Rockhounding
and Gemology
Rockhounding helps gemologists and
mineralogists hunt and discover
minerals and precious gemstones like
jasper, opal, agate, turquoise,
geodes, zircon, black spinel,
garnet, varieties of quartz, topaz
and tourmaline and so on. People can
choose either popular sites for
rockhounding which normally have the
ease of accessibility or can hunt
and dig and then choose rare sites
where there is possibility of
getting better samples as they would
not have been visited by all
rockhounders. 'Fossicking' is
another technical term used to refer
to the process of searching for
gemstones and rockhounding which is
used when looking for fossils,
mineral specimens etc.
Rockhounding in the early days was
done mainly for getting valuable
minerals and gemstones that are
later used for commercial purposes.
But the popularity of rockhounding
grew with time, and today many
rockhounders do it even as a hobby
and collect beautiful gemstones and
minerals for recreational purposes.
Rockhounding and Gem Sources:
-
 Gem
and Mineral Clubs:
The gem and mineral clubs resent in
the area chosen for rockhounding or
in the area of residence of
rockhounders provide useful
information on rockhounding sites
based on people's interest and
preference of gems. They also
organize group trips to rockhounding
sites which help rockhounders share
and learn more information from
experienced rockhounders.
- Gem and Mineral Shows:
The gem and mineral shows in the
rockhounders' area act as excellent
sources of published information for
finding good gem and mineral clubs.
- Knowledge Gathering:
It is also vital to know the rules
and regulations of the rockhounding
site while hunting for gems. For
instance, California state parks do
not allow collecting of gems during
rockhounding in these areas. - Protection:
Rockhounding for gems is not
generally a dangerous activity.
However, there are a few safety
issues to keep in mind. During
rockhounding for gems, people should
be mindful of the elements or
hazards and how to protect
themselves. Some of the common
elements rockhounders must take care
of while rockhounding for gems are:-
Weather:
It is essential that
rockhounders study about the weather
and wear clothes that best suit the
weather. Rockhounders while hunting
for gems during daytime can wear
hats and sunscreen to protect
against excessive exposure to the
sun.- Mobile Phone and Emergencies:
Proper steps and care must be taken
to carry mobile phones and inform
related people while rockhounding
sites are out of town. Some areas
are 4WD access only so if you have
doubts, please check the suitability
of the road for your vehicle before
setting off.- Physical Fitness:
It is very
important for rockhounders to take
much care of their physical fitness
while rockhounding for gemstones.
Proper care must be taken to avoid
dehydration during very hot weather.
Rockhounding for gemstones being a
physical activity, it is vital that
rockhounders take regular rest
breaks as and when required and must
check their own level of physical
fitness at consistent intervals.-
Weather Conditions and Safety:
Most gemstones are found near water
sources and so rockhounders must
take care if they are not swimmers.-
Wildlife and Poisonous Bites:
Rockhounding for gemstones near or
inside bushes have possibilities of
venomous snakes or spiders.
Rockhounders must take a first aid
treatment bag in hand to handle such
situations. Rockhounders must also
generally avoid taking pets with
them while rockhounding for
gemstones as in many areas, pets are
not allowed.- Site Safety:
It is essential that
rockhounders, after hunting for
gemstones, must take proper steps to
fill the environment back in
original shape. That is,
rockhounders must backfill all holes
and must not tunnel into banks. This
is because unfilled holes and
unstable banks are potentially
dangerous and could cause
environmental damage. So
rockhounders must take proper steps
to maintain the environment and
provide a friendly environment for
other rockhounders. Also, some rock
sites for gemstone hunting could be
slippery and so rockhounders must
take essential steps to handle
unstable footing.- Traffic and
Road Safety:
If the
sites for rockhounding gemstones are
adjacent to roads, then rockhounders
must be careful not to hinder or
obstruct vehicles in the area.-
Fire Safety:
All fire regulations
and restrictions must be followed by
rockhounders and campfires must not
be lighted if the rockhounding sites
do not have permission to do the
same.
Rockhounding for gemstones help
gemologists in various ways and
rockhounders must take
responsibility for maintaining the
environment. This would help the
rockhounding process to be handled
by rockhounders efficiently and pave
the way for the discovery of many
more rare and precious gemstones.
Each gem has separate methods and
activities to be followed for
rockhounding. For instance,
rockhounding for sapphires would
need rockhounders to wear old
clothes for the activity as it can
get muddy and dirty. Also, sapphire
rockhounding sites would generally
be located in areas some distance
from the town and so rockhounders
hunting for sapphire need to carry
plenty of water and wear sunscreen
or a hat. Zircon is another gemstone
many prefer for rockhounding which
is associated with sapphire and is
available in most areas in variety
of colors ranging from clear, light
yellow, and a deep honey brown to
the orange and red spectrum. Black
spinel is one other gem that is
usually found with the sapphire. An
opaque black mineral, the black
spinel works well as a cut gem.
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