Rockhounding

I was once an avid rock collector, or a rockhound if you will. I owned a book that detailed the various rocks and semiprecious gems that could be found around Utah and I made it a goal to own a specimen of every rock in that book. Needless to say, I eventually outgrew my fascination with rocks when I discovered girls. If only I knew then what I know now, I’d have stuck with the rocks. Rocks are simple; girls not so much. Anyway, I never really stopped liking rocks, and still today when I visit a natural history museum I enjoy ogling the pretty stones and crystals on display.

Rocks are funny. Actually, people who become excited over rocks are funny. I remember showing my brother a stone with a cool pattern as I exclaimed, “Hey! Cool! Look at this rock! It looks like it has a ribbon of caramel through the center!” He took it out of my hand, said, “Yeah, and it’s pretty flat, too,” and promptly skipped it across the placid lake we were standing near. I was distraught over the whole incident, but now I look back and think it was the right thing for him to do. I had enough rocks sitting around at home, many of which were more interesting than that caramel-ribbon stone.

Rock collecting can be a fun hobby, if you have the space for the collection in your home. Otherwise, you end up putting rocks in boxes and they get in the way and then you throw them out and then you wish you hadn’t so you find another box to start putting rocks in…and you wind up in a vicious cycle. Some people display their rocks in their front yard in a rock garden. Rock gardens are simple to take care of and as you collect more and more rocks, your garden becomes more and more beautiful and interesting. As a teenager I had my own little rock garden in my room (mostly because when I was growing up we lived on a mountain and our whole yard was already rocks, and if I had placed any of my collection outside, I would have had a hard time ever finding that rock again) and it gradually swallowed up my 6’x3’ desk so I couldn’t do homework anymore.

The coolest thing about rocks is that they’re everywhere! And free! Well, that depends on where you’re collecting your rocks. There are many locations around Utah that require person to procure a permit or special permission to remove rocks from that area. A rockhound can collect rocks on most federal lands without a permit, except for a few key areas, such as National Parks and wildlife refuges. State lands typically require a permit and there are limits as to how much a person can haul away per day and year. Private lands, of course, require special permission from whoever owns the land. For more information on rules and regulations, I’ve provided a helpful website: http://www.rocks4u.com/Utahrockhoundingrules.htm.

Utah is a wonderful state for rockhounding. Our diverse landscape offers numerous types of rock to discover. Should you desire to try your hand at rockhounding, there are a few popular locations that are sure to whet your appetite: the Dugway Geode Beds; Gold Hill; Topaz Mountain; and Antelope Springs. Each area offers different specimens to collect and enjoy. Just remember to have a good grip on a rock that you plan to keep when you say something stupid like, “Hey! Cool! Look how this rock sparkles when the sun hits it just right!”