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EducationWhere do I actually start

7th Aug 2018 07:07 UTCNickolas Drake

I love reading about minerals, looking at great finds, and picking up rocks from creeks 100 feet from my house. But I have no idea where I should go to find anything other than hazy looking quartz. I've looked around my area on mindat and all I see within a relatively close distance are aluminum prospects, limestone quarries, etc. A bit further away is an unnamed copper occurrence with pretty specific instructions about the location of the occurrence, but it is an hour away. Should I just go and hope for the best? Should I take any tools? Will I even find anything? I know there is so much to read but its all a bit overwhelming and I want to find something already, hope my enthusiasm doesn't seem too impatient

Thanks a lot!

7th Aug 2018 09:28 UTCKeith Compton 🌟 Manager

Your best bet is to seek out and join a local mineral club, or geological society or lapidary club.

That way you will be able to get more, and appreciate more, understanding of what is available and accessible in your local area.

Just because a locality is listed in Mindat does not mean it is accessible.

7th Aug 2018 11:33 UTCBecky Coulson 🌟 Expert

Nickolas,

Welcome to Mindat - begin by telling us where you are!! Joining a local club is a great idea, for collecting opportunities (where otherwise you might not be allowed) and for learning from experienced members how to collect and identify minerals. Most basic field guides will suggest equipment (including safety equipment!) and introduce you to rocks and minerals, which you will find helpful. We all started as beginners, we all had a lot to learn, and we all probably felt impatient to get started. If you give your location (state and county or town), people here can give you a bit more help. Try to be patient and enjoy your hobby!

7th Aug 2018 14:10 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Welcome to Mindat, Nickolas!

You have already made a great first step by finding Mindat. As I'm sure you've discovered, there is a wealth of information here, enough to keep anyone involved for hours.

However, as Keith has mentioned, just because a site is listed on Mindat does not necessarily guarantee its accessibility. Always check with the proper people before exploring a new site. Also, joining a local mineral club or society will help you immensely, both in looking at and identifying new specimens, as well as accessing site. Most clubs have ways to access local sites that an individual simply doesn't.

Enjoy your newfound pastime!

7th Aug 2018 17:28 UTCNickolas Drake

I live just outside Chattanooga in Collegedale, Tennessee. The nearest clubs are too far away except for one club I've found that does not seem to be active based on the fact that the Facebook page hasn't posted in two years or so and most links to a website are dead links. I've tried to contact the club and if I get a response, great! Otherwise, I'm at a loss...

7th Aug 2018 17:58 UTCMatt Neuzil Expert

There are places to collect just across in north carolina if that is not too far from you. There may be opportunities in neighboring states as well. Check out mineral clubs in georgia as they might have trips to graves mountain and other places. I am not sure what i considered too far away for you, but perhaps you or your family can make an event of your trip and have fun together. I think one place in north carolina could be the Little Pine garnet mine. You can fill a bucket with garnets for 25 dollars I believe.

7th Aug 2018 18:28 UTCKevin Conroy Manager

You may want to check the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies page: http://www.amfed.org/sfms/

There are links for Tennessee and surrounding states' clubs. Also, about an hour away is an excellent mineral museum, well worth the drive! http://tellusmuseum.org/galleries-more/permanent-galleries/weinman-mineral-gallery/

7th Aug 2018 18:36 UTCNickolas Drake

Thanks to all for all the information, I really appreciate it. I hope to find a club soon!

7th Aug 2018 19:05 UTCNickolas Drake

One question I keep asking myself is how are new localities found? If I know a particular area has something like fluorite present, what are the odds of finding it nearby in a creek or a local outcrop? I suppose that answering this kind of question would require consideration of a bit more than I might expect, but I'm not geology expert (yet I suppose ;))

5th Sep 2018 04:08 UTCDonald B Peck Expert

Welcome to mindat, Nickolas.

Most new mineral sites, at least in the eastern U,.S.. are found road cuts during new construction, or in rock quarries as they are enlarged. There are very few new mines opened and a lot of old ones have been closed. Construction sites sometimes open up the bedrock. So, active field collectors keep an eye out for road construction, excavations for building construction or bridge construction. They look for new exposures of rock. Sometimes they . . . we . . . get lucky. Try and find that club! It is by far the best way to get started.

Don

5th Sep 2018 12:40 UTCアーロンベリル

I've gotten so much golden intel from local collectors' blogs. They never reveal where they got their goodies, but they leave loads of bread crumbs of info that gives me an idea of what vicinity they were finding success.

Better yet, contacting them and buying them dinner usually leads to an invitation to collect with them. They won't show you where their honey hole is, but they might kindly show you some places worth prospecting. Libraries, blogs and old mineralogical records are your best friend! Good luck!

6th Sep 2018 02:25 UTCDoug Daniels

Nickolas-

Even though they may be "far away" from you, check into joining either the Georgia Mineral Society, or the Cobb County Gem & Mineral Society. Although based in the Atlanta area, both have members from far and wide, most likely for the connections to collecting sites. Either would be a wise choice. If you want to see their shows - Cobb will be the soonest, the weekend before Thanksgiving. GMS holds their's over Mother's Day weekend. And, yes, Chattanooga ain't that far from Atlanta......

You could also check in at the Tellus Museum in Cartersville - a bit closer to you. Which reminds me, there is (or was) a club in Rome, GA, and maybe even one in Cartersville. Many options in your vicinity.

6th Sep 2018 09:10 UTCJason B. Smith Expert

Hi Nick! I live in Charlotte, NC, and am fairly familiar with collecting in the SE. I don’t know what your interests are, but there are a wide variety of localities that are easily accessible with permission. One club you should consider joining is the MAGMA group, which organizes collecting trips to numerous spots in the SE. I tend to gravitate towards localities that produce microminerals and rare species, and that group seems to focus on larger material, but still has access to many closed or private localities. I have been collecting at a locality near the NC/TN border recently that is producing some amazing, although mostly tiny stuff. I’d be glad to have you come along at some point, probably a 2.5hr drive for you.

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