This article covers a variety of different areas in Idaho where you can find fossils. Please note that some of these areas do allow collection for personal use, but many areas are off-limits to collecting! I am going to include these locations to make this a good comprehensive list, but please be aware of any […]
Rockhounding
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!
Diamonds found in California | Exceptionally Rare… but YES!
There are a few locations in California where diamonds have been found. However, the overall occurrence of these gemstones is quite rare, and there are no true diamond mines active in California. Most of the documented finds have been made by gold miners. The diamonds are not in hard rock. Rather, they are found as […]
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 […]
Find Moss Agates in Montana’s Yellowstone River
The mountain ranges in Montana are enveloping breathtaking beauty and immensely mesmerizing views of the valleys and rivers. They are home to some amazing treasures. Today we are going to talk about one of the states most famous stones, the beautiful moss agate. Various form of agates are common throughout the United States, with different […]
Hunting for Fossils & Petrified Wood in Mississippi
Fossil is a term used for any preserved remains of an object. There can be fossils of prints like footprints, leaves or their impressions, bones, shells, plants, rocks and many other things. With the passage of time, layers after layers of soil cover a matter, and that is the reason we find fossils mostly in […]
Amethyst Crystal Mines of South Carolina
The state of South Carolina is a rich source for a wide variety of fossils, gemstones and minerals. The Appalachian Range is responsible for some of the better rockhounding locations. We have already documented the many areas where you can find gold in South Carolina. And we know that there are abundant fossils from ancient […]
Where To Find Rubies – The Best Locations
There’s just something so fascinating about the glimmer of nature’s jewels, and amongst all of them, the ruby is surely one of the most prized! As one of the traditional cardinal gems, rubies have been heralded for their beauty and rarity even in ancient times. This precious stone is made from corundum, a mineral composed […]
Maine Rockhounding – Collecting Site for Rare Crystals & Gems
Maine is well known for its beautiful forests and rocky coastline. Jagged, low and rolling mountains with dense flora are a specialty of the region and are a center of attention for the very reasons. It is also known for maritime history and a lot of natural areas and parks where people are interested in […]
6 Amazing Rocks & Minerals You Can Find in Arizona
Arizona is a rockhounders paradise. There are wide expanses of public land open to collecting, and an amazing variety of different minerals to collect. Some are pretty specimens that are fun to add to your rock garden, while others can actually be quite valuable to collectors. Let’s take a look at some of Arizona’s most […]
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 […]
Gem Mining in Southern California – Public Dig Sites
California is one of the richest states in terms of mineral diversity. No surprise that it holds a great reputation where it concerns gold mining related activities, but not only that; it is also home to a number of gemstones mines. Most of these mines are located in the southern region of California. Let’s examine […]