Guides
Identification & Collecting Guides
Browse by skill level and field task.
This is the main guide library for the site: beginner setup, field identification, rules, safety, and the practical mineralogy that helps you make better calls once you are outside.
Use this page for
Learn in the order that makes field sense
Start with beginner setup, move into identification and rules, then use the mineral cards when you need a faster reference.
Guides
15
longer walkthroughs for beginner trips, field ID, safety, and technique.
Mineral cards
39
quick specimen references when you need an answer faster.
Core orientation for first trips, first tools, and first decent decisions in the field.
Which shores and sites you can collect on, and what each one is known for.
Pick a state, then pick a site. These guides help you plan.
What to look for when you are trying to separate common finds from the real thing.
Rules, etiquette, and trip habits that keep access open and people unhurt.
The underlying mineral structure and vocabulary that make field observations more useful.
Practical collecting, planning, and specimen-handling methods that matter once you are out there.
Guide shelves
Guide shelves
Browse the knowledge base by the kind of problem you are trying to solve in the field.
Getting Started
Core orientation for first trips, first tools, and first decent decisions in the field.
![Best Time to Go Rockhounding [Season & Terrain Guide]](/_next/image?url=%2Fhomepage%2Fhero-rockhounding-mobile.jpg&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_5xKhSAKCsXoWrt4YsPUREa75QdkU)
Best Time to Go Rockhounding [Season & Terrain Guide]
A seasonal rockhounding guide covering the best times to collect by region, terrain type, and target mineral. Includes spring, summer, fall, and winter strategies for productive trips.
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Where Can You Collect Rocks? Land Rules & Permissions
BLM land, national forests, national parks and state land all have different rock collecting rules. See which allow it, which do not, and what to check first.
Read article →Where to Go
Which shores and sites you can collect on, and what each one is known for.
Exploration
Pick a state, then pick a site. These guides help you plan.
Where to Find Geodes in California [Sites & Access]
A practical guide to geode collecting in California. Covers the Wiley Well district, Hauser Geode Beds, Cinnamon Beds, and other productive spots with access rules, tips, and seasonal advice.
Read article →10 Best States for Rockhounding in the US [2026]
The best US states for rockhounding, ranked by mineral diversity, public land access, and real collecting quality. Covers what each state is known for and where to start.
Read article →Identification
What to look for when you are trying to separate common finds from the real thing.
How to Identify a Meteorite: Checks You Can Do at Home
Check a possible meteorite for fusion crust, magnetism, streak and gas bubbles. Learn how to spot slag and when to ask an expert for further evaluation.
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3 Types of Rocks: Identification & Examples
Compare the 3 types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Find examples, a formation chart, and field clues to help tell them apart.
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Mohs Hardness Scale: Chart & 3-Step Field Test
A Mohs scale chart, careful scratch-test instructions, and a free one-page field card in US Letter and A4. Includes sources and test limitations.
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Rock Identification Chart: 6 Steps to Identify Rocks
Use this rock identification chart to compare texture and mineral clues. Follow six field steps, learn each test's limits, and narrow down your mystery rock.
Read article →Safety & Ethics
Rules, etiquette, and trip habits that keep access open and people unhurt.
Rockhounding Ethics: Permission & Low-Impact Collecting
A practical ethics guide for rockhounds — how to apply Leave No Trace, handle permission responsibly, limit site damage, and know when the right move is to leave material behind.
Read article →Rockhounding Safety: Gear & Trip Planning Checklist
From eye protection and proper hammering technique to desert hydration and mine hazards — stay safe in the field.
Read article →Mineralogy
The underlying mineral structure and vocabulary that make field observations more useful.
![7 Crystal Systems Explained [With Mineral Examples]](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Fminerals%2Fquartz-clusters-card.jpg&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_5xKhSAKCsXoWrt4YsPUREa75QdkU)
Techniques
Practical collecting, planning, and specimen-handling methods that matter once you are out there.
![How to Polish Rocks by Hand [Without a Tumbler]](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fhand-polishing%2Fhand-polishing-guide.webp&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_5xKhSAKCsXoWrt4YsPUREa75QdkU)
How to Polish Rocks by Hand [Without a Tumbler]
Polish a rock by hand with wet sandpaper and a cloth polish. Follow a Petoskey stone example, check scratches between grits, and learn which rocks to skip.
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Fluorescent Mineral Hunting: A Beginner’s UV Guide
A practical field guide to fluorescent mineral hunting. Learn what glows, which lights to use, and how to collect safely after dark.
Read article →Field reference
Quick mineral cards
A tighter preview of the mineral library for the specimens you are most likely to double-check in the field.
Need the full library?
The minerals section holds the complete set of specimen cards, photos, and detail pages.
All minerals
Quartz
How to identify quartz: what its hardness of 7 means, why its white streak can mislead, how it breaks, plus clear quartz, clusters and US places to dig.
Double-Terminated Quartz
A practical guide to double-terminated quartz — how to recognize natural terminations at both ends, how the habit forms, and what makes these crystals so desirable to collectors.
Matrix Crystals
A guide to matrix crystals — what the term means, why many collectors value attached specimens, and how matrix changes the way a crystal is judged and prepared.
Chalcedony
A practical guide to chalcedony — how to identify cryptocrystalline quartz, how it differs from agate and jasper, and where collectors typically encounter it.
Amethyst
The purple variety of quartz, colored by trace iron and natural irradiation. One of the most popular collector minerals worldwide.
Azurite
A complete guide to azurite - how to identify it, how it forms, where it is found, common lookalikes, and what collectors should know before heading into the field.
Calcite
A complete guide to calcite - how to identify its rhombohedral cleavage, test its acid reaction, understand how it forms, and recognize where collectors find it.
Garnet
A complete guide to the garnet group - how to identify garnets, which species collectors see most often, how garnets form, and where they are found.
Ready to put this knowledge to use?
Find a site, grab your gear, and go. The best way to learn is in the field.