Collecting fossils and minerals is a lot of fun. Trampling through creek beds or desert canyons is an enjoyable pastime to share with family and friends. Fossils tell of the history of the planet. They are the remains of plants or animals that lived a very long time ago. Minerals are things of beauty that can be enjoyed for generations.
Looking for fossils can be a year-round hobby, minus snowfalls. The main rocks and rock layers that contain fossils are the sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks are formed of sediments like mud, clay and sand. They are deposited in seas, lakes, deserts and river valleys. As the layers are deposited on top of each other, dead organizations are mixed in. The weight of the top layers compresses the bottom layers into rock eventually.
Searching for minerals is a little harder as they are found in rocks. There are hundreds of minerals and they are found in certain areas usually. So, if there is a particular mineral you want to hunt for, use maps and books to find likely areas to hunt. If you are open to what can be found in an area, local minerals are as exciting to find as fossils. A lot of times, fossils and minerals are found together.
The best places to start searching are fresh exposures of rocks. Head for new road or railway cuts, quarries and other places where rock is being dug out. Water runoff gullies, along rivers and streams and rock canyons are great places to hunt and free of tree and brambles. Watch out for snakes and other wildlife though. If the land is private or company-owned, be sure to ask permission first.
You want to be prepared before you set off. Items like water, snacks, sunscreen and other things will let you stay out longer, especially if the hunting is good. Wear long pants and boots if you plan on hunting in areas with grasses and stickers. Tools to have in your large tough bag include a notebook and pencil, magnifying glass, old newspapers, plastic baggies and a map. There are two camps on bringing a rock hammer. Some believe that more damage is done to the surrounding area using a hammer. Others want to be able to chisel out specimens from the surrounding rock. If you do bring a hammer and chisels, be sure to use safety goggles and gloves to protect from flying rock chips. Use the notebook and pencil to make notes of where you found a fossil or mineral, surrounding rock and other information that might help you in identifying them later. Wrap them in old newspaper for protection and place them one to a baggy for carrying.
After finding fossils and minerals, some of them may need to be cleaned. Cleaning is best done at home on a good table with light and an assortment of old dental equipment or other tools. Soak them in warm water to rinse off dust and mud. Some delicate fossils may need to have some epoxy placed on them and then be sealed with a coating of shellac. Fossils that were found in a beach environment may need to have the sea salts removed to prevent damage. Make a note of what material the fossil is made of, for instance clay can be dissolved away completely. Once cleaned and preserved, display them for your friends and family. Old jewelry cases are excellent displays.
