- Rock Chasing
- Posts
- 💎 This is why I don't do drugs
💎 This is why I don't do drugs
Hello rockhound,
I’ve found some REALLY interesting things to share this week with my fellow rockhounds and geology enthusiasts. Mother Nature doesn’t go on Spring Break!
This week we cover
The fanciest dinosaur bones you’ll ever see
Incredible quartz formations
The ever-changing colors of Kunzite
An incredible wavellite find from a community member
Why I don’t do drugs
Much more!
Happy rockhounding!
Keith
A little sparkle to start
Kunzite: Photo credit - Saphira Minerals
Kunzite like this is a bit of a chameleon. It’s known for its strong pleochroism, which means it shows different colors when viewed from different angles.
The color can also change quite a bit depending on the type of light you’re in (outdoor vs indoor). It really is interesting to see!
A type of spodumene, Kunzite tends to be in shades of pink or violet like you see in the top of the specimen above. It’s a very pretty color and makes for some very interesting jewelry.
It’s also quite hard so you won’t have to worry about that jewelry breaking or scratching too easily!
It’s found all over the world, but if you want to find any in the US the best place to look is in the Pala District near San Diego. They are famous for it!
A Quick Recommendation
Like a lot of you, my desire for adventure and travel FAR exceeds my budget! I’m a huge fan of nature and exploration but there is just so much out there that I’ll never get to see.
Adventure Fix is a great newsletter that focuses on some of the really cool adventure locations and all of the nature and wildlife you can see there. It’s completely free and they share a lot of really cool stuff.
You can click on the button below to check it out for free. If you don’t like it, it’s also very easy to unsubscribe. No hassle, just a lot of beautiful nature.
They do provide a small bit of support to me every time someone signs up (even for free). It helps keep the completely free newsletter and website we provide up and running. Every little bit help!
|
Other people won’t understand….
It works for me….
Find of the week
Wavellite
Beautiful Wavellite find!
This week’s find comes from Dave, the Field Trip Coordinator for the Southern Maryland Rock and Mineral Club. His club visited the National Limestone Quarry at Mount Pleasant Mills in Pennsylvania on May 11th and found the beauty above.
What a find! Look at those bubbles!
I tip my hat to all of the hard-working field trip coordinators across the country that has the patience to deal with temperamental rockhounds like us. It’s not an easy job!
Send me photos of your rocks and minerals!
I want to see what you’re finding and adding to your collection! Send me photos of the rocks and minerals that you’re discovering in your rockhounding journey or bought and added to your collection so I can share it with the community.
Send your best photos and descriptions to [email protected] or just reply to this email!
Geology Highlights
Mako Shark Tooth - Photo credit: Fossilera
If you’re on the hunt for a real treasure, shark teeth are an awesome find! These pieces of nature have been around for millions of years, and they’re hidden in spots all over the country just waiting to be discovered.
We’ll show you where to go to find both FOSSILIZED shark teeth as well as more recent cast-offs!
Earth Enigmas
Each week we ask a fun trivia question here. We’ll share the answers and the community responses for everyone to read next week. Show off your rockhounding chops!
Don’t cheat!!!
Which of these is a common fluorescent mineral under UV light? |
Geology highlights
Agatized Dinosaur Bone - Photo credit: Sean Ecke
These are some fancy bones!
What an incredible variety of colors and shapes in a single specimen! This is a beautiful example of agatized dinosaur bone!
Agatized dinosaur bone is a type of fossilized bone that has been replaced or filled with silica, primarily in the form of agate or chalcedony. This process, known as silicification, preserves the original structure of the bone while giving it a stunning, often colorful appearance.
Essentially, the inside of the bone has been replaced with hundreds of tiny agates!
I kind of want them to do this to me after I die now…
Geology highlights
Chalcedony - Photo credit: StoneAgeLapidary
There are a LOT of different types of quartz. Some of them we all know about like Amethyst but there are some REALLY interesting lesser-known types out there.
The one thing they all have in common? They are absolutely incredible. check them out!
Rockhounding
After sharing the fossilized shark teeth article earlier I wanted to also share an incredible video of Dan Hurd finding gigantic ammonite fossils!
Not only is the video entertaining, but he covers a lot of really useful information for rockhounds that want to find more fossils themselves.
Community Tips
Your back can take it!
Change your vantage point
This week’s tip comes from Marcus in Tampa Bay:
Changing your vantage point is a great tip for spotting hidden treasures.
When I find something interesting, I squat down and scan the area from a lower angle to get a new perspective. Or I walk in a circle.
This can reveal rocks and minerals that I might miss when standing up in my original position.
Light reflects differently from different angles, making colors and shapes stand out more. By getting closer to the ground, I can see details and patterns that are otherwise hard to notice.
This simple technique has led to a lot more exciting discoveries for me.
Marcus
Every week one of our members shares a valuable tip or a big mistake they've made in their rockhounding journey. If you have a tip or mistake you'd like to share email us at [email protected] or just reply to this email!
Rockhound Shower Thoughts
“There is a rock somewhere that can claim the title of “most people tripped”, and it has been tripping people for thousands of years”
Geology Highlights
Quartz - Photo credit: Weinrich Minerals
There is a surprising amount of fake quartz floating around out there. Apparently, it’s very easy to make in a lab and is popular to use in manufacturing cheap jewelry.
Don’t be fooled! We’ll show you how to spot the fakes!
