South Carolina Amethyst and Shark Teeth
South Carolina’s state gem is amethyst, found in the Piedmont near Abbeville and Due West. On the coast, Lowcountry beaches and rivers produce fossil shark teeth, including megalodon.
| Amethyst | Diamond Hill Mine near Abbeville (fee, bring your own tools) |
|---|---|
| Shark teeth | Surface collecting on public beaches around Charleston, Edisto and Folly |
| Best time | Falling tide along the shell line |
| License | SCIAA hobby license to collect fossils from rivers and state waters |
| Not allowed | SCDNR heritage preserves |
Amethyst at Diamond Hill Mine
Diamond Hill Mine near Abbeville is a private, pay-to-dig site on about six acres of tailings. Visitors keep what they find: clear and smoky quartz, skeletal quartz, amethyst, drusy and occasional garnet or epidote. Bring your own tools: a shovel, a long screwdriver, a rock hammer, gloves and buckets. Check the mine’s site for current admission and hours.
Shark teeth on the coast
- Public beaches around Charleston, Edisto and Folly allow surface collecting of loose shark teeth along the tide line. Search the shell line on a falling tide.
- Guided barrier-island trips reach beaches you can’t easily get to by car.
- Collecting fossils from rivers and other state waters, including by diving, requires a hobby license from SCIAA and finds must be reported.
Public lands
Sumter and Francis Marion national forests allow small-scale personal collecting with hand tools. SCDNR heritage preserves do not allow rock or fossil collecting, and state forests need the forest manager’s permission.
Questions
Where can I dig for amethyst in South Carolina?
At Diamond Hill Mine near Abbeville, a private fee-dig site where you keep what you find.
Can I collect shark teeth on South Carolina beaches?
Yes, loose teeth on public beaches can be picked up from the surface.
Do I need a license to dive for fossils in South Carolina rivers?
Yes. A hobby license from the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology is required.
Can I rockhound in South Carolina national forests?
Small-scale personal collecting with hand tools is generally allowed in Sumter and Francis Marion national forests.
Back to the South Carolina rockhounding guide · Rules by land type