.
Even though I didn’t discover a gem worth enough money to allow me to retire at an early age, we still had a great time searching for the treasures native to our part of the world.
Cooper’s Gem Mine is located at 1136 Big Hollow Road in Blountville.
You can get there a couple of different ways. Most directions we found on the Internet said (coming from Kingsport) to take Exit 69 off of Interstate 81; turn south on U.S. Highway 394; go for about two miles until you come to Big Hollow Road; turn right onto Big Hollow and go for a mile and a half. Cooper’s Gem Mine is on your right.
We actually got there a different way. Coming from Kingsport, we turned onto Highway 394 off of Highway 11W. When we got to the intersection of Interstate 81 and Highway 394 we just followed the previous directions until we got to the mine. It did not take us long at all to get there. It’s only about three and a half miles from Interstate 81.
The mine sits right on Big Hollow Road, and we came upon it before I realized we were even there. I don’t recall seeing any road signs advertising this quaint little hidden treasure.
Cooper’s hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; and noon to 5 p.m., Saturday. They are closed on Sundays. Prices vary depending on how much ore you want to sluice. The Big Bonanza Bucket is $45; two-gallon Rock Hound Bucket, $12; two-quart Pebble Pup Bucket, $6; two-gallon Pampered Pup Bucket, $7; two-quart Pampered Pee-wee, $4.
For more information, call 423-323-5680 or visit coopersgemmine.com.
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