Gold isn’t the only mineral that people are looking for. There are countless other gems and minerals that you can still go out and look for today. Some of them are even quite valuable!
The Llano River, located in Llano County Texas, takes its name from llano, the Spanish word for “flat” or “smooth”. However, the county isn’t the only thing that shares its name. Llanite, a rare type of brown rhyolite porphyry, is named after Llano because it’s the only place in the world where this mineral can […]
Whether it’s the roar of a rushing waterfall, the glimmer of gold in a stream, or a gentle breeze of fresh air, nature has a million gifts for humanity to behold. One such naturally occurring wonder is obsidian, a natural glass that has been used throughout the entirety of human history. Obsidian is formed when […]
Saddle Mountains is a 30-mile long anticline ridge located in Mattawa, central Washington. The remote rocky hills are covered only by wild sagebrush and sparse blue wheatgrass. Rising at 2700 feet, the mountains overlook the vast desert countryside and the last few miles of free-flowing beautiful Columbia River. Lying on top of these rugged hills […]
Lithium is an element, atomic number 3, and the lightest known metal. It is an important component used in large-scale battery storage for renewable energy production. Lithium is also used to make batteries for laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras, and also to power the electric vehicles. It is also used in the manufacture of aircraft […]
Gemstone mining in Vietnam has caught on quit impressively over the last few years. However, gems were discovered here back in 1987 in the Luc Yen area of Yen Bai province. Compared to many of the mining ventures around the world, the discovery of valuable gems in Vietnam is centuries late. There are now a […]
Wulfenite is not a common or popular mineral in many parts of the world. But, in Arizona, everything changes. In this southwestern US state, Wulfenite joins petrified wood, turquoise, and copper as a state symbol. Wulfenite became the state mineral of Arizona in 2017. If you’re wondering about the name, well, it was earlier called […]
While Oregon has much to offer by way of its natural beauty, an equally colorful treasure is hidden beneath its trails—gemstones that shine brighter than the sun. Because of the state’s long volcanic history, it has become one of America’s leading producers of precious stones. In fact, Oregon’s state gemstone is a type of feldspar, […]
As a young kid, a perfect day at the beach was playing in the water, running with my dog, and the best of all, finding seashells and shark teeth. For those who are hearing of shark tooth hunting for the first time – Yes, it’s a real thing. The South Carolina coastline is well-known with […]
Driving some 25 miles to the southwest from Blythe in California, you hit upon the Wiley Wells – one of the best semi-precious gem fields in the state. The area is populated with ironwood, mesquite, smoke, and palo verde trees. There are quite a few rockhounding sites that could be reached with a 4-wheeler. Regular […]
It is the beauty of nature that it turns simple things into the most beautiful and precious bits and pieces. How very pleasant to see simple, earthy materials turn into shiny gemstones with the path of time. This is the course of nature. An object which seems worthless takes the shape of the most precious […]
Palladium is a lustrous silver-white colored metal that doesn’t lose its shine at ordinary temperatures. It is currently the most valuable metal amongst the other four precious metals of the world because of its rarity. Just a few years ago this obscure metal was valued considerably lower than gold and platinum. Palladium belongs to the […]
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 […]
Let’s state this right upfront so nobody gets into trouble. Gold prospecting and rockhounding are completely off-limits within Yellowstone National Park. You cannot dig or collect anywhere within the park boundary, and you could get in serious trouble if you do. With that said, there are quite a few places just a short drive away […]
The majority of the gems form naturally within the Earth, shaping up as minerals and crystals. Most of the gems form as crystals, which are basically solid that boosts highly organized and ordered atoms, arranged in repetitive patterns known as crystal systems. As we learn about the crystallization process of minerals and the geological patterns […]
Thunder Bay is located on the northern shore of Lake Superior in Ontario province. It is world-famous for the production of high-quality ancient amethyst crystals. The amethyst mined here is famous for its variety that ranges in colors such as colorless, smock, lilac red and different shades of purple. The luster range widely depending on […]
