The Best Places to Find Fossil Hunting Gear

Use small and delicate tools to find and extract the ancient fossils without damage.

From old trilobites to fossilized dinosaur tracks, fossil hunting is an exciting method of exploring the world's natural history. Special tools are needed to delicately chip away around the fossils to prevent damage to the ancient wonders. You do not need to spend lots of money, or even go to specialized fossil stores, to get tools for fossil hunting.

Hardware Stores

Large hardware stores are a solid starting point to get small rock hammers and hand-held brooms. A small rock hammer is an essential piece of fossil hunting equipment. Locate these in home hardware stores. In addition, many large home stores have garden sections. Find a small, hand-held brush to sweep away broken rock chips from the fossils.

Surveying Supply Stores

Surveying supply stores carry a large selection of various sized flags on wire stands. Get a selection of these small and inexpensive wire flags to mark dig sites and to set up grid patterns for fossil hunting. These flags tend to be very inexpensive, often being sold by the dozen at around $4 (as of 2011), making each individual piece 25 cents.

Sporting Goods Stores

A good map and a GPS unit are essential to fossil hunting. Many outdoor sporting goods stores sell hand-held GPS units with a waypoint function, which is crucial to marking fossil site finds and hunt locations. Use the GPS unit with the area's topographical maps, which are available either as downloads through the US Geological Survey or at specialty outdoor sports stores.

Pharmacy and Drug Stores

A selection of magnifying glasses is also crucial gear for fossil hunting. Large pharmacy and drug stores carry a range of magnifying glasses suitable for field use. Purchase a large hand-held glass, as well as smaller, pocket-sized magnifiers to keep handy when in the field.

References

• Discovering Fossils: Fossil Hunting Tools and Equipment
• U-Dig Fossils: Home