Western Gem Hunters Atlas

A complete guide to finding, collecting, and preparing the state’s gems & minerals Rockhounding Idaho is a must-have book for anyone interested in collecting rocks, minerals, fossils, and gold in the Gem State. Completely up-to-date with over 200 GPS coordinates in ninety-nine collecting locales, it covers popular and widely known fee-dig operations as well as four-wheel-drive adventures into the desert, and long winding drives through the mountains. The result is a complete and accurate guide to the state’s vast riches. The author—a long-time field collector in the Pacific Northwest and an award-winning writer—clearly explains the broad outlines of Idaho’s many collecting locales and mining districts, and provides an appreciation for the geology underneath. You can use this guide to plan expeditions straight across the state or to devise looping road trips that cover a single region in great detail. From agates to zeolites, from garnets to gold, Rockhounding Idaho is the ideal resource for ­rockhounds of all ages and experience levels. Look inside to find: • Maps and detailed site descriptions with directions • Suggested tools and techniques • Land-use regulations and legal restrictions • Information on nearby camping

This volume gives you the basic tools to transition from “pebble pup” to expert rockhound and explains everything from geology basics, identification tips, tools of the trade, how to record your findings, and how to set up a lab or gem shop. Before you know it, you’ll be driving the open roads and traveling home with dusty pockets full of rocks, gems, minerals, fossils—and maybe even gold. Features: * geology basics * popular collectibles, including rocks, gems, fossils, meteorites, and gold * tools of the trade for every level of collector * rules and regulations * polishing, preserving, crafting, and displaying your treasures