Top 10 Gifts for Rockhounds and Geology Lovers
If you're looking for a gift for the geology lover or rockhound in your life this holiday season, check out this list of the top 10 gifts for rockhounds. This list could be much longer, because there are many more things I keep in my rock bag for my outdoor adventures, or my garage at home, but let's keep it simple. If you need more recommendations, feel free to drop me an email!
1. Number 1 is the most obvious gift to give anyone who loves going on rock hunting adventures. If your rockhound doesn't have a rock hammer, get them one today! I think Estwing hammers are the best rock hammers available, used by both amateurs and professional geologists. My absolute favorite is the Estwing 13 oz rock pick. The front is all hammer, for breaking, crushing, and beating. The back has a super sharp spiky tip, for more delicate scraping or prying. If you're looking for an extra heavy duty rock hammer, this style is also available in a 24 oz size. My second rock hammer of choice, which is pretty worn down now from years of use, is the all purpose Estwing 14 oz geology hammer. It has a wider, more classic tip on the back.
2. If they already have a rock hammer, a UV light is an important tool for finding and identify certain types of rocks. Fluorite is often bright blue under 365nm UV light. Calcite will often fluoresce red. Those two examples are just the beginning. Fluorescent mineral collecting can become a fun hobby by itself. There are many UV lights, with prices ranging from pretty cheap to extra expensive. My favorite UV lights are these two, by Alonefire and Convoy (see my blog post on UV lights for a detailed breakdown of the differences between the two).
Fluorite under 365nm UV light
3. A handy field guide or book about rocks and minerals is another must have for any rock collector. While the internet lets us look up just about anything in a matter of seconds, it's always good to have a real book to reference, especially if you have no cell phone signal, or if you've dropped your phone down a mine shaft while exploring an old tailings pile (true story). National Geographic has never let me down. For more state specific locations, the books by Dan R. Lynch are excellent.
4. If you have access to a location known for gold, a gold pan is a fun tool to try out. Freezing, knee deep in a California river, I remember the first piece of gold I found that was big enough to pick out of my gold pan with my fingers. A lot of sand and gravel has been panned without finding anything, however. If you aren't sure where to look for gold in the wild, there are pay dirt bags that you can order and pan in your backyard. Learning to pan in your backyard is also a fun way to get the hang of it and perfect your technique.
5. Learning how to polish rocks with a rock tumbler can be challenging at first (I'm still learning), but is a rewarding process. Tumbled rocks can be made into jewelry or displayed anywhere, and doing it yourself is a great way to understand how the geological concept of erosion works. The time it takes to polish rocks might seem long, but when you think about the nature processes stones go through to get smooth, it's pretty fast.
6. A good multitool is a great gift for anyone, because it's so useful! My favorite is the Leatherman Skeletool. The pliers on it have removed countless cactus spines from from my back, my shoes, my hands, and many other places. That's just a reality of wandering around in the desert. The Skeletool is super lightweight yet sturdy, and it can be clipped on your belt loop or a backpack. It has great knife and screwdriver bits. This tool has saved my butt many times.
7. Every outdoor adventurer needs a great pair of hiking boots or shoes to get to the rock hunting sites, because everyone knows you can't just drive up to the best locations. Whether you wear men's or women's shoes, the Merrell Moab 3's are the top choice for comfort and durability. I've been wearing Merrell shoes for years, for work and play, sometimes up to 40,000 steps per day. They stand up to the harsh desert terrain here in Arizona, and are amazing for work where I'm on my feet, walking around all day long. These are my 3 pairs from the last 7 or so years.
8. If your rock collecting friend is all set for their outdoor adventures and doesn't need anymore tools, a shirt, hat, mug, or sticker can help them show off their love for rocks and minerals everywhere they go. These designs and many more are available on t-shirts, hoodies, and other items on Redbubble or TeePublic.
9. Anther popular gift for people who love rocks is a crystal necklace. Wire wrapped stones and jar necklaces add a touch of personality to any outfit. Here are a few unique pieces of handmade jewelry that would look good on any geology lover. Each pendant shown below offers free shipping.
10. Finally, the thing you can never go wrong with when shopping for a rock collector, is more rocks! Especially interesting are rocks that they can't find near their home, or special types of minerals they don't yet have in their collection. They will be so excited to tell everyone that their sister, brother, mom, dad, or friend got them rocks for Christmas, their birthday, graduation, or any other special occasion or holiday. While Grumbly Tumbleweed has some cool rocks for sale, Desert Snail Minerals has a far better selection. Here are just a few:
