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Geology 101
Understanding How Gems Form. Learn about the deep Earth processes that create the beautiful gemstones we hunt for.
False Minerals
How to Spot Fakes, Synthetics & Imitations. Protect yourself from scams and learn to identify authentic specimens.
Birthstones
Discover Your Birthstone & Where to Find It. Explore the traditional gemstones for each month of the year.
Essential Rockhounding Gear Guide
A breakdown of must-have tools for beginners vs. pros. Don't head out without these essentials.
Legal Guide: Public Land vs. Mining Claims
Critical information on where you can legally collect. Avoid claim jumping and know your rights.
Cleaning & Preparing Your Finds
What to do with the rocks once you get them home. Simple washing to chemical treatments.
Reading the River: Gold Panning Basics
How to look at a stream and know where heavy minerals settle. Inside bends and drop riffles.
Agates vs. Jaspers: A Field Guide
Clarifying the confusing world of chalcedony. Translucency, banding, and formation.
Safety in the Field: "Stay Out, Stay Alive"
Essential safety warning for old mine workings. Dangers of shafts, air, and desert survival.
Fluorescent Minerals: The World of UV Hunting
A guide to night prospecting. Shortwave vs. longwave UV and famous locations.
Meteorite or Meteor-wrong?
How to identify potential space rocks. Fusion crusts, magnetism, and nickel tests.
Rockhounding Ethics & Code of Conduct
Promoting responsible collecting to keep sites open. Leave no trace.
Fossil Hunting 101: Uncovering the Past
Learn the basics of finding and identifying fossils responsibly. Ancient life awaits.
Identifying Rough Gemstones
How to spot valuable gems when they look like ordinary rocks. Lustre, cleavage, and hardness.
Top 5 US States for Rockhounding
The best destinations for your next rockhounding road trip. Where the pros go.
Crystal Systems: The Geometry of Gems
Understanding the 7 crystal systems and how they help with identification.
Lapidary 101: Cutting & Polishing
Taking your finds from rough rocks to sparkling cabochons. The art of stone cutting.
Geode Hunting: Finding Hidden Treasure
How to locate and crack open these spherical wonders. Look for the round rocks.
Urban Rockhounding: Gems in the City
You don't need wilderness to find cool rocks. Look down in the concrete jungle.
Radioactive Minerals: Handling with Care
Collecting uranium minerals safely. Geiger counters, safety, and science.
Panning for Gemstones
It's not just for gold. How to find garnets, sapphires, and more in streams.
Curating Your Collection
Best practices for labeling, lighting, and displaying your finds.