Collecting Rocks and Minerals.

The world of rocks, minerals, gems and fossils offer virtually endless possibilities for the hobbyist. Only a very small amount of specialized knowledge - little more than the ability to identify a few common minerals - is required to open a whole new world of enjoyment of some of nature's finest creations. Probably the most popular rock hobby is mineral collecting.

Starting a collection.

Most collectors begin by just accumulating rocks, minerals and fossils. As their collection grows, they start being more selective , keeping only specimens with better colour, better crystallization, or more interesting crystal forms.

With widening experience, most collectors begin to specialize. Some minerals come in such a wide variety of crystal forms that a collection can be made of a single mineral; other collectors may focus on ore minerals, or on minerals from a particular locality. A mineral such as calcite , which exist in a rich variety of crystal shapes, provides suitable material for an interesting single-mineral collection.

There are practical considerations that limit the scope of most collections. Some rare minerals are very expensive, and mineral collections can take up huge amount of space. One solution is to collect tiny specimens called micromounts, whose form and beauty can only be seen under magnification.

Essential Equipment.

At first glance, it might seem that any hammer would do for breaking rocks, but this is far from the case. Every year, rock collectors are injured - included being blinded - by using the wrong hammers. Geologist's hammers are made of special steels, and the striking ends are bevelled to prevent steel splinters from flying off them. Special geological chisels are made for the same reason.

Wearing safety goggles is highly recommended when breaking or splitting stone. Access to some collecting localities requires safety equipment such as a hard hat and fluorescent vest. A mobile phone is an important piece of safety equipment - with a fully charged battery. Carry it with you even if you are only going a short distance from the car. A fall into a ravine or other low spot may take you out of sight of potential help and add hours to the time it takes to find you.

In desert country, an adequate supply of water is essential, and if you are in snake country, take an appropriate snake bite kit. Clothing suitable for the weather and terrain is, of course, vital. Leather boots offer better protection from snake bites, cactus spines, sharp stones, jagged metal, and rolling stones, giving much better traction.

Ready for Anything.

The experienced collector has a range of equipment for all collecting possibilities, from sieves and pans to various brushes and trowels. Most of these tools can be left in the car until needed. The gold pan is an essential piece of kit for a collector. In addition to gold, many gemstones can be found by panning surface sediments.

(Source: DK Publishing, Rocks and Minerals. Picture courtesy of Bing Images).

Next week, we will look at where to look, keeping notes and labelling specimens. We at The Emporium would love to go to the Himalayas to hunt for some beautiful Marble Eggs!