How to be a Rockhound

If you like to look at and collect rocks and minerals of various types, you may be a rockhound. When rockhounding, it is useful to carry several important tools to make the activity more fun, efficient, and safe. This article will briefly describe how to be a rockhound.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Geology Hammer
• Chisel
• Hand Lens (Magnifier)
• Knife
• Penny (or other familiar coin)
• Piece of unglazed porcelain
• Geologic or Topographic Map
• Protective Eyewear
• Gloves
• Bag for Sample Specimens
• Empty 35mm film cannisters
• Camera
• Notebook and pen/pencil
• Compass

1. Before attempting any rockhounding activities, make sure it is legal to do so or to collect samples in your area or location of interest.
2. Before heading to an area, study geologic and topographic maps of the place so you can get an idea of what types of rocks and minerals you might expect to find there. If you don't own any of these maps, libraries and museums will have them, or you may also find many online.
3. The best places to look for sample specimens of rocks and minerals are in quarries, road cuts, construction sites, caves, and mines (always use caution at all rockhounding sites!).
4. Try not to overload yourself with specimens and don't collect more than just a few of each type of rock or mineral specimen.
5. To actually obtain a sample specimen of a particular rock or mineral, follow these steps: extract the sample from the formation using your tools; break open the sample's surface using your hammer; using your magnifier, study the rock's mineral interior and look for color, luster, texture, as well as if any crystals or fossils are present. Test streak using the unglazed porcelain. When taking a picture of a sample specimen, place the coin next to the sample to contextualize the size when later viewing the photograph.
6. Place samples in your sample bag. Use the small 35mm film cannisters to hold very small rock/mineral samples of the same type.