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Amateur geology orrock collecting (also referred to asrockhounding in the United States and Canada) is the non-professional study andhobby ofcollecting rocks andminerals orfossil specimens from the natural environment.[1][2] InAustralia,New Zealand andCornwall, the amateur geologists call this activityfossicking.[3] The first amateur geologists wereprospectors looking for valuable minerals andgemstones 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.
One reason for the rise in popularity of amateur geology is that a collection can begin by simply picking up a rock. There are people who have formed clubs and groups that search for specimens and compare them with collections from other groups as ahobby. Information on such groups can be found at libraries, bookstores, and "gem and mineral shows". Tourist information centers and small-town chambers of commerce supply valuable local information. The Internet can also be a useful search tool as it can help find other amateur geologists.
The amateur geologist's principal piece of equipment is thegeologist's hammer. 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 also use a sledgehammer to break hard rocks. Collectors usually search for rocks in quarries, road cuts, rocky hills, mountains, and streams.
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 allnational parks in theUnited States.[4]
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Since October 2000,mindat.org 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 information daily.[5]
Avid rock collectors often use their specimens to learn aboutgemstones,petrology,mineralogy andgeology as well as skills in the identification and classifying of specimen rocks, and preparing them for display. The hobby can lead naturally intolapidary projects, and also the cutting, polishing, and mounting of gemstones and minerals. The equipment needed to do this includes rock saws and polishers. Many beautifulcrystal 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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