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Field CollectingTexas Collecting Sites

24th Jul 2014 15:49 UTCCraig Fraser

Hello!

I am the father of an 6 year old boy named Quillin that is fascinated by rocks and minerals. He has wanted to be a geologist when grows up for a year now, ever since he really started noticing how different rocks are from each other. He loves to learn about how the different rocks and minerals are formed. I want to encourage this as much as possible, so I am looking for places I can take him to collect rocks and minerals on short day trips. basically no more than an hour or so drive away.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Also, I haven't the faintest clue about what equipment we will need, how to begin collect specimens, the best way to store them once we find them....or even how to classify what we find. But, it is going to be fun to learn. So if anyone has any tips for me, they would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Craig

24th Jul 2014 17:46 UTCHarold (Hal) Prior Expert

What area of Texas do you live in?

24th Jul 2014 17:53 UTCCraig Fraser

HA! How did I forget to put that in there? We live in the Sugar Land area of Fort Bend County.

24th Jul 2014 18:41 UTCVitya

Hi Craig. Welcome to the mindat.org community and it's also good to hear at such a young age your son taking an interest in Geology. I didn't really begin collecting till I was in my early teen's or in my early 10's and only as of this year revived my interest/fascination in this hobby from a small break from it. Interestingly enough I also began at a similar age locally and dreamed of becoming a Geologist only to pursue a different career/job path.

Unfortunately since my collecting is focused on Ontario particularly Parry Sound/Sudbury and the Hastings/Haliburton Co. I cannot suggest any collecting sites or localities for Texas as I haven't collected there yet. However I can provide suggestions in terms of equipment and gear and also for field identification.

One of the most important pieces of equipment you will need is a Geological hammer and perhaps a crack hammer. I find myself using the crack hammer more often than my Geological hammer. I have a 24oz and a 30oz Geological hammer/rockpick in my inventory. The 24oz has the nylon blue handle and the 30oz is the leather handle version. I also have a 3lb and a 4lb crack hammer (hand sledge). In addition I have 4 various chisels for various rocks and minerals. The above equipment is from Estwing which manufactures in the USA and I would highly recommend. I recently obtained a Geological/Prospectors Pick as well from Estwing thanks to a recommendation by a fellow member in this forum. The pricing varies for some of the equipment above but the Chisels are typically $10-20 and the Rockhammer can be around $30-50 depending on the handle type and the weight/version of it. The big Estwing geological/prospectors/paleontological pick can be between $60 and higher depending on where it is purchased from. Safety Goggles and thick or durable gloves are also a must for working in the field. A hard hat may be essential if working in a quarry or an environment with rock overhangs or rocks that are high.

That covers the most crucial equipment you will need so far to work in the field. Moving on to helpful equipment I can begin to suggest elbow pads and knee pads as you will find yourself bumping into rocks and also kneeling on rocks examining specimens. They are extremely helpful in my opinion. I also have a load bearing vest for general purpose use and also a nice boonie hat as the summer conditions here is very hot and humid and it helps to shield against the sun. In addition I have a large rucksack and a hydration carrier/bladder for storing my specimens and for providing water. While some of those mentioned may be optional and for more specialized collectors I thought I would mention it nevertheless. The equipment I use for knee pads/elbow pads etc... are all genuine US Made Military surplus/issue. The gloves are cowhide and have survived many cuts and scrapes and abrasions. The safety goggles I use are CSA Approved Safety Goggles. Finally I also recommend and use safety shoes/boots. The ones I have are Kodiak which I have had for quite sometime already. I also have some other equipment as well such as a Geiger counter but that is for prospecting Uranium or Thorium minerals.'

For storing specimens plastic bags and zip lock bags are definitely recommended. If you also have empty egg cartons or empty boxes those are great for storing specimens. Some recommend newspapers and I have used bubble wrap on some cases. Packaging is really up to the person doing it. I would not recommend any kind of thin fiber packaging material like cotton fiber or cotton wool as it can get lodged in the specimen.

For field literature I would recommend taking a look at Amazon's listing for top rock collecting/geology/mineralogy books. Here is a link for both ones I have found:

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-Rock-Mineral-Field-Guides/zgbs/books/290105

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-Childrens-Rock-Mineral/zgbs/books/3278

From the first link the books I have in my collection are: #3 (different cover) , #7, #18 (really good for field work) , #20 , #31 , #36. I also have other books some of which are similar to the above #'s which were a present or gift from Geologists/Mineralogists.

I haven't gone into too much detail because what I had covered primarily for equipment is mentioned in many links and articles for clubs/books and even on blogs/websites. I hope this will be of assistance to the Junior rockhound in the family and best of luck rockhounding.

24th Jul 2014 19:27 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Craig,

First off, welcome to Mindat! :)-D

Secondly, with you living in the Sugarland area, have you heard of the Houston Gem & Mineral Society? We are a large group of folks interested in all aspects of earth science from mineralogy to paleontology, lapidary, and other subjects including a specific youth section. Our clubhouse is located near the intersection of the Southwest Freeway (US 59) and Beltway 8. The General Meetings are every fourth (4th) Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and the other sections meet at different times throughout the month; check the website for more information. The Mineralogy and Paleontological Sections of the Society in particular also go out on field trips to selected Texas localities. Last November, the Mineral Section took a weekend trip to the Hill Country to collect fluorite and topaz from two private ranches. If you can, please come out and join us.....

What Vitya has mentioned are good suggestions, and I won't beat a deadhorse any further in that respect. The only other piece of advice I would give is to determine what most interests you and your son in terms of collecting and research that area to the fullest extent to truly understand your subject. It is great that he already has a passion for geology and wants to pursue it further. I became interested in geology about that same age and it led me to being a geologist today.

Good luck with your endeavors....

24th Jul 2014 19:37 UTCCraig Fraser

Thanks, Vitya. I appreciate the suggestions. I am making a list for his 7th birthday right now.(tu)

Paul: I did not know about the Houston Gem and Mineral Society. He and I will certainly be looking in to joining. It would be awesome to take some field trips with him to do exactly that. I really appreciate the help.

He will be very excited. I have, no less than 50 pounds of rocks he has "discovered" in our back yeard strewn about the house. I am actually looking forward to adding to that total.

25th Jul 2014 03:52 UTCA. M.

Bricklayer hammer (metal, no wood), available at Home Depot, works well for us as a basic smashing device http://www.estwing.com/bricklayer_hammers.php

25th Jul 2014 05:22 UTCHarold (Hal) Prior Expert

I lived in Clear Lake for 30 years and was a member of the Clear Lake G&M as well as the Houston G&M. Now retired and living in Iowa. One of our favorite collecting locales - was to go to northwest side of Lake Travis. Many of the small side roads leading to the the lake made areas have open areas or cuts where loose cretaceous fossils (sea urchins, oysters, etc.) were so prevalent it was difficult to walk on the areas. We would pack a lunch and drinks and the two boys would collect 100's of fossils. My yougest did his first collecting from his stroller. Also had an abundance of small lizards "3" to 12" and other critters along some of small streams. My boys always enjoyed the day away from the city and finding new collectibles. My youngest later collected hundreds of fossil shark teeth in the Austin area and became a sharks tooth expert as a student at UT. Wish I was closer to get to the areas again. Some good minerals (calcite, Celestite, Quartz, etc.) can be found around Austin - however, not as easy as the fossil collecting. As a retired geologist it is good to hear another generation has the interest. My one grandson has a nature interest - the others are all attached to their electornics!

30th Jul 2014 16:22 UTCStephen C. Blyskal Expert

Craig,

Like Paul I am also a member of the Houston Gem & Mineral Society and the Mineral Section within it. The Youth Section is an active group that meets the 1st and 3rd Saturday mornings at our clubhouse near 59 and the Sam Houston Tollway. The kids work on various age appropriate projects and also have the opportunity to use our shop to learn to cut and polish cabachons and make wire wrap jewelry. Fossil collecting in Texas is the most appropriate activity for a youngster as it can be done with simple tools and not a tremendous amount of digging or hammering. He is a little young to be allowed on mineral field trips where people are beating on rocks and sharp shards are flying everywhere. Our Paleo Section is a great place to start for a young collector. They have lots of resources and a good knowledge of collecting localities in and around the Houston area. Fossils and petrified wood are abundant in the eastern half of Texas and they know where you can find them. Please check it out. We always want to encourage youngsters with an interest in the natural world. I got started mineral collecting later, in Boy Scouts, but I always had an interest in nature and my parents encouraged that. I ended up with 2 geology degrees and have worked as a geologist for many years, most of them in Houston. I look forward to seeing you around the club. As the senior mineral person in the club I am available as a resource for you to use.

Steve Blyskal

School Collections Chairman

Swap Area Chairman - HGMS Annual Show

30th Jul 2014 22:52 UTCDoug Daniels

I too was once a member of the Houston club, and highly recommend it as a resource. Granted, the general meetings may not be of much interest to your son at this point, maybe you could attend them and learn more (but, they also have a yearly show...). The kids section was added after I had left the area so I don't know much about it, but it would be more appropriate to his age level. At any rate, the club is a good source of information, such as for getting collecting ideas for areas you might visit on vacation. Being a member of a club is so much better than trying to figure it all out by yourself. Good luck, and let's hope he keeps his interest, it will make him a more scientifically literate person, even if he doesn't become a geologist.

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