How to Actually Find Your Own Rockhounding Locations

It always seems to go the same way. Someone posts a photo or video of a rock and someone asks "Where is this?". The response is something to the effect of giving a vague location such as a state or county, and sometimes it's "my own spot". Or, if asked to clarify, the statement comes out "find your own spot!" with nothing else, and no real help.

I'm here to help you because, first off, it's really rare that someone finds a new fully undiscovered location with a mineral to collect, it does happen occasionally, but often what happens is a person has a tip or clue leading them to an area or knows of an area that is rich in ______ mineral and goes off looking.

This should be used as a tool to help you find minerals. Understand that some of the mines on Gaia are active, private property and have the potential to be dangerous.

#CurrentlyRockhounding #Rockhounding

[megankimber]

Thank you so much for being thoughtful enough to help people figure out what resources are out there to help them. Yeah it doesn’t feel like such a mutual hobby when often people say, “just find your own stuff.”

[benjaminboivin]

You are one of the most helpful rockhounders on the internet, we are lucky to have you

[Speble]

I will volunteer where i go rockhounding. Why would i gatekeep this hobby? It goes against my ethics and morals to gatekeep

[joziepeters]

I know this was posted three years ago but I still want to say thank you! This the resource I've been needing but didn't know where to look for it. Not just for rock hounding, but for hiking trails and remote camping spots! Thank you so much. The cost has gone up for premium but after seeing what it can do I did it without a second thought. So worth it and so much fun to explore.

[QuintonMurdock]

My trick for rockhounding was working at a concrete plant and being the one often doing GQ inspections of deliveries of gravel

[bonnieborgeson]

Oh thank you so much. All I know is that I always loved rocks, born and raised in Chicago as a girl I would lug home railroad track gravel (my poor Mom). Well many many years later I have finally retired and really want to give rockhounding a chance. I knew/know nothing, but watching your videos have taught me at least what/why/where to an extent I didn't have. Now I only have one problem, no one I am related to or friends of could careless to come with. Ha, what they are missing. Anyway, thank you so very much, you have really helped enlighten me. Big Hug to you.

[teresabugg]

Thank you so much. Your kindness shows that you are genuinely a good hearted human being.

[msclairesstuff]

I just went thru the pain of trying to decipher how many apps & database's I had to install, just to read 1 USGS geo map quadrangle with similar layers.
You made Gaia look too easy bravo

[valkeriejones]

This is what I do! Somewhere down the line I found the Arkansas Geological Survey map and I've been using it and the Missouri version ever since. Every time I find a cool rock I go and check what the formation/rock type is, and every time I want to find a rock I look at the map. ❤️

[paulgalloway]

I love your videos. I thought I would thank some of my favourite Youtubers. I'm an armchair rockhound. I can't actually go myself because a stroke has left me partially disabled and affected my balance, but I do enjoy it vicariously through you and others.

[DaughterofAlbion]

This was awfully helpful! Thank you for being kind enough to share your tips. It’s really hugely appreciated :)

[knappieboy]

After camping near Galena (north of John Day, Oregon) and doing some research on the town, i found myself wanting to rockhound a lot more. Thank you for this! <3

[reneespiricueta]

Im glad that someone is really helping a whole bunch of us rock hounds by giving this info. That really cuts down on a lot of research. Which I think I do more of that than get out on the field since my biggest fear and my grandkids is to walk into private property. We always leave the area better when we leave taking some xtra trash with U.S. We are very appreciate of you taking the time to share this info. Good luck to you and all your followers.

[edtherockhound]

This is what I love about the rock hounding community. Everyone is so helpful and if learn something interesting I pass it on to others .thanks for the video I looked up this page before and my area is loaded but lot of those places are shut off to the public . It did turn me on to some wonderful spots. I have 4 more weeks of work and I’m off for 3 months and I have enough rocks but I think I will go out on Christmas morning and get a lil rock hounding before the family wakes up . I’m sure the kid will be up early so idk

[TheDarkDanny]

Not only was this video really helpful but I liked that this was shown on Wyoming of all places. My little home state lol.

[pferrel]

Happened to have Gaiagps for other reasons and this was a revelation about how to use some more obscure layers. Great video. I checked near some of your hounding locations, like Rabbit Springs for thunder eggs and found that nearby is all rhyolite. Got me to wondering if there is a resource for what hounding rocks are in or near different mine types. Searching but not finding -- so far.
Absolutely awesome videos, consistently great.

[patriciamckean]

for braving the cold 🥶 . We appreciate your risking freezing to share your experience with us

[chrisandrewoutside]

Researching and ground pounding is part of the fun!

[marcussmart]

That's a super valuable tool, I will certainly be getting this. Thank you for sharing!

[katrinakilburn]

Great video! Thank you for the info. Growing up we would rock hound as a family. We did a lot of road trips in our winnebago and I remember being in the middle of the desert a lot! We would have buckets of geods and other treasures. I miss those days.