Looking for an outdoor activity that your whole family can enjoy? Try rockhounding! It’s an affordable activity (especially if you live in a state known for its collectible rocks and gems, like Michigan, Montana, Idaho, etc.) – and it’s a great way to reinforce the geology concepts your kids have studied in school.
Getting Started with Rockhounding
Where to Look
The truth is that sometimes even a gravel parking lot provides good material for rockhounding! But for a solid start, find a public land area near a river or where the terrain is rocky. You’ll want to check local guidelines, but generally you are allowed to gather rocks as long as you report major fossil or gem finds. Your library should have many books on the geology of your area, which will give clues where to begin your search. Look especially for dried-up river or creek beds! Note that collecting is not allowed in any National Park.
Real Life Example: As a Montana resident, my family and I have spent enjoyable hours along the Yellowstone River, hunting for agates. We’ve also gotten tips on where to go from local rock hounding groups on Facebook. And with an inexpensive conservation license, we’ve been able to use restricted fishing access sites to get to the best spots on the rocky shore of the river.
What to Bring: Tools for Rockhounding
Rockhounding is a great way to enjoy nature. So naturally you’ll need normal outdoor-exploration gear, like a water bottle, sunscreen, bug repellent, sturdy shoes, etc. But here are some other tools to use on your rock hounding adventures:
- Small buckets or plastic baskets with handles
- Gloves for handling rough specimens
- Strong bag or backpack for holding rocks and more. (Our rock hounding backpack kit comes already packed with gear!)
Identifying Your Finds
This is the most challenging – and yet potentially most exciting – part. Did we find jasper or chert? Is that plain quartz or is it agatized? What kind of unusual crystal did we dig up? This is where both a mineral test kit and a good guide book (or a helpful rock hounding group) is invaluable!
You’ll also want to ascertain a rock’s hardness on the Mohs mineral scale. Once you’ve identified your finds (or at least tested their hardness so you can sort them into similar groups), you’re ready to display them – or, for something extra special, to polish them to gem-like luster with a rock tumbler!
Getting the Rockhounding Experience at Home
Sometimes, we just don’t live in a place conducive to rock hounding. But that doesn’t mean our family can’t still experience the thrills of it! Try cracking open geodes with a complete geode kit. (Or invest in a mega geode!) There might be amazing gemstones and minerals, too, that you can view at a local museum or a rock & gem show.
And Finally, Fossils
If you’re more into dinosaurs than crystals, going on a fossil-hunting adventure might be just what you need! There are “dino dig in a day” places to visit, but you can also take the same approach as rock-hounding, just with fossils. Use our paleontologist’s backpack kit to get both gear and fossil specimens!
