First off, I would like to thank you all for your kind words & continued patience. As some of you already know, we had recently decided to start moving from some of our seller platforms to an eCommerce store – right as there was suddenly a lot of interest in our paydirt (@chillydogs we haven’t yet had a chance to properly thank you, but know that we see you, & we loved your videos!).

There hasn’t been much time to focus on finishing the website, but please keep checking back as I’m chipping away a little at a time.

What is the Difference Between Native, Non-Enriched & Enriched Paydirt?

Native non-enriched dirt just means that we package this up directly from the mine when we find a  vein that is producing good quality crystals and we don’t sift through it or add any extra gemstones to the package – so you never know what you may or may not find. It’s kind of like buying a scratch off ticket. However, many people like having the experience trying their luck, just like we do each time we try a new dig location.

Enriched (or “salted” as some call it) means the paydirt has had a variety of different gems and minerals mixed into it to ensure that something is found.

About Us

Hiddenite is home to one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. More than 60 different gems and minerals can be found here. The town is famous mainly for 2 rare gemstones found here 1st the rare green gem Hiddenite which the town is named after and the 2nd is the world class emeralds! More than 60 different gems and minerals can be found here The crystals around here are estimated to be between 300-400 million years old. We are a small private mining operation. All of our material is self-dug, which is why we can only sell what we have in limited quantities. This is good for you, because what you receive from us is authentic and mine direct to you. This means that aside from the specimens we clean and add to our store, the minerals in our native material have never been touched by another soul. As you clean your crystals, know that you are experiencing at home, what we do out at the mine. You are the first to ever come in contact with this amazing naturally formed crystal that is hundreds of millions of years old!

Unlike many other enthusiasts, collectors, sellers, and the like, the personal collection consists of all mainly native specimens found in or around Hiddenite, We love specimens from all over the world, but our hearts have a preference for these amazing crystals we have found and mined ourselves.

Packaging

To give you the best value for our paydirt, we fit as much as we can into flat rate boxes approx 20 lbs. In order to do this, the packaging isn’t pretty. You will receive your material in a bag packaged within a USPS box. Be very careful in opening and taking out, as there may be sharp pieces of crystal that can puncture the bag.

With the holidays coming, we started to think about how you could possibly present paydirt as a gift. I found a container that I had planned to use and was going to try and make it more Christmas-y but we have been so busy, there just wasn’t the time for a project. However, I found a couple of ideas out on the Pinterest universe thought I’d share them here.

Sifting

As a bonus, we add a sieve and brush (though supplies are becoming scarce, so this might not always be the case). Add a small amount of material to the sieve, and use a bucket of water to dip and brush the clay away. Take your time and go through this slowly. I’ve seen some videos of the commercial versions of paydirt where the entire bag of material is just dumped into a bucket of dirt. Please don’t do that! Some of the best crystals (in my opinion, at least) are the small delicate ones that are known as either thumbnails or micros. See the amethysts below, or take a look at our gallery page.

Check and double check material before discarding. Some of the gems here can be small but still very valuable. It takes a sharp eye to find them all!

Misc.

For those of you not familiar with Carolina red clay, this WILL stain clothes, carpets, etc.

Don’t pour bucket of water down the drain.

This product is not intended for small children and requires adult supervision, Choking hazards, sharp crystals that can puncture the skin. Recommend garden gloves, even rubber kitchen gloves.

Gemstones

Below are a few of the minerals we see the most frequently