About this location
White Plains is a small community in Surry County, North Carolina, a few miles south of Mount Airy. The database entry for this location lists a classic North Carolina pegmatite mineral suite — beryl, columbite, quartz, rutile, tourmaline — but no source found ties any specific mine or dig site to these coordinates. There's a much better-known "White Plains" in North Carolina: the community near Stony Point in Alexander County where hiddenite (the gem variety of spodumene) was first discovered around 1879, deep in the state's Blue Ridge pegmatite belt. That White Plains is roughly 70 miles southwest of the Surry County coordinates given here. Surry County is better known for the Mount Airy granite quarry (dimension stone, not gem pegmatites) than for gem mining. Until a specific site is confirmed, treat this as an unverified, possibly mislabeled pin rather than a destination.
Always seek permission where required, follow local laws, and practice Leave No Trace. Locations and details are community-submitted and may be inaccurate. Not sure what's legal here? Read our full guide to rockhounding laws by land type.
Found Here
UNVERIFIED at this specific location. The listed specimens — beryl, columbite, quartz, rutile, tourmaline — are a standard NC Blue Ridge/Piedmont pegmatite mineral suite, but that suite is documented for the Alexander County White Plains area (and the wider hiddenite/Stony Point pegmatite belt), not for Surry County.
Difficulty
Getting there
White Plains, Surry County sits about 4 miles south of Mount Airy. No specific collecting site or trailhead was found.
Collecting here
UNVERIFIED — no specific site, method, or difficulty could be confirmed for this coordinate.
Know before you go
Land status is UNVERIFIED. Given the likely name confusion with the Alexander County White Plains, confirm which "White Plains" you actually mean before planning a trip — the mineral-bearing site most rockhounds are thinking of when they search this name is in Alexander County, not Surry County.
Location on Map
Coordinates: 36.45491, -80.60030
Nearby rockhounding locations
- Mount Airy — Feldspar, QuartzNC · 3.7 mi
- Pilot Mountain — QuartzNC · 10.5 mi
- Burch — Jasper, QuartzNC · 14.5 mi
- Mitchell River — Yellow Chalcedony, HornblendeNC · 14.7 mi
- Poplar Springs — Rutile, LimoniteNC · 16.1 mi
- Laurel Fork — QuartzVA · 19.5 mi
More Beryl locations in North Carolina
Frequently asked questions
Is White Plains, North Carolina a rockhounding site?
The White Plains community in Surry County, NC has no confirmed mining or mineral-collecting history in the sources we checked. A different "White Plains" near Stony Point in Alexander County, NC, is the actual site of North Carolina's famous 1879 hiddenite discovery.
What minerals are found near White Plains, NC?
UNVERIFIED for the Surry County location. Beryl, columbite, quartz, rutile, and tourmaline are documented in North Carolina's Blue Ridge pegmatite belt generally, including near the other White Plains community in Alexander County.
Is there a mine at White Plains, NC?
No specific mine or dig site was confirmed at the Surry County coordinates for this location.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Plains,_North_Carolina — confirms Surry County location, no mining/mineral content.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiddenite — confirms the Alexander County White Plains (near Stony Point) as the 1879 hiddenite discovery site.
- WebSearch synthesis ("White Plains" North Carolina beryl columbite rutile tourmaline mine mindat) — general NC pegmatite mineral suite, no site-specific confirmation for Surry County coordinates.
- WebSearch synthesis ("White Plains" Surry County North Carolina mica pegmatite mine minerals) — confirms Surry County's mineral industry is granite quarrying (Mount Airy), not pegmatite gem mining; no White Plains-specific mine found.
Recommended Gear for North Carolina
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Watertight Medical Kit
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Southeast Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide
Whether you're digging for the first time or are an experienced rockhound or "prospector," with a simple rock hammer and...
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