Have you ever searched for rockhounding supplies in sporting goods/outdoor stores, just to be disappointed with only a small selection? I mean really how do you even know what to get for rockhounding when the store selections focus mainly on gold panning, are limited, and the associates lack the knowledge to help you? You feel lucky to find a classifying screen set much less the minute tools needed for picking Topaz or finding Red Beryl. What about geodes and unearthing the amazing spheres full of surprises? Or wonder stones and agates? Not to panic, while not in a brick-and-mortar store, still the ability to find all of these items online and with the proper planning the ability to have all of the tools you need to be successful.
Topaz Mountain Rockhounding and Finding Red Beryl
That’s where we come in to help with a few specific sets of tools we use to find beautiful clean gems from Topaz Mountain Rockhounding to searching for geodes. Starting with Topaz Mountain, we have a defined set of tools in our supply bags.
- Bertha, Single Jack, and Thor’s hammer are all great names for the 5lb hammer we carry. A 2lb hammer works but we have found more success with the 5lb
- Concrete chisel set (hand protector strongly recommended)
- Rock pick hammer for those visible pockets
- extra long tweezer set from 15″ and less
- Headlight, with various colors
- Paint Brush
- Classifier/ metal mesh strainer (an old screen will work)
- Plastic picks are similar to dental tools but made of a plastic material. Note we have metal ones too but they seem to fracture the stones if they are embedded in the rhyolite.
All of the listed supplies work very well to expose the Topaz and Red Beryl, it is the hard work required to get these gemstones that seem to hold some back. With a little hiking and breaking the rocks with the chisel, you will find yourself beautiful colored gems. We even take the paintbrush and strainers and find the Red Beryl in the sand and washouts.
These tools are good for Garnet Hill in NV as well as other hard rhyolite rock. There is always the easy way as well, for example, some websites such as Rock Paradise offer you amazing specimens at reasonable costs, on the other hand, if you are searching for that thrill these essentials will be a great start for finding the hidden gems you are searching for.
Search for Geodes
Geodes are a very different type of rock in a similar environment to Topaz, in Utah anyhow; but we have found hardened walls full of amazing geodes that the rockhounding supplies listed above work perfectly for. In addition to these, there are some key supplies you will need.
- 5 gal buckets at least 2 as you can take 250 pounds of rocks home legally!
- Short shovels, spade type work the best
- Gloves, you use your hands a lot when digging these out
- Chain cutter to break them in half without damaging them (hammer splitting them is a bad idea if you must, make sure you wear safety gear, eye protection, etc….
In the Dugway area, the BLM digs open pits, keep in mind there are many holes and areas you can access and dig out to find the best ones. Look for the spheres with cross lines poking out of them, they feel light, and once you find one you will know exactly what to look for.
Hard Rock Tools
In other digs, we have found the use of the chisels to be effective and some even use a diamond-tipped chain saw, you must ensure that this is a legal practice in the location you are digging. Hand tools only are the main requirement for most of the areas we rockhound.
Conclusion
Overall, in most of the areas we rockhound, these sets of tools will help you find what you are looking for. We want to remind you if you are venturing off into the wilderness to rockhound, please be prepared! We have a lot of information on wilderness preparedness and how to plan for your environment in other posts on this site such as What to Pack For Backpacking or even the doIToutside book you can find if you click here .
Have fun and post to us on Facebook or here! We are excited to see your great finds!