This is not a required list of items to purchase in order to go rockhounding. But it’s a good over-all peak at what type of things you might need.
Some of these you’ll need sooner rather than later. And once you get out and start getting a little experience under your belt, you’ll begin to get a good grasp on what you really need.
This list of recommended gear/tools is always changing. So be sure to check back every once in a while to see what I’ve added/removed.
Again, the bare minimum you need to get started rockhounding is a pair of shoes and a love for the outdoors. After that, it’s all bonus!
- Must-have tool for geologists
- Genuine leather grip provides a large, solid handle
- Head and handle are forged in one piece for extra stability
- Fully polished to create a smooth, protected surface
- Perfect balance
- Industry best tempering
GREAT FOR ROCKHOUNDS - The Estwing Rock Pick is a geologist's best friend. It is the #1 choice of Geologists worldwide. This rock pick has a genuine leather grip and is made of forged steel with a tempered point, and will last you for years to come.
GENUINE LEATHER GRIP - The handle on this rock pick is made of laminated leather "O" rings pressed and then riveted to the shaft. The whole handle is then laminated. This makes it aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to hold in your hand while you are out digging for rocks or minerals.
Grabbing a pair of gloves to take with you should be on the top of your list and your hands will thank you.
You'll use a wire brush like this one to clean up the rocks you find. Any wire brush will do, but you're definitely going to want to add one of these to your collection of tools.
This might be my all time MUST HAVE rockhounding tool. I take mine along with me everywhere I go, whether its searching for agates along the beach, petrified wood along the river bank or walking the high desert looking for Oregon sunstones.
This collapsible foraging pouch doubles as the ideal rock collection bag.
It simply attaches to your belt and you don't even know its there.
This pouch is a must have.
This rock tumbler is the same one that I use to polish all of my rocks, and I can't recommend it enough. Compared to other rotary tumblers it's very quiet, which cannot be said for many other tumblers. This one is built to last and is used by professional rock tumblers around the world.
Everything You Need - 4 Step grit pack and ceramic filler for use in 15 lb. tumbler or five 3 lb. tumble sessions.
- 1 lb. 60/90 Coarse Silicon Carbide Grit
- 1 lb. 180/220 Medium Silicon Carbide Grit
- ½ lb. 500 Fine Silicon Carbide
- ½ lb 1200 Aluminum Oxide Polish
- 1.5 lbs. non-abrasive ceramic filler cylinders.
- Perfect for breaking large rocks into smaller rocks
- Two flat polished ends
- Functions as a small handheld sledgehammer
- Also used to drive chisels and point ends into rocks
Give it a swing with the Estwing SureStrike hammer and you’ll feel the weight of this new revolution in striking tools. The head is forged from high quality steel, hardened, tempered and then painted blue to resist corrosion.
Both faces are polished for precision strikes and offers increased surface area which means less pounding needed on heavy duty tasks like brick chiseling or hitting cold chisels.
Weighing at just around 3 pounds it has an 11 inch jacketed, textured yellow fiberglass handle that allows heavier blows so your arm won't get tired halfway through your rockhounding expedition.
- Sharpened and thickened flat end made of heat treated chrome-vanadium steel CRV steel
- The anti-slip grip grip and big plate offer hand protection against glancing blows or missed hits.
- Handle also serves as a shock absorber
- Ideal for rockhounds
One of the unsung heroes for rockhounds is the hand rock chisel. I've found myself in countless situations where the specimens I was after were only obtainable by chiseling away at the material around it. This has been the case for unearthing thundereggs, fossils and many other rocks and minerals.
This heavy duty flat rock chisel has an integrated hand protector which is going to serve you well when the rock chips start flying. (Don't forget to wear safety goggles!)
This tool isn't for everyone. I'm listing it here for those who just aren't able to reach down and pick things up off the ground as easy as before. So, if you spend much time beachcombing, then you'll want to give this one a try. It's well worth it.
- Great for those with trouble bending down to pick up items.
- Access Hard To Reach Spots
- Stay Dry
- Doubles as a Walking Stick
