Hey kids, The wife and I recently started rock hounding. There's a problem though, neither one of us really know what to look for outside of finding "neat" rocks. I'm fairly certain I'd know gold or silver if I saw it, but anything else I'd probably miss. Does anyone know of a good online resource for identifying minerals and gems, or rock hounding? We did find some petrified wood the first time we went out, so that's a start, right?
G'day Mate, found these two books the best I have seen and have been very useful over the years: "Simon & Schuster's Guide To Rocks & Minerals". "Simon & Schuster's Guide To Gems & Precious Stones". Both in paper back editions handy to chuck into the backpack, easy to read, all references with clear color pics, a swag of associated useful info and very comprehesive. Try Google to locate these two books at a bookshop near you then wander down and have a look, you will be impressed, they were published in the USA. If you need more info let me know, can even take a few pics of mine or supply their ISBN. Let me know how you go.
I thought I would give it a go as well so I bought a book on fossicking in Queensland. The bonus is that there is a guide to where different types of rocks are found. Sadly gems in the raw state look nothing like the nice cut ones, or even the tumbled ones so they just look like bits of dirt to me. Some friends went out and came back with loads of little glass chips which they insist are saphires. They joined a Lapidary club and they go on field trips with very experienced people, plus they get advice on how to cut anything they find which is big enough.
Hey Greely did you manage to check out any of Simon & Schuster's Guide To...anywhere near you in the US?
I haven't been able to work on this particular hobby so far. It's too damned hot here during the summer. Once things cool off in the next few months, the wife and I will be able to get out a bit more without worrying about heatstroke.
Yeah extreme heat can dampen the the enthusiasm just a tad. Did a stint in the Pilbara once in summer pickn up some fine nuggets in 50 degrees Celsius...in the shade. Wasn't long before I reached the same conclusion...winter is the go.
Holy crap. I just did the math. 50 C is not something I'd willing do ANYTHING in. I used to load airplane cargo in that level of heat, never again my friends.
Yup on a good night the moon is all you need. As long as no shafts nearby.... woops Good torch and plenty of fun. You may find these a useful start for things to look for. I would suggest study Minerals is where you may find some nice items. Depending on what you find there is a good market for specimen items. http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/rockkey/ http://www.minerals.net/MineralImages/G.aspx Best of luck
I wear a headlight and also tape a small torch halfway down my detectors shaft. Best to point the torch to the side or front of the coil for best effect. Have also recently started using flouro glowsticks to mark out trails, places of interest and danger spots like shafts. $5 for 50, way cheaper than getting lost or hurt. Night time is good for finding crystallised minerals, the facets reflect from your torchlight. Dawn and dusk when the sun is shining low in the sky makes the best crystal hunting times in natural light.
This should be on the bucket list... Moonless night on unpegged virgin opal fields, looking for floaters with high intensity uv lights. They fluoresce like xmas tree lights in an enchanted forest.
Fluorescence? Enchanted? Think I've got the right theme song for anyone going for a twilight opal hunt. This night is sparkling, Don't you let it go, I'm wonderstruck, Blushing all the way home Fossicking probably was the last thing on her mind when she wrote the song, but it works. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGEsRZf_txw[/youtube]
Sorry Roswell did you just quote Taylor Swift? I think you just had a 'first time for everything' here on Stackers. :lol:
Just Shake It Off... ahem. On a side note, I finally joined a Prospecting Club! Getting out there and digging through rocks starting next month!
