THE ROCK COLLECTOR’S TOOLS KIT

May 18, 2010
by Ray Hill

The question often arises, “what kind of tools will I need to go rock collecting“. Here I want to list some of the basic tools you will need when going on rock collecting trips.
Basically, the kind of tools and materials you will need depends on where you go collecting and what you are looking for. Different collecting trips require different tools and materials.

1. ROCK PICK: Probably the most widely used tool for rock collectors is the rock pick; often called a geologist pick. This hammer/pick is especially designed for use in the field by geologist and rock collectors. It has a sharp point on one end and a square hammer head on the other. The sharp point is used for digging and prying. The flat hammer end is used for breaking rocks. The rock picks are usually only found at specialty shops like rock shops or on-line. Generally you will not find these at the hardware type stores.
2. CRACK HAMMER: This is a short handled, heavy, hammer used for breaking rocks. They come in different weights, normally 2 pound and 3 pound. You should be able to get these at most any hardware store.
3. CHISELS: At some collecting locations you may need a cold chisel. I have three different sizes. One with a half-inch blade, one three-quarter-inch blade, and a one-inch blade. Try to find the type chisels that have hardened tool steel. Also, get the type that has the large plastic grip at the top with a wide flange. This will prevent you from banging your hand up with your hammer.
4. SLEDGE HAMMER: Obviously this tool is used for doing the heavy work like breaking chunks off a boulder or breaking up large stones.
5. MINER’S PICK: This is used for doing heavy digging. It really comes in handy on some field trips where you need to dig down a ways or to dig around larger stones.
6. SHOVELS: If you are a serious rock collector, you will want to get yourself three different shovels. One is the small folding-type shovels that you can pick up at a military surplus store. In the military these are call “trenching tools”. Second, a long handle rounded point shovel. Three, a long slender blade shovel, also called a spade shovel. You will find use for all three of these tools.
7. ROCK COLLECTING BAG: This is mostly what I use when out in the field collecting. It is a heavy duty canvas bag with a long shoulder strap.
8. PLASTIC BUCKET: Nearly all rock collectors use a five-gallon bucket for field collecting. The problem here is that once full of rocks they are pretty heavy.
9. CARDBOARD FLATS: These are very useful when out fossil collecting. Wrap your fossil specimens in newspaper and place them in these cardboard flats. You can pick up all you want of these at nearly any convenience store or grocery store. They receive canned drinks in these. The stores just throw them out. I use these when out fossil collecting. Often the fossil specimens are fragile. Wrap your specimens in old newspapers and stand them on edge, back to back, in your cardboard flats.
10. OLD NEWSPAPERS: Used in wrapping the really nice specimens you find. This prevents your nice specimens from being damaged during transport back home.
11. HAND TRUCK: On some collecting trips where you are required to walk a ways from where you park, you might want to take along a warehouse type hand truck. You can place one or two five-gallon buckets on the flat platform of the hand truck and strap them to the back with a couple of ropes or rubber straps. This way you can carry quite a load back to where you parked.
12. SIFTING SCREENS: Sifting screens come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and, obviously, you won’t need sifting screens on every collecting trip. However, there are times when you will want one of these with you. I recently went fossil collecting at an old abandoned kaolin quarry in central Georgia. There were huge piles of a gray marine sediment in the quarry. Using a sifting screen made short work of looking for marine fossils like shark teeth, gastropods, fish vertebra, sting-ray mouth plates and such. There are many collecting locations where you will need a good sifting screen.
13. OTHER ITEMS YOU’LL NEED: Other items you should carry on any rock collecting trip is; Plenty of liquids to drink. A first-aid kit. Rugged-type foot wear like lace-up boots. (This will prevent a twisted ankle.) Snacks to eat. Sun Screen. Bug repellent. Any medicines you are taking. A cell phone. Notebook for making notes. Write down the date, where you went, the weather conditions, directions, name of material collected, and such about your trip.

Here’s wishing you safe, fun, and prosperous rock collecting!!

Ray Hill
Great South Gems & Minerals, Inc.
www.greatsouth.net
888-933-GEMS

Note: Only rock clubs have permission to print this article but must give credit to the author, Ray Hill, and Great South Gems & Minerals, Inc. For everyone else, please email us for permission.

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