Deep Earth
Understanding How Gems Form
Pressure & Time
Most gemstones form deep within the Earth's crust (3 to 25 miles down) or even in the mantle. Under extreme heat and pressure, minerals crystallize from magma or hydrothermal fluids.
- Diamonds Form in the mantle (~100 miles deep)
- Pegmatites Slow-cooling magma pockets rich in aquamarine/tourmaline
The Uprising
Gems don't stay deep forever. Tectonic plate collisions and volcanic eruptions push these deep rock layers toward the surface.
"Erosion is the miner's best friend. Wind, rain, and glaciers wear away the softer surface rock, exposing the harder gem-bearing veins."
Regeneration
You might wonder: "If people have been mining here for decades, aren't all the gems gone?" The answer is no. Nature is constantly working for you.
Freeze-Thaw
Water seeps into cracks, freezes, and expands. This hydraulic action shatters rock faces, releasing new crystals every spring.
Hydraulic Scour
Storms scour riverbanks and wash away topsoil, revealing heavy gemstones that have settled in the gravel.
Field Tactics
Go After Rain
The best time to surface collect is immediately after a storm. Water washes dust off crystals, making them sparkle against the mud.
Solar Vector
Walk with the sun at your back. Scan the ground for reflections. Glassy or metallic lusters often indicate gemstones.