“ROCKHOUNDING” ON NATIONAL FOREST LAND IN NATIONAL FORESTS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Note: The following is from the U.S. National Forest flyer whose title appears below.  All telephone numbers were verified as of November 9, 2000. The Eastern States Office’s address, Bureau of Land Management, was also updated November 9, 2000. This provides general information on “Rockhounding” on National Forest Land. Contacts are provided for additional information.

A “Rockhound” is a person who hunts and collects rocks and minerals as a hobby.

A wide variety of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock types are found within the National Forests in North Carolina, and many individual minerals are found in association with these rocks.

As a rule, there is no objection to taking a handful of rock, mineral, or petrified wood specimens from the surface of the National Forest System lands.  No fee, special permission, or permit is required as long as:

• The specimens are for personal, non-commercial use

• The specimens are not of archeological value (all artifacts, including projectile points, chips and flakes may not be collected).
• No mechanical equipment or blasting is utilized.
• No significant surface disturbance results, and

• collection does not conflict with existing mineral permits, leases, claims, or sales.

There are many areas scattered throughout the Forests where the United States owns the surface of the land, but does not own the minerals.  There is no objection to collecting specimens of the local rock types exposed on the surface; however, mineral specimens that may have some value can only be collected with permission from the mineral owner(s).  These may be identified from maps in offices of the Forest Supervisor and District Rangers.

Rockhounding must not be confused with commercial mineral activities.  Mining and mineral leasing laws are applicable to all activities of a commercial nature.  During the course of collecting rock and mineral specimens, the rockhound may feel that an area is worthy of detailed exploration to determine whether or not a mineral is present in commercial quality and quantity.  This type of detailed exploration can be conducted only under a Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Permit.  Applications and additional information may be obtained from: Eastern States Office, BLM, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153.

Certain areas are designated as archeological sites or geologic interest areas.  Ground disturbance of any sort is prohibited in these protected areas.  Unrecorded archeological sites are also protected areas.

Included with rockhounding is panning for gold in the beds of many streams crossing National Forest land.  Stream-bed (placer) gold, in most cases, does not exist in sufficient quantity to constitute economically recoverable deposits.  Ordinarily, no more than a few cents worth of gold can be panned per hour; however, there is always a chance of finding that stray nugget or odd pocket of finer gold.  No fee, special permission or permit is required as long as only shovel and pan techniques are employed and no significant stream disturbance results, but one should first check with the local District Ranger.  On National Forest land, where the minerals are privately owned, panners should obtain written permission from the mineral owner(s) prior to beginning collection.

In the National Forests in North Carolina, recreational suction dredging is not allowed.  A closure order was signed by the Forest Supervisor on September 14, 1993.

In relation to mineral activities, disturbance is considered significant when:

1. Natural recovery would not be expected to take place within a reasonable period of time.

2. There is unacceptable air or water degradation.

3. There is unnecessary or unreasonable injury, loss or damage to National Forest resources, i.e., use of explosives or mechanical equipment.

Additional details helping to define “significant disturbance” can be found in the Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2817.11, Code of Federal Regulations (36FR) 228.4 and at the offices of each District Ranger.

Collectors and panners are advised to contact Forest Service offices about access to National Forest lands.  Some areas may be readily accessible by family auto, while others may be accessible only with difficulty by four-wheel-drive vehicles or hiking.  Some roads may be seasonally closed.  Remote areas may be accessible only by foot.

Forest Service District Ranger Offices are the best sources for on-the-ground information relating to local access, road conditions, and rest/picnic/scenic areas, camping, swimming, hunting, fishing, etc.  These offices are open Monday through Friday, usually between 8:00 A. M. to 4:30 P. M.   They are closed Saturdays and Sundays.  Maps identifying National Forest land are available at the offices of the Forest Supervisor and the District Ranger.  Forest Service offices do not normally keep information on all minerals or collecting localities but may be knowledgeable of some areas.  The best sources for such information are state geological survey offices, university geology departments and libraries, mineralogical societies, rockhounding and lapidary clubs, etc.

The Forest Service obtains authority for managing “rockhounding” from 43 CFR 3560.7 (Hardrock Mineral Specimen Collection), Final Rules-Federal Register, April 22, 1986, Page 15250.