References for Rockhounds Collecting Gems and Minerals

The Amateur Archaeologist in the Great Basin provides a means of bridging the ever-shrinking divide between professional archaeologists and the interested public. Professional archaeologists are becoming increasingly aware of the public's enthusiasm toward archaeology, and, more importantly, they are realizing an obligation to interact with all segments of the public including school children, expanding legions of retirees, and contemporary Native Americans.

Indeed the public has much to offer, and Len Ettinger's book will hopefully channel the reader's efforts towards fruitful cooperation between informed amateurs and the professional archaeological community. Chapters include The History of Archaeological Research in the Great Basin, Man's Entry into North America, The Great Basin, Man's Entry into and Occupation of the Great Basin, Archaeological Sites, Weapons and tools, Amateur Archaeology, and Archaeological Law. Soft cover, 6" x 9", 116 pages.

Like gold, gemstone is where you find it. For every ounce of quality material there are many tons of common rock. A rockhound could spend a lifetime of fruitless searching without leads to show the way, so that is the purpose of Coast to Coast Gem Atlas. Over a period of years the authors have noted and compiled every gem location known to them. Many of the localities shown on the maps in this book have been publicized before and some have been worked over quite thoroughly. However, most new finds are made in the same general areas. We just have to search a little further or dig a little deeper.

This collecting guide contains maps designating collecting areas for various types of gemstones and fossils covering locations throughout the contiguous 48 states. Covered are Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario, New York, Maine, Oregon, Wyoming, South Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Soft cover, 8.5" x 11", 60 pages.

Covering more than 350 of Colorado's mineral, gemstone, and fossil collecting sites, Colorado Rockhounding provides rock hunters with an overview of the state's geologic origins and mining history, along with guidelines for safe, legal, and responsible rockhounding. Illustrated county by county descriptions reveal geologic and historic treasures in every corner of the state. Tips for field identification of 76 Colorado minerals ensure successful outings, even for neophyte collectors.

Whether you yearn to follow dinsaur tracks on hogback ridges, pan gold in mountain streams, hunt gemstones on towering peaks, or prospect in historic mining districts, let Colorado Rockhounding be your guide.

There are over 140 collecting localities described and mapped out in this field guide to the gem and mineral localities of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts in California. Desert Gem Trails is profusely illustrated with detailed maps and provides concise road logs and directions to collecting spots. The author details what types of specimens and rough are found and what types of tools and equipment are required to collect them. Information regarding road conditions, camping and nearby points of interest is also provided.

Much more than a fee mining guide, Fee Mining and Mineral Adventures in the Eastern U.S. is a treasure trove of interesting sites to see and things to do related to rocks and minerals, gemstones, crystals, fossils, gold and other treasures. It describes a total of 270 sites of potential interest to rockhounds and their families including 75 digging sites for collectors, 79 museums for viewing and learning, 68 cave and cavern adventures and tours, along with many historic and natural points of interest.

Whether you are an experienced rockhound or prospector, or a family on vacation, you'll find fun, adventure, and maybe precious gems, gold or hidden treasures of man or nature. Fee Mining and Mineral Adventures in the Eastern U.S. will show you where to mine for Herkimer diamonds in New York, genuine diamonds in Arkansas, dive for treasure in Florida, pan for gold in North Carolina, explore caves from Missouri to Pennsylvania, dig for fluorescent minerals in New Jersey, beachcomb for fossils in South Carolina, and much, much more!

Organized by state, site information includes seasons and times of operation, address and contact information, cost, tools, and supplies needed. Interesting history, regional attractions, and camping information help make your trip even more enjoyable. Includes sites and points of interest in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

This unique guide will direct you to a wide variety of "fee and free" rockhounding and mineral adventures throughout the western United States. Using this up-dated and revised edition of Fee Mining and Rockhounding Adventures in the West you can visit 100 collecting locations plus 153 museums, caves, points of interest, fairs and festivals. Digging locations are varied and include fee mines, gold prospecting areas, collecting sites for rocks, minerals and fossils, and adventure and cave tours.

Whether you are a casual hobbyist, a serious collector, or a family vacation, Fee Mining and Rockhounding Adventures in the West will be your indispensable guide to new rockhounding and prospecting adventures. It will show you where to mine for brilliant sapphires in Montana, find a petrified dinosaur bone in Colorado, collect smithsonite in New Mexico, precious fire agates in Arizona, and coveted opal in Nevada. You'll visit numerous mines and historic sites of the California gold rush. Search for fossilized fish and dinosaur bones in Wyoming. Discover gold in rivers and streams in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

Organized by state, site information includes seasons and times of operation, address and contact information, cost, tools, and supplies needed. Interesting history, regional attractions, and camping information help make your trip even more enjoyable. Includes sites and points of interest in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Florida is a land of geological wonders, from its little-known earthquake history to the rich new fossil hunting grounds constantly being revealed by commercial development and quarrying activity. Much more than a fashionable resort or retirement destination, Florida ranks fifth in mineral production among all the United States. Florida's surprising mineral wealth ranges from commercial mines to coral islands; from valuable industrial metals like zirconium and titanium to such collectable treasures as chalcedony, petrified wood, ivory and stunning crystals.

You can gather Florida's mineral riches from the waters of the state's 34 major rivers, or find them waiting in the darkness of its 375 dry caves. Alongside a wondrous number of fossil remnants of such prehistoric creatures as jaguar, tapir, and mammoth, you will unearth arrowheads, stone knives, spear points and other relics of the tools early man hunted them with. Florida's Geological Treasures will show you where to collect every type of mineral and fossil in Florida, and explain their origin and geologic history. Maps of the collecting areas, tips on carving, collecting, tools, and techniques for identifying and preserving your finds will help you to prepare to uncover the remarkable variety, beauty and wealth of Florida's geological treasures.

Florida's Geological Treasures is organized into 10 chapters dividing the state into zones and geologic provinces: (1) What Can You Find?; (2) Collecting And Then Identifying; (3) Northern Highlands Zone; (4) Marianna Lowlands Zone; (5) Special Hunting Territory: Caves, Rivers, Springs, Sinks; (6) Gulf Coastal Lowlands Zone; (7) Southern Zone; (8) Eastern Coastal Lowlands Zone; (9) Central Highlands Zone; and (10) Central Highlands Zone Phosphate Area. An eight-page section features color photographs of Florida mineral specimens. Appendices include (A) Gem, Mineral and Fossil Clubs; (B) Rock, Mineral, and Fossil Museums and Exhibits; (C) Additional Information and Resources on Florida Geology; and (D) Text of Florida Law Regarding Caves and Fossils.

If you are interested in rockhounding or artifact collecting in Florida, you will appreciate the information in this guide.

Newly revised and updated, the Gem and Mineral Collector's Guide To Idaho now combines Volumes I & II into one handy rockhounding guide.

From Bathtub Mountain and Ruby Rapids to Paris Canyon and Cinder Butte, author Lanny Ream leads the collector to over 40 of the best mineral, fossil and gemstone sites Idaho has to offer. Find the best spot in Rabbit Springs to find agate-filled thundereggs or where to hunt for precious opal in Spencer.

A comprehensive list of Bureau of Land Management agencies and National Forest Services throughout Idaho is included to aid in planning your collecting adventures. Complete with individual site maps, an overview map, detailed directions, and photographs, the Gem and Mineral Collector's Guide To Idaho is an essential guide to rockhounding and collecting in Idaho.

Arizona is known the world over for the abundance and variety of its geological treasures. In a landscape as diverse as the minerals themselves, this rich trove of gemstones can be found in sites ranging from arid desert to pine-covered peaks. Newly revised, the fourth edition of this best-selling guide contains the latest updates on the familiar sites and features twenty new locations for collecting rocks, minerals, crystals, and fossils, more than 90 collection sites in all!

Gem Trails of Arizona features detailed text describing where to go and what to look for at each site, maps for each site pinpointing the best supplies of specimens, photographs depicting the collecting areas, a new glossary to help you identify your finds, and a full color photographic portfolio of spectacular Arizona gems. Filled with expert advice based on years of experience, Gem Trails of Arizona is an indispensable handbook for the rockhound who is just starting to explore the wealth of this colorful state. The seasoned collector too will find this an invaluable reference.

Gem Trails of British Columbia From agate to fossils, this is the definitive guide to collecting sites throughout southern British Columbia. Highlighting the best that the area has to offer, detailed text describes where to go and what to look for at every collecting area. Maps for each site lead the rockhound to choice locations for gems, minerals and fossils. Photos throughout aid in the identification of the correct turnoffs, collecting areas and campgrounds. Author Cam Bacon calls upon years of experience to offer readers invaluable information, easy-to-follow directions and helpful hints. Whether novices or experts, rockhounds will find this guide to be an outstanding source of old and new sites throughout the province's beautiful back roads.

Discover beautiful blue-green amazonite crystals, vivid pink rhodochrosite, petrified wood and dinosaur bone as well as numerous other rocks, minerals and fossils as you explore the scenic state of Colorado. This indispensable guide provides clear maps, concise directions, detailed text and numerous black and white photos on a wide variety of more than 75 collecting sites throughout the state. A section of color photographs aid in identifying the rocks and minerals found at the end of the gem trail.

From old abandoned mines to road cuts along busy highways, from remote collecting areas to fee mining locations with all the modern amenities, there is something for the amateur and experienced gem hunter alike within the pages of this updated edition of Gem Trails of Colorado.

Completely revised and updated with 28 new sites, Gem Trails of Nevada is the collector's guide to over 75 of the best gem, fossil and mineral collecting areas the Silver State has to offer. From opal mines and mountain passes to abandoned ghost mining towns and parched deserts, the extensive landscape and mineral wealth of Nevada is still out there for the avid gem and mineral collector. Find out where to look, what to look for, what to bring, how to get there and what you can expect to find. And along the way you can expect to enjoy some of the natural wonders and earthly treasures that only Nevada has to offer.

Sites are divided into four geographical regions and are presented with directions, rockhounding tips, descriptive text, updated highway and site maps, and numerous black and white photos. Also included are a handy mineral locator index, a glossary, lists of museums, rock clubs, government agencies and a full-color insert of rock, fossil and mineral specimens found within Nevada's prolific borders. More than 75 locations throughout the state.

New Mexico is a rockhound's paradise - 122,000 square miles, some mountainous and forested, but much of it is arid with little vegetation. Large amounts of public land are available for collecting. From micromount and gem quality mineral specimens, to fossil pieces containing life forms that are millions of years old, there is something of interest to both the novice and experienced collector.

Divided into four geographical regions, detailed maps, driving directions, descriptive text and helpful rockhounding tips lead collectors from the geologic wonderland of Bisti to the unbelievable variety of collectibles at the Rockhound State Park. New Mexico's extensive landscape and mineral wealth are highlighted here in color as well as black and white photographs. This latest fully revised edition of a classic, best-selling rockhound guide adds 34 new sites, updates the old ones, and details the finest rock, mineral and gem sites "The Land of Enchantment" has to offer. More than 100 locations throughout the state.

There is jade, often occurring in qualities rivaling that from Wyoming or Burma; beautiful pink rhodenite, as fine as can be found anywhere; and the most diverse variety of gem obsidian in the entire country, if not the world. Weekend prospectors can even pan successfully for gold in the legendary gold rush country. Detailed text and maps lead the rockhound to beautiful scenery and fascinating rocks and minerals.

Full-color photos of specimens found at the end of the gem trail make identification easy. Black and white photos help locate collecting sites that include pine covered mountains, barren desert and beautiful beaches. From popular and commercial sites to those little known, out of the way places, this is the most complete guide to gem, fossil and mineral collecting in Northern California.

From agate to zeolite, this definitive guide to collecting sites throughout Oregon highlights the natural treasures of the state. Oregon's varied terrain, including coastal beaches, pine-covered mountains, and barren desert, offers rockhounds the promise of memorable collecting experiences and outstanding mineral specimens. This completely revised edition reflects numerous changes.

Twenty-five completely new locations containing 40 collecting sites have been added. Detailed maps and descriptive text accompanied by black-and-white photos lead collectors to more than 80 of the best sites for finding gems, minerals and fossils. A new insert of vivid color photos aids with specimen identification. Whether amateur or experience, gem and fossil hunters will find much of interest within the pages of the revised Gem Trails of Oregon.

Newly revised and updated, Gem Trails of Pennsylvania and New Jersey is the essential guide for veteran and new collectors alike. Follow gem trails to beautiful agate, jasper, galena, pyrite, quartz crystals, fossils, and much more! The authors become your personal guides to unearthing the beautiful geologic treasures found throughout the best sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Sites are presented with directions, rockhounding tips, descriptive text, maps and numerous black-and-white photos. Rocks, minerals and fossils found at the ends of the gem trails are pictured in full color to aid in identification. From seaside beaches to overgrown quarries, explore old favorites as well as newly-discovered sites that hold a wide variety of specimens for the rockhound to uncover.

From sandy beaches to desert landscapes, this revised edition is the definitive guide to collecting sites throughout Southern California. For agate to zoisite, find out where to search and find the best specimens that the area has to offer. Taking up where Gem Trails of Northern California left off, this companion book introduces 14 new sites and covers all of Southern California from just north of San Luis Obispo south to the Mexican border and all site points in between.

Detailed maps and descriptive text lead the rockhound to over 82 of the best collecting locales for gems, minerals and fossils. Numerous black and white photos aid in locating the collecting area and selective color photos help with specimen identification. Includes a handy mineral locator index, glossary and helpful contact information lists. Full of helpful hints for getting the most out of each site, the author becomes your personal tour guide to the many treasures that Southern California has to offer. Ideal for the novice and an important addition to any experienced rockhound's collection, Gem Trails of Southern California is a must for any rock collector exploring this diverse region.

Completely revised and updated, Gem Trails of Texas is the classic guide to over 50 of the best rockhounding sites the Lone Star State has to offer. Sites are presented with directions, rockhounding tips, descriptive text, updated maps and numerous black and white photos. Divided into six geographical regions, which include convenient introductions to each area and a site locator map, this field guide also contains: a handy mineral locator index; glossary; lists of museums and gem and mineral societies; and a beautiful full-color insert of rock, fossil and mineral specimens found along the gem trails

From rolling green hills and rocky mountains to lake beaches and southwestern ranches, this book will tell you where to look, what to look for, what to bring, how to get there and what you can expect to find. Whether you are an amateur or experienced rockhound, Gem Trails of Texas is the essential guide to finding quality rock, fossil, mineral and gem sites throughout Texas.

Welcome to rockhounding in Utah! You'll find many unique opportunities in a landscape as diverse as the gems, minerals, and fossils found here. There are trunks of petrified wood, faceting grade labradorite, topaz crystals of a color and clarity that rival any found anywhere, boulders of obsidian, delicate halite crystals and much, much more. Detailed text and maps lead the gem hunter to abandoned mine dumps, stunning desert terrain, deep canyons, pristine mountains and beautiful lakes in the search for specimens.

Black and white photos highlight the collecting area. A color section aids in specimen identification. This latest edition of a classic, best-selling guide is invaluable for the rockhounds just starting out, filled with expert advice and years of experience. For the collector who has been discovering Utah's treasures for years, it is an outstanding source of the old and the new sites in one handy volume. More than 75 locations throughout the state.

Genuine Diamonds Found In Arkansas is a superlatively researched and illustrated read on the geology, history, techniques and lore of mining diamonds in Arkansas. It features 218 photographs, maps and charts to help illustrate and explain the story of diamond mining in Arkansas, including 32 pages of color photographs showing Arkansas diamonds in their natural, uncut forms. This book is authoritatively written by an author involved in both commercial Arkansas diamond mining operations as well as years of digging alongside other dedicated diamond diggers and more casual visitors to the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas.

The role of continental drift and crustal faulting associated with the Appalacian and Ouachita Mountains related to the formation the diamond bearing lamproite pipes occuring in Arkansas is examined. Why there are diamonds in Arkansas and how they have become concentrated in enriched surface material through the processes of weathering and erosion is explained. Learn about the history of commercial diamond mining in Arkansas and how Crater of Diamonds State Park came to be a unique place in the world where visitors can search for and keep any diamond they find.

Genuine Diamonds Found In Arkansas is rich in human history and weaves a colorful tapestry of the many stories behind diamond mining in Arkansas, beginning with the 1906 discovery of diamonds in Arkansas by illiterate hog farmer John Wesley Huddleston on the 160 acre tract he purchased with the down payment of a mule. Enjoy the inspiring saga of "Diamond James Archer" whose persistence and tenacity over a 30-year span of diamond digging in Arkansas made him a legendary icon who has found literally thousands of diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park, including an astounding 85 diamonds over one carat in weight. Marvel at the beginner's luck of Oklahoma state highway patrolman Marvin Culver, who attended the park's introductory course "Diamond Mining 101" on his family's first visit to the park and then found a flawless, 4.21 carat golden canary diamond after washing just one and a half buckets of lamproite.

The Uncle Sam, the largest diamond ever found in the United States, is an Arkansas diamond. The 40.23 carat, pinkish-white Uncle Sam was recovered during Arkansas Diamond Corporation operations preceeding the purchase of the Crater of Diamonds by the State of Arkansas in 1972 for development as a state park. The 3.03 carat Strawn-Wagner Diamond was found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in 1990. After being cut, the Strawn-Wagner Diamond is the most perfect diamond ever certified by the the American Gem Society, receiving a perfect grade of O/O/O (Ideal cut/D color/ Flawless), or "Triple Zero," the highest grade a diamond can achieve. Did you know that over 25,000 diamonds have been found by diggers and visitors to Crater of Diamonds State Park since it was established, with over 740 of those exceeding a carat in weight? Over 1000 diamonds were found by visitors to Crater of Diamonds State Park in 2007. If you are planning to visit and try your own luck at Crater of Diamonds State Park, or are simply interested in the geology and history behind diamonds and diamond mining in Arkansas, Genuine Diamonds Found In Arkansas is a highly recommended book that belongs in your personal library.

Looking for and finding gold is not an easy, comfortable, home type recreation. It is hard work, but it will get you out-of-doors and reward you with invigorating adventure-filled outings and escapades. It will stir and awaken the dormant pioneer blood that is inherent in most of us. Contents include: How It Started, The Charisma of Gold, The Distinctive Behavior of Gold, Reading & Working the River, What You Need to Begin, Panning for Beginners, Mini-Portable Sluice Box, Using Your Sluice, Separating Gold from Sand, Making Gold Jewelry, Gold Panner's Mining Terms and Where to Find It. Soft cover, 5.5" x 8.5", 80 pages.

Anyone can use a pan to recover gold from mountain streams, desert arroyos or wherever it awaits you. Roy Lagal, who has spent a lifetime finding gold, tells just how easy it is. Take your next vacation in beautiful gold country. Follow the simple illustrated instructions in this book and use Roy's "Gravity Trap" gold pan. You are certain to enjoy the glorious outdoors. And, you may experience the thrill of a lifetime as you find color of your very own! Also, learn how to use metal detectors that can make discovering gold nuggets as easy as finding coins in the park. Contents include Gold...Why Search for It, Searching...Where Gold is Located, Panning...Just How it Works, Gold Pans...What They're Made Of, Wet Panning...How to Find Gold, Dry Panning...How to Find Gold, Gold Pan Kit...Short Cut to Success, Pan & Detector...Gold-Finding Combination, Finding Gold...With a Metal Detector, Recovering Gold...With a Metal Detector, Identification...Of Metal/Mineral Samples, Gold Dredging...Made Easy for Beginners, and Conclusion...Gold is Where You Find It. Also included is a glossary of panning and prospecting terms and an appendix of information sources. Soft cover, 5.5" x 8.5", 134 pages.

Rock and gem collecting the GPS way! Maps and compasses have been the standard for locating collecting sites for decades, but now there is an alternative way to find your destination - The GPS Guide to Western Gem Trails. Compiled by a veteran rockhound, this handy supplemental GPS guide directs you to the best collecting sites found in the Gem Trails book series as well as other popular rockhounding guides for Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Beginning with an introduction and a highway map for each state, the north latitude, west longitude, DeLorme map page, section/township/range, 7.5 minute quadrangle sheet and jurisdiction are provided for each site. A major waypoints section is also included for major cities, junctions and sites with county, latitude and longitude listed. Lists of national parks and monuments, places of special interest, government agencies contact information and a helpful site index make this an indispensable tool for GPS users. With over 1,200 locations to chose from, The GPS Guide to Western Gem Trails is a reliable location tool to complement the guidebook collection of every serious rock and fossil collector.

A classic guide to collecting in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio since 1955, Midwest Gem, Fossil and Mineral Trails - Great Lakes States has been revised and updated. Geologically the Midwest is an incredible land carved by glaciers and situated on the incomparable Great Lakes, the location of the upper Mississippi River Valley and the Ohio River. The copper country of Michigan, the iron ranges of Minnesota, the fluorite area of Illinois, and the limestones of Indiana are unsurpassed. Wisconsin holds great promise for copper, lead, and zinc, and it's granite is a national favorite.

Ohio, a leading coal producer, has yielded some of the finest fossils ever found. Diamonds and gold have been found here too; the reserves of minerals are tremendous. There are miles of beaches on the Great Lakes and other glacial lakes, along reservoirs, and along the rivers and streams of this region where Lake Superior agates, fossils, and minerals can be found. The author, who has been collecting in these states for over 50 years, describes how to hunt your own, where and what to collect, and where to find additional information on each state. An indispensable guide for the rock hobbyist, lapidary and fossil enthusiast, this book highlights the best of each area in one compact volume.

First published in 1955, Midwest Gem, Fossil and Mineral Trails - Prairie States is an indispensable guide for any rockhound collecting in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas or Missouri. For the rock hobbyist, lapidary and fossil enthusiast these states have much to offer, Lake Superior agates are widespread. Magnificent fossils occur in each state. superb crystals of quartz, calcite, pyrite, marcasite, dolomite, celestite, selenite, sphalerite, and barite are not difficult to come by. There are also numerous rare minerals which provide an extra thrill for the field collector.

This updated edition describes where and what to collect, how to hunt on your own, and where to get more information and additional help in each state. Helpful hints for collecting minerals, gem materials, and invertebrate fossils are highlighted by an author who has collected in these states for over 50 years. An essential guide for the beginning and experienced collector alike, Midwest Gem, Fossil and Mineral Trails - Prairie States, highlights the best of the region in one handy volume.

Whether you're digging for the first time or are an experienced rockhound or "prospector," with a simple rock hammer and a little luck, you too can strike it rich... or at the very least have fun trying. This guide offers you easy-to-use information on the ins and outs of "fee dig" mining in the Northeast United States, complete with locations, costs, tips on technique, entertaining legends and important information on everything from safety kits to the location of the nearest rest rooms.

Included are resources for identifying your finds, having them made into jewelry, and further pursuing an exciting - and possibly profitable - hobby. Covers Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Indiana, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Soft cover, 6" x 9", 189 pages.

Whether you're digging for the first time or are an experienced rockhound or "prospector," with a simple rock hammer and a little luck, you too can strike it rich... or at the very least have fun trying. This guide offers you easy-to-use information on the ins and outs of "fee dig" mining in the Northeast United States, complete with locations, costs, tips on technique, entertaining legends and important information on everything from safety kits to the location of the nearest rest rooms.

Included are resources for identifying your finds, having them made into jewelry, and further pursuing an exciting - and possibly profitable - hobby. Covers Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. Soft coiver, 6" x 9", 157 pages.

Whether a billion year-old rock or 100 year-old whiskey bottle strikes your fancy, the Northwest has treasures to uncover. One simply cannot segregate the rockhound from the bottle and relic collector, the prospector from the treasure hunter, or the history buff from the photographer. N.W. Gem Fields and Ghost Town Atlas combines all these interests in one book of maps.

Modern highways and cities are shown in black. The ghost towns and historic places appear with anecdotes giving their years and importance, all red in outline. The rock hunting areas are in red, naming the gems or minerals to be found. Information provided includes areas of interest in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Maps include vicinities of Seattle, Spokane, Missoula, Great Falls, East Montana/North Dakota, Tacoma, Yakima, Idaho/Montana, Butte, Livingston, Portland, John Day, Salmon River, Yellowstone, Casper, South Dakota, Medford, Burns, Boise, Pocatello, Rawlings, and Laramie. Many of the locations are on public land and may be explored and hunted freely.

Here are forests of petrified wood, veins of brilliant turquoise, and troves of facet grade garnet, peridot, and amethyst - in all more than 640 mineral species that make Arizona a rockhound's paradise. In Rockhounding Arizona expert rockhound Gerry Blair describes more than seventy of the state's best rockhounding areas, from jasper hunting in the historic mining district near Bagdad to searching for gold in the Superstition Mountains and digging for turquoise at the foot of the Hieroglyphic Range.

This guidebook covers popular and commercial sites as well as numerous little-known sites. It also describes where to view mineral specimens and prehistoric artifacts at Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest national parks, as well as on tribal lands. Brimming with advice on collecting and preparing gems and minerals, this handy book also includes maps and directions to museums, rock shops, and major public land areas. For the beginner, Rockhounding Arizona offers a complete introduction to this many-faceted hobby. For the expert, it is an outstanding guide and source book.

Beyond the possibility of making a new find or valuable discovery, rock and mineral collecting is an inexpensive hobby that is an excellent activity for all ages. It also offers the opportunity to explore landscapes as diverse as the rocks and minerals found there. Within the pages of this well illustrated guide you will learn how rocks and minerals are formed, discover what to look for in the field, decide on the best tools for the job, prepare for successful field trips, identify commonly encountered gems and minerals, preserve and prepare specimens, and explore the basic aspects of lapidary.

Written by an author of numerous gem trail books, The Rockhound's Handbook is an indispensable how-to book for the beginner, and a handy reference guide for the experienced collector. Soft cover, 6" x 9", 184 pages.

Rocks and Minerals of California

Whether you're digging for the first time or are an experienced rockhound or "prospector," with a simple rock hammer and a little luck, you too can strike it rich... or at the very least have fun trying. This guide offers you easy-to-use information on the ins and outs of "fee dig" mining in the Northeast United States, complete with locations, costs, tips on technique, entertaining legends and important information on everything from safety kits to the location of the nearest rest rooms.

Included are resources for identifying your finds, having them made into jewelry, and further pursuing an exciting - and possibly profitable - hobby. Covers Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Soft cover, 6" x 9", 179 pages.

Whether you're digging for the first time or are an experienced rockhound or "prospector," with a simple rock hammer and a little luck, you too can strike it rich... or at the very least, have fun trying. This guide offers you easy to use information on the ins and outs of "fee dig" mining, complete with locations, costs, tips on technique, entertaining legends and important information on everything from safety kits to the location of the nearest restrooms.

Included are resources for use in identifying your finds, having them made into jewelry, and further pursuing an exciting and possibly profitable hobby. Contents include equipment and safety precautions, mining techniques, notes on gem faceting, cabbing and mounting services, annual events, state gem and mineral symbols, finding your own birthstone, finding your anniversary stone, finding your zodiac stone and state listings for collecting sites in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. Soft cover, 6" x 9", 185 pages.

Like gold, gemstone is where you find it. For every ounce of quality material there are many tons of common rock. A rockhound could spend a lifetime of fruitless searching without leads to show the way, so that is the purpose of Western Gem Hunter's Atlas. Over a period of years the authors have noted and compiled every gem location known to them. Many of the localities shown on the maps in this book have been publicized before and some have been worked over quite thoroughly. However, most new finds are made in the same general areas. We just have to search a little further or dig a little deeper.

This collecting guide contains maps designating collecting areas for various types of gemstones and fossils covering locations from California to the Dakotas and British Columbia to Texas. All of the states north, south and west of Kansas are represented, along with British Columbia and Alberta in Canada. Soft cover, 6" x 9", 79 pages.

Table of Contents

Bob Keller