If you find yourself in Denver, don’t miss out on one of the finest gem and mineral collections anywhere! The Denver Museum of Nature and Science hosts the collection. It contains amazing specimens from all around the world, with a heavy emphasis on pieces found right there in the state of Colorado. Rhodochrosite is one […]
rockhounding
Labradorite – Where to Find it & How it is Mined
Discovery and Source Labradorite is a mineral which was first discovered on Paul’s Island in Labrador, Northeast Canada. It has been known by Inuits native to this area for millennia, and more recently found by Moravian missionaries in the late 18th Century. Other deposits of the mineral have been found in Newfoundland, as […]
Rockhounding in Texas – Sites to Collect Stones & Fossils
Texas has much more opportunities for rockhounding than many people realize. Every part of the state has something to collect. Agates and jaspers can be located throughout Texas. Many rockhounds hunt almost exclusively for high-grade petrified wood pieces. Nice palm wood pieces can still be found and make excellent lapidary specimens. This article will highlight […]
Fairburn Agates of South Dakota – State Gem Rockhounding Areas
The Fairburn agate is a geologically distinct mineral that can be found primarily in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Nice agates have also been found as far away as Nebraska and Wyoming. Some of the best quality pieces exhibit a orange and deep-red color with exceptional banding. This article has been put up to […]
8 Places to Dig for Thundereggs in the Oregon Desert
My Favorite Rock Show in the World – Quartzsite Gem & Mineral Show
Agate or Jasper? Here’s How to Tell the Difference.
Agate and jasper are two of the most common types of rock that people go rockhounding for. They can be very attractive with beautiful color, shape and structure, and both are a nice hard material. Sometimes they even form together in the same rock, which are called “jasp-agates.” These various types of rock can look […]
The Fascinating Mineral Known as Desert Rose
The beautiful mineral commonly referred to as the “desert rose” can be found scattered across much of the world. In Africa, desert rose rock may be found in parts of Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Namibia. In Asia, it occurs naturally in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In Europe, Spain contains deposits […]
5 Places to Find Petrified Wood in the Arizona Desert
Arizona was a very different place millions of years ago. What is now dry, desolate desert was often covered in lush forests and wetlands. You wouldn’t know it, if not for some remnants of the past that are still present to this day. Petrified wood can be found throughout parts of the Arizona desert. In […]
15 Spots in Nevada with Fossils and Petrified Wood
Your Complete Guide to Rock Tumbling – Step-by-Step Instructions
Rock Tumbling is a technique used to smooth and polish the rough surfaces of small rocks to make them beautiful and attractive so that they can be used in jewelry and other decorative functions in homes. Rock tumbling works on the same principle as barreling in metal work. Its main goal is to make rocks […]
Quartz and Diamond Mining in Arkansas
Arkansas is one of the places in the world where you can find both diamond and quartz crystals. In fact, Arkansas is the only state in the USA with a commercial diamond mine. However, it’s very different than most mines because the general public is allowed to keep the diamonds that they find! More on […]
Georgia Fossils and Crystals – Where to Start Your Hunt
An abundance of Georgia Fossils and Crystals await discovery for those who seek them out If you’re headed to Georgia and you enjoy rockhounding then you’re in luck. The state contains both a surprising amount of fossils and some enormous, gorgeous crystals which will sit nicely in your collection. Georgia Fossils Many are […]