What You Will Need

Every dig location is different and all require different tools. Here is a list of everything you will need even if you don’t need every tool every time.

FOR ROCKS

Rock hammer and sheath
Small Sledge Hammer
Cold Chisels
Garden Trowel
Shovels, large and small
Pick
Hand Rake
Pry Bar/Gad Bar
Screwdrivers/Dandelion Digger
Screens
Specimen Containers
Spray Bottle with Water
Chip Brushes/Paint Brushes
Toothbrush
Chopsticks/Skewers
Knee Pads/Yoga Mat/Gardening Pad
Buckets, large and small
Hand Lens

FOR YOU

Gloves
Lots of Water
First Aid Kit
Safety Goggles
Gloves
Medication
Food and Snacks
Hat
Gloves
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Insect Repellant
Chapstick
Gloves
Gloves
More Gloves

MISCELLANEOUS

Maps
Identification Guide
Guide Books
Toilet Paper
Garbage Bags
Notebook and Pencil
Rockhounding Buddy
Camping Gear (tent, sleeping bag, pad, etc.)
Hiking Shoes
Camera
GPS/Compass
Headlamp/Flashlights
Work Lights
Tarp and Rope or Bungie Cords
Knife
Fire-starting Tools
Raingear
Spare Tire and Tools to Fix a Flat
Extra Gasoline
Tow Cable
Car Charger

Where you are digging and what you are looking for will determine what you need to take with you. Are you surface collecting? Digging through the float or deeper? Hard rock mining?

Each of these situations require different tools and approaches so gather as much information as you can before you head out and you will save yourself time and energy. Remember, you will be carrying back more weight than you started with.

SURFACE COLLECTING

Surface collecting is the easiest of the rockhounding activities and requires fewer tools but having what you need is still important to having a good time.

The key here is taking what will allow you to find and collect materials effectively but not so much you get weighed down. You will be walking and likely cover a long distance so weight is a consideration. Taking a backpack or small bucket for tools is a good idea.

Here is what we suggest:

Rock hammer and sheath
Garden Trowel and/or Hand Rake
Pry Bar/Gad Bar
Screwdrivers/Dandelion Digger
Specimen Containers
Knee Pads for stopping and digging a spot

DIGGING

Digging in the float or ground is probably the most common type of rockhounding and therefore uses the widest range of tools.

If you are digging you are likely to be in only a few spots so you can take in more without worrying about hauling it around too much but digging can also be an activity where you change holes often so keep that in mind and make sure you are able to keep your tools organized and more importantly unburied. A bucket or tool bag is imperative for this.

Here is what we suggest:

Rock hammer and sheath
Small Sledge Hammer
Cold Chisels
Garden Trowel
Shovels, large and small
Pick
Hand Rake
Pry Bar/Gad Bar
Screwdrivers/Dandelion Digger
Screens
Specimen Containers
Spray Bottle with Water
Chip Brushes/Paint Brushes
Toothbrush
Knee Pads/Yoga Mat/Gardening Pad
Buckets
Hand Lens

HARD ROCK MINING

Hard rock mining is probably the toughest of rockhounding activities and uses tools designed to break down material rather than move it so the tools are usually a bit more specialized.

Like digging you will not change locations often so you can carry more in but again be sure to track them. The tools often associated with hard rock mining are hammers and chisels so be sure to have a wide range of these tools and it is advisable to purchase higher quality items since you will be putting them through their paces.

Here is what we suggest: