13 Of The BEST Gift Ideas For Rock Collectors And Geologists

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Rock, Mineral and Geology Gifts

We all have at least one loved one that’s a rockhound, am I right?   But even if you don’t have a rockhound in the family, we definitely know someone that is really into rocks and mineral  collecting.  

Or maybe their into fossil digging or arrowhead collecting.  Regardless of their specialty…all we know is that a gift related to rockhounding is going to be the perfect gift.

 Whether you’re looking for gifts for rock collectors, geology gifts for children or just some gift ideas for rock and mineral lovers, you want to make sure you get them a gift they’ll love. And if you’re like me…that’s often times easier said then done.

That’s exactly why I put together this post.  I want to help make sure you give your rock collector the perfect gift! 

So if you’re looking for help to find the perfect gifts for rock collectors and mineral lovers, keep on reading! 

Gift Ideas Mentioned

Best Gifts Ideas For Rock Collectors And Mineral Lovers

1. Rockhounding Books

Must Have!

A must have for every serious rockhound!

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A book about rockhounding or rock and mineral identification is probably one of the best gifts you could give.

Regardless of what kind of rockhound you are, or want to be, finding and reading a good book on the subject is an excellent source of knowledge.  Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a seasoned rockhound, there is always new information to learn and explore.

2. Ultraviolet Light

Great For Minerals!
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There are many different kinds of stones that will actually glow underneath the light of a UV lamp. This is great for the rock collector because it immediately gives tell tale signs of what kinds of minerals make up the rock.

As a general rule, you want to have a UV light that is something in the 365nm range for rockhounding. And that’s exactly where the UV Beast flashlight sits.

The UV Beast is a high intensity, rechargeable blacklight flashlight that gives off super bright UV light up to 135 feet away! Any rockhound would be lucky to have this UV light in their collection of tools.

3. Subscription To Rock n Gem Magazine

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If you don’t think that a book is the right gift for your rock and mineral enthusiast, then a magazine subscription to one of the best (if not the best) rock and mineral magazines in the world will be the perfect idea.

Any rockhound will enjoy this nicely balanced mix of knowledge, food for thought, and entertainment. Minerals, collecting ideas and trends, and jewelry-making are all covered in depth in each issue. So whether you’re a casual fan or a dedicated aficionado, Rock & Gem offers something to pique your curiosity, whether it’s digging, collecting, or faceting.

4. Rockhounding T-Shirts

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T-Shirts are an awesome gift idea for any occasion, especially for rockhounds. Rock collectors and really anyone who is fascinated by geology in general love to tell the world about their hobby. These T-shirts let rock collectors say it loud-and-proud that they are a rockhound. 

The amount and type of t-shirts that are available is huge and always changing. So be sure to check out these T-shirts for rock collectors. You’re rockhound will love it!

5. Rock Tumbler/Polisher

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A rock tumbler is the perfect gift for rock collectors. There are two types of tumblers: rotary and vibratory, but both serve the same purpose of polishing and rounding rough stones.

Rotary tumblers are barrel-shaped and rotate slowly to polish the rocks inside with the help of other rocks and abrasives. We recommend getting a single barrel beginner-friendly tumbler like Lortone 3A Single Barrel Tumbler.

Vibratory tumblers (or vibes for short) take much less time to polish up stones and maintain the original stones’ shape. Vibes have a container that shakes the rocks rapidly, the shaking causes friction which in turn polishes the rocks. If you’re interested in trying out a vibe, Raytech’s Vibratory Tumbler is a good start.

6. Rock Hammers and Rockhounding Tools

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A rock hammer makes an excellent gift for rock collectors. That’s because every serious rockhound uses one…frequently! And if your rockhound doesn’t currently own a good quality rock hammer, then this will make the perfect gift for rock collectors.

The Estwing Rock Picks all have bonded and molded Shock Reduction Grips which offer both comfort and durability by reducing vibrations caused by impact. The head and handle are forged in one piece and have a fully polished head. These Estwing rock hammers are the first choice for geologists and paleontologists all around the world.

For a more in depth look at other rock hammers, check out my post, The Best Rock Hammer For Amateur Geologists and Beginner Rockhounds.

7. Rock Hammer Sheath

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A sheath for your persons rock pick is an excellent gift idea. This is the one item that many new rockhounds and amateur geologists seem to forget. At least until they’ve been out in the field a handful of times.

Being able to keep both hands free while tromping through and over the terrain is a huge benefit to any rock collector. In addition to keeping hands free and available for walking, this sheath also protects the point of the rock pick, which is an additional safety feature.

You should note, however, that although this sheath fits many different Estwing rock hammers, it is not universal. So be sure to know what size hammer you are buying for.

8. Collapsible Canvas Rock Collecting Pouch

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The rock collector you’re shopping for will adore this collapsible waterproof leather and canvas collecting pouch. The bag conveniently attaches to a belt and easily folds up into a little bundle when not being used.

Then, when it’s time to start collecting, simply unsnap the pouch and toss anything you come across into it. The bag is long-lasting and spacious enough for a full day of collecting. No more heavy buckets, no more over-filled pockets and no more multiple trips back and forth to where you left your bucket.

9. Rock Collecting Tool Kit

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If you’re looking for a gift for a child who’s showing an interest in rockhounding, then this kit is a great place to start.

This kit is not professional grade, but for a beginner its an excellent affordable option to get the different types of tools into their hand.

The bag is constructed of strong fabric and can hold all of your tools as well as the rocks, minerals, gemstones, gold and fossils your rock collector or budding geologist unearths.

The rockhound kit comes with:

  • Hammer x 1
  • Rock chisels x 3
  • Musette bag x 1
  • Shovel x 1
  • 3 in 1 Whistle x 1
  • Jewelers Loupe x1
  • Cleaning Brush x 1
  • Wooden chisels x 1

10. Rite in the Rain All-Weather Hard Cover Notebook

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Unfortunately, mother nature doesn’t always provide warm weather and sunshine. Rockhounds and geologists spend their time outside.  And often times that time spent outside is in the rain.

But the work goes on, and that includes cataloging and note taking.  That’s where this Rite in the Rain all weather notebook comes in handy, and makes a great gift idea for rockhounds. 

This all weather notebook is constructed with paper that won’t turn to mush when wet and will repel water, sweat, grease, mud, and even survive the accidental laundry mishap. 

11. Adjustable Rock Display Case

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Rock collection display cases make awesome gifts for rockhounds.  The reason I like this display case is because it’s adjustable meaning it can accommodate all different types of rock collections.

This display case is made out of real wood and is completely customizable.

For a closer look at some of the best display cases, check you my post about the best display cases for rockhounds.

12. Geologists Magnifying Loup

Recommended!
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A hand lens, or jewlers loupe, is an important tool for any rock collector and would love to receive one as a gift.

The hand lens, or magnifier, will come in very handy when they need to get a much closer look at specimen details to identify a rock, mineral or fossil sample. They’re simply a must have for any serious rockhound.

You can find more detailed information and help finding the right magnifying loupe in my article, The Best Jeweler’s Loupes For Rockhounds.

Garrett Romaine, Author of The Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook explains in his book  how a hand lens can be useful no matter what kind of rock, mineral or other geological specimen you might be after.

Rockhounds frequently use hand lenses to determine if they are looking at quartz or calcite by estimating the angles of the crystal faces they see.

Gold prospectors use hand lenses to inspect black sands for garnets, tiny particles of gold and other things.

Fossil collectors use a hand lens to look for tiny fossil skeletons in limestone as well as inspect cell structure in leaf fossils. They also use them to look at foraminifera, which are tiny microscopic fossils that are not visible by the naked eye.

13. The Sand Dipper Beach Combing Scoop

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How nice would it be to be able to pick that rock or seashell up to take a look at it without ever bending over again?

Believe it or not, but it’s possible. Recently, I was introduced to one of the best beachcombing tools that will allow you to do just that. It’s called the Sand Dipper.

The Sand Dipper is a stainless steel ‘basket’ scoop that’s attached to a telescoping aluminum rod.  All you have to do is extend the pole out to your desired length, scoop up your rock or seashell and the wire mesh basket strains out the sand and dirt.  All that’s left is your rock, seashell or other object you wanted to pick up!  And you never had to bend over to get it!

You can read a complete review of The Sand Dipper that I put together along with many other uses for it on my post, Review Of The Best Beach Sand Scoop (Plus 5 Reasons To Own One!)

Final Thoughts…

Hopefully this list of gift ideas for rock collectors has helped spark some good ideas for what you want to give your rockhound!  Of course, there are many other things out there that make good gifts, but i’m confident that any rockhound anywhere would be more than thrilled with any of the ideas on this list.  

Good luck!

Gift Ideas Mentioned

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