Articles

A Geologist's Lifetime Field List

Here is a list of essential or desirable locations for geologists or travelers to visit. It contains many of the interesting geological 
wonders of the world, with links for most of them.   To read more click here

What makes a good mineral specimen?

By Tony Forsyth

Many collectors starting out ask this question wanting a simple answer. It’s easy, you might think. You just ‘know’ a good specimen when you see one don’t you?.....read more.

Manitoba Museum now home to world's largest trilobite
Western Canadian Gemstone Newsletter

The Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature is now home to a sensational find - a 445 million-year-old trilobite fossil....read more.
 

Dig For Diamonds
Rockhounding Arkansas

Crater of Diamonds State Park is one of the few parks in the country that caters to rockhounds!...read more.

The Herkimer Diamond

Herkimer Diamonds are beautiful double-terminated quartz crystals found in Herkimer New York.  Incredibly, these phenomenal gemstones are close to five hundred million years old.  The crystals are magnificent works of nature, found in the rock, having a diamond - like geometric shape.  Thus, the name recognition of "Herkimer Diamonds"....to read more.

Thinking of going to China?...Walt just came back and is willing to share.

Flying from LA to Beijing direct on China Eastern Airlines was a great experience.  The airline was OK, but the flight was spectacular.  It is the first all daylight flight I had taken over the polar route, or rather, the great circle route to China.  We 
left in the early afternoon on the second of May, 2000, Jim Kusley and I,  for a smooth and uneventful flight.  After lunch and an in flight movie we opened the shades to stare out on a landscape of the most intense white I have seen in a  long time.  
We were just off anchorage, Alaska and the fjords, glaciers and mountains were all covered with snow and ice.  We could see small, muddy roads here and there.....click here for more

Sites and Digs

Just outside of Pierrepont, New York, the Bower Power's Farm offers an excellent array of Uvite treasures for Rockhounders. Parking is accessible for passenger cars, but it requires a walk of several hundred yards with all of your gear. A fee of $10.00 for an entire day makes this a worthwhile adventure. This is a well-known site in the area with many starter digs left by previous enthusiasts. To read more...

Introduction to Fluorescence

A visit to Jared's home page is in order if you are into fluorescent. You will find he has a number of pages of fine pictures to view. Click here to see what he has to offer....

How to become a starving Miner.

There are at least three ways to get your own crystal mine. First, you can buy land with the mineral rights. Second, you can buy an existing mineral lease ..... To read more from Stuart Schmitt click here. I know you will find this article as well as others he has on his site entertaining.

Rockhounding in Old Mines. These guys from Italy take you with them as they explore . Click here to read more.

How Do I Get Started   This is a question I get asked a lot by beginning rockhounders young and old. Good question ? I suggest getting a couple of books that explains the basic's....click here to read

Miners Terms....click here to read more.

Pyrite Ball....Who really discovered the spherical pyrite (pyrite ball). At the time I was the driller. with a hydraulic jumbo in the...click here to read

Show Attendance...As I travel from show to show, I am finding less attendance from both the dealers and general public. 
Is this a trend....click here to read.

What is it worth ?...This is probably the most asked question by people. The hobby has been changing over the past couple 
of decades...click here to read.

Safety...I am writing this article for the people that collect or plan to collect in a cave or underground mine. Being an active miner and working in this environment ...click here to read more