The following information is intended to help you safely enjoy your rockhounding adventures in Utah.

Tools of the Trade

Essentials:

• Rock hammer - Don't leave home without it. There are two types of rock hammers. A standard point rock hammer, or geologist's pick has a hammer on one end that is good for breaking rock and a pointed tip on the other end that is good for digging. The second type of hammer is a chisel point rock hammer. This type has a hammer on one end and a flat, chisel shaped tip on the other ideal for splitting sedimentary layers in search of fossils. The standard point hammer is probably the best to start out with and is most versatile. If you are serious about the hobby you should have both. Buy a good quality hammer. They cost more than a cheap one but will far outlast others and are well worth the few extra dollars. Estwing and Plumb are two good brands.
• Safety Glasses - Always wear safety glasses when breaking and splitting rock.
• Pack - Bring a small backpack or fanny pack to bring the good stuff home in.

Accessories:

• Crack Hammer - A crack hammer is a small one-handed sledge hammer. These are useful when you have to split open large boulders or bedrock in order to get at the mineral deposits.
• Chisels - Used in conjunction with a rock or crack hammer for heavier work. The standard flat chisels are used to seperate bedding planes while the gad point chisels are handy to split open crevaces.
• Pry Bars - These can come in very handy when working the crevaces.
• Jewelers Loupe - A small hand-held magnifying glass to examine small crystal specimens.
• Tissue Paper - This is a must if you are collecting delicate specimens. Wrap them in tissue paper before putting them into your pack.

Land Status

This is very important! Be aware of the land status of the area you are collecting in. While most collecting areas are on public lands, many popular areas (especially old mines) are on private lands. In the case of old mining areas, if they are not posted or fenced, it is likely that they are open to the collector. If we act in a responsibile manner, chances are good that they will remain that way.

Be aware that some public lands are also off limits to collecting. State and National Parks, and National Monuments are some examples of this. Other public lands have special collecting regulations. For example, collecting is allowed in wilderness and wilderness study areas as long is there is no discernable surface disturbance.

Listed below are just some of the things that we must strive to avoid on both public and private lands:

• Littering
• Driving off designated roads
• Bulk sampling/commercial collecting (without proper permits)
• Vandalism
• The destruction or removal of items of historical/archeological significance
  

Safety

Weather: Be sure to check the forcast for the area you intend to visit beforehand and bring the appropriate clothing and footwear. High elevations in Utah can see snow at any time of the year. Many back roads and stream crossings can become impassable during and after rainstorms.

Natural Hazards: Most collecting areas in Utah are pretty wild places. There are many ways that the careless can be injured or even killed. Rough terrain, exposed cliffs, lightning, flash floods, heat, cold and wild animals are just some of the dangers to be aware of and prepared for.

Mines: Many of the best collecting areas are in old mining districts. This presents the rockhounder with several unique hazards. Open mine shafts are everywhere. Be very careful around them. One misstep could be your last. Do not enter old mine tunnels. Cave-ins and uninhabitable atmospheres are just two of the things that could do you in underground. Sometimes discarded explosives are left at old mining areas. If you happen to come across some, do not disturb it in any way. Dynamite becomes very unstable with age. Don't let these perils keep you from collecting at mines. Old mine dumps present the collector with some of the greatest specimens. Just be extra cautious and remember the do's and don'ts.

Emergencies: Lets face it. Schist happens. Not only is it more enjoyable to go rockhounding with friends, it is also safer. If you can go with a buddy do it! Be sure to tell someone back at home where you and your group intend to go also. Keep in mind how far off the highway you are travelling to reach your destination. Ensure that in the event of a breakdown you can safely reach the highway on foot. If this is a significant distance, that means having food, water and adequate clothing. Just remember that your chances of getting into serious trouble increase proportionatly with how far into the back country you travel. The further into the wild you go, the more prepared you have to be. Ensure also that your vehicle is in top shape before any rockhounding adventure.