131:. This is a small tool with a pick-like point on one end, and a flat hammer on the other. The hammer end is for breaking rocks, and the pick end is mainly used for prying and digging into crevices. The pick end of most rock hammers can dull quickly if struck onto bare rock. Rock collectors may also bring a sledgehammer to break hard rocks. Good places for a collector to look are quarries, road cuts, rocky hills and mountains, and streams.
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108:. Information on where to find such groups can be found at libraries, bookstores, and "gem and mineral shows". Tourist information centers and small-town chambers of commerce can also supply valuable local information. The Internet can also be a useful search tool as it can help find other amateur geologists.
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has been an important resource for mineral related fields. Its original purpose was to share information about minerals, their properties and where they are found. Today, it is the world's largest public database of mineral information supported worldwide by volunteers adding and verifying new
230:(1819–1900) was an Englishman, essayist and art critic who gained an interest early in his life for minerals. He authored a small volume of ten lectures on mineralogy titled "Ethics of the Dust". He gave numerous specimens to the British Natural History Museum including the well known
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varieties are typically found in very small samples which requires a good microscope for working with and photographing the specimen. The hobby can be as simple as finding pretty rocks for a windowsill or develop into a detailed and comprehensive museum quality display.
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There are many different laws in place regarding the collection of rocks and minerals from public areas, so it is advisable to read up on local laws before prospecting. Rock and mineral collecting is prohibited in most if not all
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One reason for the rise in popularity of amateur geology is that a collection can begin by simply picking up a rock. There are also many clubs and groups that search for specimens and compare them in groups as a
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for commercial purposes. Eventually, however, more people have been drawn to amateur geology for recreational purposes, mainly for the beauty that rocks and minerals provide.
238:. This octahedral diamond was a total of 133 carats and was on display at the museum for 70 years. In 1965 the diamond was stolen and to this day has never been recovered.
262:, but his skills and knowledge landed him a position as a gem expert with Tiffany & Company at the age of 23. In 1903 the newly discovered violet pink variety of
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projects, and also the cutting, polishing, and mounting of gemstones and minerals. The equipment needed to do this includes rock saws and polishers. Many beautiful
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as well as skills in the identification and classifying of specimen rocks, and preparing them for display. The hobby can lead naturally into
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206:(1748–1832) was a German author who was a skilled amateur scientist with a great interest in minerals. The iron mineral
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in
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Sinkankas, John. Mineralogy For
Amateurs. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1964. Print.
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in the United States and Canada) is the non-professional study and
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Avid rock collectors often use their specimens to learn about
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Midwest
Federation Of Mineralogical and Geological Societies
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The amateur geologist's principal piece of equipment is the
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Federation of Mineralogical and Lapidary Societies
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throughout his life, such as a research collection for
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Rocky
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568:Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies
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120:A rockhound's tools: a geologist's hammer and
37:from Afghanistan, which was named in honor of
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548:South Central Federation of Mineral Societies
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360:"How do you define the term "rock hound"?"
246:(1856–1932) assembled numerous important
198:Notable Rockhounds and mineral collectors
436:"Mindat.org – Mines, Minerals and More"
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497:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
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87:. The first amateur geologists were
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409:Barker, Rachel M. (1997-06-24).
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284:Mineralogical Society of America
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270:in his honor after his death.
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413:. U.S. Geological Survey.
389:Merriam Webster Dictionary
385:"Definition of Fossicking"
204:Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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460:"The Colenso Diamond -"
220:Smithsonian Institution
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643:Environmental science
244:George Frederick Kunz
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51:(also referred to as
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316:List of fossil sites
156:Since October 2000,
768:Mineral exploration
638:Atmospheric science
248:mineral collections
210:is named after him.
161:information daily.
688:Physical geography
536:2017-05-27 at the
411:"COLLECTING ROCKS"
321:Mineral collecting
278:(1915–2002) was a
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482:. Retrieved
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53:rockhounding
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698:Volcanology
673:Meteorology
234:and yellow
228:John Ruskin
89:prospectors
77:New Zealand
773:Mineralogy
763:Collecting
757:Categories
663:Glaciology
658:Geophysics
484:2017-06-11
445:2018-11-30
421:2009-04-13
364:Mindat.org
332:References
280:gemologist
266:was named
179:mineralogy
158:mindat.org
85:fossicking
63:rocks and
61:collecting
18:Rockhounds
668:Hydrology
394:22 August
369:22 August
264:spodumene
175:petrology
171:gemstones
152:Resources
93:gemstones
73:Australia
717:Category
534:Archived
493:cite web
415:Archived
311:Lapidary
295:See also
260:gemology
208:goethite
187:lapidary
135:Legality
81:Cornwall
65:minerals
741:Commons
653:Geology
648:Geodesy
620:Outline
306:Geology
268:kunzite
191:crystal
183:geology
144:in the
35:Kunzite
729:Portal
625:Index
122:loupe
112:Tools
106:hobby
57:hobby
499:link
396:2019
371:2019
326:Rock
181:and
79:and
67:or
59:of
47:or
759::
495:}}
491:{{
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
