Find a location where rubies have been found previously. Rubies can be found in Thailand, Nepal, Taiwan, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Pakistan and East Africa. There are also locations in the United States where rubies can be found, including Franklin, North Carolina. You can also find rubies in Arizona, Arkansas, Nevada, Oregon and Idaho.

Scoop up some dirt into one first bucket with shovel.

Pour about a fourth of your dirt into the screening tray.

Put water in other bucket.

Put your screening tray in the second bucket of water, shift the dirt around and break up any dirt balls.

Take the screening tray out of the bucket of water. Move any large stones to one side of your screening tray and then move the smaller stones to the middle or the other side. Rattle the stones around using your hands and fingers, this will help to knock off any remaining dirt and mud.

Put your screening tray back into the second bucket of water and wash away any dirt or mud that you just knocked off your stones.

Take your screening tray back out of the water and rattle the stones with your hands again. Repeat this process until you have removed all of the dirt and mud from the stones in your screening tray.

Leave room between your stones so you can get a good look at them. Look for flashes of pink, red or purple, and for surfaces that appear shiny. These will be the stones that might be rubies.