History

The General Assembly of 1973 designated the emerald as the official state precious stone. Emerald is found in North Carolina near Hiddenite in Alexander County and southwest of Spruce Pine in Mitchell County.

The largest single emerald crystal found in North America was found at the Rist Mine at Hiddenite in 1969. The crystal weighed 1,438 carats. The "Carolina Emerald," a 13.14 carat emerald-cut gem, was also found at the Rist Mine.

 

Info on this page found on http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/Mineral%20resources/mineralresources.html