Does anyone know a good place to look for beginners in Texas within a few hours of San Antonio?

Anyone know of any good rockhounding locations in Orange/Rockland County NY? Wanting to get more into it but want to try and stay a lil local

What gift ideas do you have for a rock hounder? Perhaps a rock tumbler or other tools? Let me know your favorite brands too!

I am new to crystal searching and retired so on a fixed budget. I will be passing through Arkansas in early January and want to spend about 4 days searching for crystals. Looking for suggestions what mines to hit and if Vista Trail would be worth trying. I have been watching YouTube but that only goes so far. Thanks in advance and have a great day.

Hello, I am looking for ideas or pictures of rock cleaning tables. I am curious what types of features would people recommend. I am planning to build such a table for a rockhound friend. What would be the basics? An old stainless steel sink? A place to hang brushes and picks, etc. Most of our rocks are from mountain rivers, streams and creeks so they usually smaller than a soft ball. Mainly rocks with holes is what we are hunting for! Any insight, advice or help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Hello rock hounds! My 9 year old son is fascinated with rocks and gemstones. I told him in the coming weeks we could go out searching for stuff and he's really excited. Me and the wife are getting him a rock tumbler for Xmas, and if he keeps interest in the hobby. Ill build him a solid tumbler

Thing is, we're both noobs. Is there any reading material we should be looking at in specific? We've scoured YouTube the past few days but most of what I found is either science stuff going over the 5 C's of gemstones, or just other people's tumbling videos.

Also, what should we bring with us tools wise in our backpack? A trench shovel, and a hammer of some sort (im assuming. Bricky's Hammer would be OK?) but anything more specific?

And lastly, he's REALLY into garnet for some reason. We're in philly, and I understand there's lots of tiny garnet we could pan out in the creeks at local parks, so we will eventually try that. But I think I've also seen people picking it out of dirt too. They look like little poop balls, right? What's the best way to ID this stuff? 😂

Thanks all for your help. Any insight and tips you got are appreciated. Feel free to give pointers on stuff I didn't ask. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing here, but I just want this kid to enjoy the searching for his rocks and stuff.

So I’ve been looking at getting into this as a new hobby, I find it cool & interesting & was wondering would anyone be able to give me a list of things I need? I figured I would need a saw, but not sure what kind as I don’t plan on doing much with it besides cutting some rocks in half & also a “tumbler” to clean & start to get them “smooth”? I figured a bench or angle grinder as well which I already have both of, but I’m wondering what else will I need? Any kind of blades? Assuming some kind of diamond would be necessary, but if anyone is able to give me a list of the names of the items I will need that would be very helpful, as I’m not looking to break the bank right now but am looking to get all the needed tools! Again any info is greatly appreciated👍🏻

Let me know if you want to know whereabouts I found these. Cheers!

Just finished making a stand and better water system for my flat lap, what do y’all think?

Collected in southern NM today at one of my ‘secret spots’.

I saw this and thought that it might be something rockhounds would enjoy. On sale from $30. https://a.co/d/0c8BNji