Zeke Holder is part-owner of the “Cherokee Ruby Mine” in Franklin, North Carolina. Zeke is an Earth/Space science teacher with a Masters in Education, turned mine owner. He’s gone from teaching science to high schoolers to teaching Rockhounds how to mine rubies and other precious gems.At the Cherokee Ruby Mine, you can find rubies, sapphires, garnets, moonstone, rutile, kyanite, & sillimante. This famous mine once supplied gems for Tiffany & Co.!