These are articles written by Eric Edie.

How Do I Get Started

This is a question I get asked a lot by beginning rockhounders young and old. Good question ? I suggest getting a couple of books that explains the basic's.

Rockhounding is one of the best ways for families to spend time together. When we go on outings we always go as a family. Can remember the kids when they were little always picking up stones. Today they are teens and when I say anyone interested in going digging I best be out of the way as they fly by me , headed for the truck with tools in hand.

How did I get started? I happened to be an underground miner. I would bring home the pretty stuff to display on the shelves. Saw in the paper that there would be a rock and mineral show going on close by, so we as a family decided why not go and see some other neat things. Boy was I blow over, I wanted everything. I had never seen so many crystals from around the world. We went home that night talking non-stop about what we had see, and I knew we had just seen just a small part.

The next day found me back at that show with extra stuff I had collected from working underground. Guess you could say that hadn't seen stuff like that either. I came home with a truck load of stuff from around the world and many good friends to stay in touch through out the year. I need to warn you now before it is to late....rock collecting is very addictive. By my second year of collecting, my two cars were parked outside and the three stall garage was full of rocks. There is no end to it, you are always looking for something new or better that what you already have ( laughs).

You are saying , "what if I am not an underground miner?". Start by going to a show close to you. Find out information of places to visit and dig, plan outings. Start small, you don't need a lot of money in order to enjoy the hobby. Join a club in your area, they usually have planned events of going to different areas to dig. Keep the best pieces and swap the rest for stuff you would like to add to your collection. Now you too will be know for having rocks in your head.

happy diggings