Gem Mining & Gold Panning
Buckets of rough stone, a sluice, and a pocketful of finds to take home
The short answer
Kids (and plenty of adults) can't resist a bucket of rough stone. You dump it, wash it, sift it and sort what's left, and the shop promises a find every time. It works in any weather because the tables are covered, and it fits neatly between tubing and the Main Street shops. The Outpost's gem page promises a find every time, with amethyst, garnet, quartz, citrine, rose quartz and aventurine in the common buckets.
Gem bucket prices at Outpost Gold & Gems
From the shop's website, October 2026
| Bucket | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Gem Bucket | 1 quart | $7 |
| Small Gem Bucket | 1 gallon | $20 |
| Large Gem Bucket | 2 gallons | $35 |
| Prospector's Pick | 1 gallon | $35 |
| Ruby, Emerald and Sapphire | 1 gallon | $30 |
| Ruby, Emerald and Sapphire Deluxe | 2 gallons | $50 |
| Deluxe Bucket | 3.5 gallons | $85 |
| Outpost Family Bucket | 6 gallons, gem rough and fossil mix | $100 |
The shop's site doesn't say where each stone comes from, so think of it as a hands-on rock-sorting activity, not a Georgia dig. Higher-tier buckets add stones such as sodalite, malachite, fluorite, turquoise, peridot, obsidian and geodes. Prices change; confirm with the shop.
Where to mine near Helen
Hours and prices as listed by each business
| Place | Where | What you can do | Hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outpost Gold & Gems | 7901 S Main St, Helen | Gem buckets, gold panning, fossils and geodes | Sun to Thu 10 to 5, Fri and Sat 10 to 6; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas | 706-878-5065 |
| Dukes Creek Ruby and Gold Mines | Near Helen (call for directions) | Gold panning and gem hunting at the family's mining site | April through October, 10:30 to 5, limited hours, weather permitting | 706-878-2625 |
| Consolidated Gold Mine | 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Rd, Dahlonega | Underground tour ($24.95 adults, $15.95 ages 3 to 12), gem mining from $30, gold panning from $60 | Mon to Fri 10 to 4, Sat and Sun 10 to 5; closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas | See website |
| Crisson Gold Mine | 2736 Morrison Moore Pkwy E, Dahlonega | Gold panning, gem mining and a rock and mineral shop | Daily 10 to 6; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas | 706-864-6363 |
Dukes Creek's hours are limited and seasonal, so call first. Consolidated Gold Mine takes Visa, MasterCard and Discover plus cash (no American Express). Weekday mornings there tend to have longer waits. Sites: Consolidated Gold Mine, Crisson Gold Mine.
Gold panning is a different thing
Panning for gold uses paydirt, ore with real gold in it. Outpost sells paydirt buckets from $15 to $250 and says the ore comes from Dukes Creek near Helen. The story of how this creek became a gold rush site, and where else you can pan, is on our gold panning in Helen page and in the gold rush history guide.
Tips for a good visit
Start small
A small bucket is plenty for most younger kids. You can always buy another.
Go slow at the sluice
The small stones hide in the gravel. Rushing means missing them.
Bring a bag
A zip-top bag keeps the haul together on the way home.
Rainy-day pick
Outpost has covered all-weather tables, which makes this a good backup plan.
Looking for a cross-shaped natural stone instead? See fairy crosses. Online-only: Gold 'n Gem Grubbin' in Cleveland now sells paydirt and gems through its website, per its own site.
More to explore
Family fun and history nearby
