Schedule of FGMS collecting trips for members in 2026-2027:
EXCEPT for The Patty Mine and Diamond Hill trips, ALL OTHER Field Trips:
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Are in the Nantahala or Chattahoochee National Forests. Hence, National Forest restrictions for collecting are applicable.
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Have NO bathroom facilities nearby. Nonetheless, the woods are all around.
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Have NO admission fees.
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Will meet to depart at 10:00 a.m.
JULY 20, Monday: Park Creek, Clay Co, NC, 40 min drive. (postponed from July 13)
AUGUST 11, Tuesday: Lee Creek, Macon County, 30 min drive.
SEPTEMBER 19, Saturday: Diamond Hill Mine, Abbeville, SC,
140 min drive. Adult = $20, Senior = $10, per day. Meet at 8:00 am.
OCTOBER 15, Thursday: Adline Creek, Rabun Co, GA, 80 min drive.
NOVEMBER 13, Friday: Buck Creek or Little Buck Creek, Clay County, NC,
40 min drive
DECEMBER – Merry Christmas!
JANUARY – Happy New Year!
FEBRUARY 16, Tuesday: Hiawassee Lake, Cherokee Co, NC, 80 min drive.
MARCH 10, Wednesday: Nottely Lake, Union County, GA, 90 min drive.
APRIL 18, Sunday: The Patty Mine/Quarry, Summerville, GA,
3 hours drive. Only open to the public on Sundays. No fee.
Must sign liability waiver. Meet at 8:00 am.
MAY 13, Thursday: Tallulah River, Rabun County, GA, 75 min drive.
JUNE 11, Friday: Jarrett Creek, Macon Co, NC, 30 min drive.
ALL FIELD TRIPS
1) Will begin from the Franklin Harbor Freight parking lot, i.e., west side (Burger King side) of the parking lot, away from the Harbor Freight store.
2) Entail some walking on rocky and uneven terrain.
3) Are subject to change due to weather, club conflicts, or wishes of the participants. Contact Joe, 828-347-6555, to confirm or for information.
The Franklin Gem & Mineral Society offers monthly field trips to members where you may find fossils, minerals or even gold. As part of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies we also participate in a monthly field trip sharing program called the DMC (originally the Dixie Mineral Council). Clubs in the program take turns sharing one of their field trips with other clubs in the program. This increases the number of field trips a club can offer their members, and members enjoy a variety of field trips all over the southeast.
DMC Trip Schedule for 2026:
July - Henderson County Gem & Mineral Society, Hendersonville, NC
August - Gem & Mineral Society of Franklin, NC
September - Montgomery, AL Gem & Mineral Society
October - NE Georgia Mineral Society, Clarkesville, GA
November - Upper Abbeville Gem & Mineral Club, Due West, SC
December - Rome, GA Mineral Society
Here are photos from recent field trips
