What is Reddit's opinion of A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains?

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I'm not local, but here are some resources you may look into:

A list of gem/mineral clubs in North Carolina. Here is the MAGMA club site, which I believe is local to you. I'm sure that other /r/rockhounds will back me up when I say that joining a club is a great way to meet people who know where to go to find the goods. Clubs also often go out on field trips periodically, including to spots you can't access as an individual.

This website describes sites in 13 counties of western NC, with great pictures of the finds from some of those locations. However, some of those are on private property and you need the owner's permission to hunt there.

A list of upcoming mineral shows. According to that list, there's one in Columbia, SC this weekend if you're okay with a drive. That's another solid place to meet some folks who might give you some pointers, and a great place to get your Christmas shopping done! Otherwise, you might try out the 2017 show in Asheville (scroll down), scheduled for March 17-19.

GatorGirl's list for general-interest geology stuff in your state. You might cut your teeth on one of the commercial sites listed at the bottom there before venturing out on your own. Here is a similar list of general western NC rockhound info.

Michael Streeter's <em>A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains</em> seems well-received on Amazon. One of the reviewers mentions that it gives GPS coords for the sites, which is an absolute godsend. Your local library may have a copy.

And here is the full Mindat page for finds listed in your state -- towards the bottom, you can select a specific county to narrow things down a bit. Mindat's pretty comprehensive and often has great pictures to help you know what to look for when you hunt, although many of the specimens were collected from private land or closed sites.

Here is the Forest Service's guidelines for rockhounding and gold panning in National Forests in your state, if any of your travels lead you there. Be aware of the local laws and always keep the Code of Ethics in mind!

Happy hounding! I've obtained a couple awesome Chalk Mountain specimens from others, but I've never been able to make it over there myself. Maybe save the Torbernite hunt for a day without kids, though -- radioactivity ain't so good for yoots!

I'm not local, but here are some resources you may look into:

A list of gem/mineral clubs in South Carolina. I'm sure that other /r/rockhounds will back me up when I say that joining a club is a great way to meet people who know where to go to find the goods. Clubs also often go out on field trips periodically, including to spots you can't access as an individual.

Here is a general article on the geology of upcountry SC.

A list of upcoming mineral shows. Your best bet might be the Augusta, GA show in March. Shows are another solid place to meet some folks who might give you some pointers, and a great place to get your very early (or very late) Christmas shopping done!

GatorGirl's list for general-interest geology stuff in your state. You might cut your teeth on a commercial site, like the listed Diamond Hill Mine before venturing out on your own.

I couldn't find any rockhounding guides for your state, but Michael Streeter's <em>A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains</em> seems well-received on Amazon. One of the reviewers mentions that it gives GPS coords for the sites, which is an absolute godsend. <em>Rock, Gem, and Mineral Collecting Sites in Western North Carolina</em> is another option, but many reviews mention that several sites are no longer open to collecting. It might be worth a read, anyways. And as more of a general overview, you might try a "Roadside Geology" style book like <em>Exploring the Geology of the Carolinas</em>. Your local library may have a copy of some of those.

And, for all of your rock database needs: here is the full Mindat page for finds listed in your state -- towards the bottom, you can select a specific county to narrow things down a bit. Mindat's pretty comprehensive and often has great pictures to help you know what to look for when you hunt, although many of the specimens were collected from private land or closed sites.

If it's not too much of a drive, here is an older post I made regarding rockhounding in North Carolina.

Be aware of the local laws and always keep the Code of Ethics in mind!

With regards to tools required, that depends on exactly what you're looking for! If you're just digging in dirt, a shovel and/or trowel may be all you need. If you see yourself breaking open hard rock, you may need a geologist's hammer and safety glasses. In general, you'll want to bring proper outdoor attire, a buddy to hunt with (and drink your beer, find the good specimens, and go for help if you get hurt!), lunch, a bucket to carry your finds home, and paper towels to wrap delicate specimens in. I'd definitely recommend going on a couple club outings before striking out alone, though.

Good luck!