Amateur diggers on a trip to the aging North American Emerald Mine in Hiddenite, N.C., struck gold last week — actually, emeralds.
One couple had only been in the mine for five minutes before Kevin Barrieault flipped over a rock to find a 50.5-carat emerald.
The next day, another couple found a pocket of emerald crystals in the mine, which was newly opened to tourists by a man who wanted to earn income by letting people dig for gems.
(READ the story from ABC News)