Gemstones have been used by humans in what is now the United States for thousands of years. Native Americans produced turquoise, flint, amber, shells, obsidian for use in jewelry, beads, carvings, and tools. In the Southwest they mined turquoise and used it to make earrings and pendants. There were even some gem-happy dentists back in the day who did pretty amazing chomper customizing. Take that Lil Wayne! Along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts shells were used as gemstones and ornaments.
Today, gemstones including beryl, coral, garnet, feldspar, opal, quartz, sapphire, ruby, topaz, tourmaline, turquoise, shell and pearls, are mined or harvested from coast to coast. Arizona is responsible for some of the best peridot and turquoise. Most turquoise is a by-product of copper extraction, produced as it is uncovered during the mining cycle, but some is produced as a continuous mining effort, though this type of production is labor intensive because careful hand extraction is required. Oregon has prime feldspar, and produces a small amount of sunstone; California lays claim to the tourmaline crown; Nevada boasts opals; and Idaho supplies small amounts of just about everything, but mostly agates and jaspers.
If you would like to cut out the middle-man and pick your own fresh gems, pack your shovels and load up the kids for the most back-breaking vacation of all-time, because your destination is Arkansas's Crater of Diamonds State Park. Visitors are welcome to scour the 37-acre park for anything from amethyst to quartz, but the real draw is diamonds. The park has a policy of "finders keepers", so one might be inclined to think the place is tapped out, but in late 2006 a Texas couple unearthed a 6.35-carat giant.Have we missed any U.S. gems? If you know of stones produced in your backyard, we'd love to hear about them!
