Lars W. Johnson - Rockhounding for Beginners: Your Comprehensive Guide to Finding and Collecting Precious Minerals, Gems, Geodes, More

Rockhounding for Beginners

Your Comprehensive Guide to Finding and Collecting Precious Minerals, Gems, Geodes, & More

Lars W. Johnson with Stephen M. Voynick

Adams Media

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Stoughton, Massachusetts 02072

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Copyright 2021 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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First Adams Media trade paperback edition June 2021

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Interior design by Michelle Kelly

Interior images 123RF, Getty Images, and Wikimedia Commons, and by Frank Rivera

Cover design by Julia Jacintho

Cover images 123RF/Maksim Pasko, Olegdudko, Brian Goodman, Sergey Jarochkin, Janece Flippo, Marek Kosmal, Bjoern Wylezich, Nik Merkulov, Ellione, Olga Popova, AlexeyKonovalenko; Getty Images/Mehmettorlak, Roman Novitskii

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Johnson, Lars W., author. | Voynick, Stephen M., author.

Title: Rockhounding for beginners / Lars W. Johnson with Stephen M. Voynick.

Description: First Adams Media trade paperback edition. | Stoughton, MA: Adams Media, 2021. | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021000311 | ISBN 9781507215272 (pb) | ISBN 9781507215289 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Rocks--Collection and preservation. | Minerals--Collection and preservation.

Classification: LCC QE433.6 .J64 2021 | DDC 552.0075--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021000311

ISBN 978-1-5072-1527-2

ISBN 978-1-5072-1528-9 (ebook)

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Simon & Schuster, Inc., was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

Does the idea of trekking through the mountains to find gold give you a thrill? Maybe youre fascinated by the story held in a fossilized nautilus shell thousands of years old, or eager to share a quartz that you dug out of the ground yourself. Natural treasures are hidden all around, and Rockhounding for Beginners is here to help you understand exactly where (and how) to look for them!

Rockhounding is the act of searching for and collecting different rocks and minerals. In the pages that follow, youll uncover the rich history of this activity and why its a favorite pastime today. Youll also explore safety tips and the different tools and equipment every smart rockhound has on hand. Then youll dig deeper into where to look and what exactly to look for, whether youre hunting down gems in a mountain region or fossils along an ocean shoreline. Think of it as your crash course in all things rockhounding.

In Part 2, youll find profiles for 150 popular rocks, minerals, mineraloids, and fossils. From color patterns and crystal shapes to North American locations, these profiles have all the information a rockhound needs to make the most of their time in the field. Each profile includes a photo of the rock, mineral, mineraloid, or fossil before its been processed, which will make identifying fresh finds a breeze. Youll also discover helpful tips for collecting, cleaning, prepping, and showing off your prizes.

Maybe its the idea of searching for buried treasure that first drew you to this hobby. Or you are inspired by the fun challenge of collecting as many different specimens as you can. Whatever your interest, this book has everything you need to find, unearth, and process rocks and minerals like a seasoned rockhound. Its time to seize the adventures waiting just outside your door!

W here do you look for different rocks and minerals/mineraloids? What supplies should you take with you when rockhounding? How do you clean and store your finds? From hunting for a certain fossil or gem to readying it for display or wearable treasure, there is a lot more to rockhounding than meets the eye. All of these questions may have you feeling unsure of where to start.

Part 1 is here to help! In the chapters that follow, youll find everything you need to know to get started in the great hobby that is rockhounding. Youll explore how rocks, minerals, and more play into human history and how they have developed for the modern collector. Next, youll learn about the tools and other equipment every good rockhound has on hand. Once youve got your rockhounding tool kit ready, youll discover where to look and just what to look for. And locating the different rocks and minerals is just half the fun! After youve uncovered the where of rockhounding, youll journey through the process of cleaning, prepping, storing, and displaying your finds. Are you ready to begin your quest for the mineralogical treasures hidden right outside your door? Lets dig in.