"What is a rockhound
and rockhounding?"
Rockhounding is
the recreational collecting of rocks and/or mineral specimens from their
natural environment.
Early rockhounds were prospectors
looking for valuable minerals and gemstones for commercial purposes.
Eventually, however, more and more
people have been drawn to rockhounding for
recreational purposes, mainly for the beauty that rocks and minerals provide.
A rock hammer.
The rockhound's principle piece of equipment is the rock
hammer. This small tool has a pick-like point on one end, and a flat hammer on
the other. It should be noted, however, that the hammer end is for breaking
rocks, and the pick end is mainly used for prying and digging into crevasses.
The pick end of most rock hammers can dull quickly if struck onto bare rock.
Amethyst: "a pretty rock".
Getting
started in rockhounding is easy; a collection can
begin with a single "pretty" rock. However, there are many clubs and
groups that rockhound together. Libraries,
bookstores, and "gem and mineral shows" are very good sources of
published information on where to find such groups. Also, tourist info centers
and small-town chambers of commerce can also supply valuable local information.
The Internet can also be a useful tool and can help find buddies in the hobby.
The avid collector will learn quite a bit of mineralogy and
geology in search of collecting location information as well as in the
identification and classifying of specimens, and preparation for display. The
hobby can lead naturally into lapidary or mineral and gemstone cutting and
mounting. The needed equipment then includes rock saws and polishers. Many
beautiful crystal varieties are typically found in very small samples which requires a good microscope for working with
and photographing the specimen. The hobby can be as simple as finding pretty
rocks for a windowsill or develop into a detailed and comprehensive museum
quality display.
"A friendly warning".
Many
states regulate the collection of some rocks and minerals, even on public
lands, so it is advisable to read up on local laws before prospecting. Rock and
mineral collecting is prohibited in most if not all national parks.
"If it's wet, it's not a road. Trust me on this one!"
Sal RHS1 Admin..."Naturelady"
Many rockhounding sites require driving and/or hiking to remote
areas, largely on dirt, sand or rocky roads where there is a good possibility
of getting stuck. It is always a good idea to travel in a group and to bring
plenty of drinking water with you when traveling, especially in hot, dry
climates. If you must travel alone, be sure to let someone know of your plans.
