they even have gem/rock shows on the weather channel now. shows folks in the rockies, i think the rockies, foraging for "pocket" of gems, that bring prices that blow my mind, 250,000 for weird looking clusters, dug out for free.
i read the "gold rush" reality show now has folks in new england panning for gold, so likely any patch of gournd will so be dug up for gems.....actually i think arkansas still has an active diamond field park that allows a person to keep what they find.....