Ruggles Mine.

Ruggles Mine

Grafton, New Hampshire

The Ruggles Mine burrows its way into Isinglass Mountain near the town of Grafton -- a huge, open pit, honeycombed along its edges with pitch-black side passages, supported by massive columns of pegmatite. It looks unsettlingly like where the lepers were sent in Ben Hur.

This place is smart; up front you're shown a video and a museum, all aglitter with sparkly giant beryls and amethyst supposedly found at the mine. "Oooh," says a teenager to her boyfriend. "That's what I want you to find for me!"

Chipping away for mineral treasure.

Next stop is the rental booth and, of course, if you really want to get back to where the good stuff is, you should rent the five dollar flashlight, the ten dollar helmet, etc. Those free gems can get expensive.

Now it's down into the pit with you, you modern-day leper! Start digging!