VIRGINIA DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
omlnE
Virginia Depar ent of
Mines Minerals and Energy
MINERAL COLLECTING
Mineral collecting is an exc1tmg and increasingly To minimize risk of injury, the following safety tips
popular hobby. This brochure presents an overview of are strongly recomended:
mineral collecting and provides additional information
and references useful to both beginner and 1. Wear protective equipment including hard hats,
experienced collectors . Mineral collecting is a steel-toed boots, and safety glasses.
relatively inexpensive hobby that can be enjoyed by
the whole family. It offers the opportunity to enjoy the 2. Do not work alone; let someone else know where
outdoors, get some exercise, and learn about nature. you are planning to go and your schedule.
Collecting trips can also be exciting, especially when
there is the chance of finding minerals and gemstones 3. Do not enter abandoned mines or shafts.
of value.
WHERE TO LEARN ABOUT MINERALS
GETTING STARTED Mineral collecting can be much more enjoyable if you
The beginning mineral collector will need two pieces have a basic knowledge of geology and mineralogy.
of somewhat specialized Below are several methods
equipment - a geologist's for obtaining information
hammer and a hand lens. on minerals and geology:
The hammer is used to
dislodge rock or mineral Visit your state geological
specimens. Another survey, which typically is a
helpful tool is a hand lens. state agency or may be
Also called a pocket associated with a college
magnifier, this is useful for or university. In Virginia,
identifying small mineral the geological survey is a
grains and crystals. Both branch of state government
tools can be purchased called the Division of
through scientific supply Geology and Mineral
companies, rock shops, or Blades of kyanite from Grayson County, Virginia. Resources (DGMR). The
hardware stores. Other DGMR IS located m
useful pieces of equipment include: a backpack to Charlottesville. Many geological surveys will sell
carry specimens, equipment, and food ; paper or plastic topographic and geologic maps, and other publications
bags to hold individual specimens; a notebook for that may be useful for mineral collecting. Staff
keeping field notes ; and a pocket knife . It is a good geologists may be available to answer questions and
idea to mark your locality on a topographic map as identify mineral specimens. The Virginia DGMR also
accurately as possible so that you can return on future has a research library, which is open to the public and
field trips or direct others to the site. a webstore, through which interested citizens can
download free copies of "Virginia Minerals." This
Remember: permission must always be obtained publication contains articles on current geologic topics
from the landowner before collecting on private as well as reports on the occurrence of rare or unusual
property! minerals and gemstones. A current list of DGMR's
publications and maps can be obtained online or call
(434) 951-6341.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) located and abandoned mines and quarries, mine dumps ,
in Reston, Virginia, is also a good source of geologic highway cuts, excavations for construction sites, and
information. Visit the USGS web site for access to free stream beds and banks. Also, specimens have been
educational material (http://www.usgs.gov/) or call found in plowed fields , especially after a rain. It is
toll-free 1-888- ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747). suggested that the beginning collector might
accompany an experienced collector on a first
Books on rocks and minerals are available in most collecting trip, as it may be difficult to know what one
book stores. Public and university libraries are also is looking for without guidance. Always obtain
good sources of reading material. A good reference to permission of the landowner before entering a
the geology of the Commonwealth is "Geology and property to collect minerals. Entering private property
Virginia" (Dietrich, 1990a) and the most without permission is considered trespassing.
comprehensive references to minerals of Virginia are
Dietrich (1990b, 1993). These books by Dietrich are
available only in DGMR's sales office.
Take a basic course in geology or mineralogy at a
university or community college. A general knowledge
of geology and mineralogy will make one's hobby
more enjoyable and meaningful. Also, universities
may have displays of local rocks, fossils , and minerals,
which are open to the public.
Join a local mineral club if there is one in your area.
These clubs offer educational programs and organized
collecting trips. Many clubs have their own liability
insurance, which makes it possible for club members
to obtain permission to visit quarries , whereas an
individual collector could not. Clubs may put on
shows and swap meets that are educational and offer
the opportunity to upgrade a mineral collection.
Amazonite, cleavelandite, mica, and quartz
from Amelia County, Virginia.
Sphalerite within
a quartz crystal
COLLECTING IN VIRGINIA
from Bath County,
Virginia has many famous and unique mineral
Virginia
occurrences. The Commonwealth contains a great
variety of minerals with over 425 individual species
being reported. Over the years, Virginia localities have
produced fine specimens of allanite, andalusite ,
apophyllite, beryl, calcite, cassiterite, kyanite,
microcline (variety amazonite), prehnite, pyrite,
spessartine, staurolite, topaz, turquoise, and vivianite.
With diligence and a little luck, rare and unusual
minerals can still be found in Virginia.
WHERE TO LOOK FOR MINERALS
Minerals can be collected at commercial collecting Federal Lands
areas. In addition to the commercial collecting areas, National Parks- No collecting is permitted of any kind
good places to look for mineral specimens are active (except with a special research permit).
IDENTIFYING MINERALS
Many minerals can be easily identified by their physical properties such as color, luster, hardness,
and density. Hardness is a physical property that is determined by observing whether one mineral
can scratch another. To test a mineral's relative hardness, geologists and mineral enthusiasts use
Moh's relative hardness scale. Moh's relative hardness scale ranges from 1 to 10, with ten being
the hardest. Each number has a mineral assigned to it:
1-talc
2-gypsum
3-calcite
4-fluorite
5-apatite
6-feldspar
?-quartz
8-topaz
9-corundum
10-diamond
It can be helpful to know that your fingernail has a hardness of 2.5; a penny, 3; a knife blade, 5.5;
and a steel file, 6.5. Use these examples to scratch a sample to get an approximate hardness. Other
tests for identifying minerals include: specific gravity (weight of mineral compared to the weight
of an equal volume of water), optical properties, crystal form, color, and luster. Minerals differ in
other properties such as cleavage, fracture, parting planes, and the distinctive color of its streak
on a piece of unglazed porcelain. Some minerals are magnetic, some have electrical properties,
some glow under ultraviolet or black light, some are radioactive, and some fuse under a low flame
while others are unaffected. Chemical or X-ray analyses generally can identify a mineral. Many
tests that are too complicated for the beginner or require special equipment are also available.
A novice collector should read about minerals, look at photographs and samples, and talk with
experienced mineral collectors in order to gain experience in identifying minerals. Also, geologists
trained in mineralogy and petrology are available to assist mineral collectors in identifying minerals
and rocks.
National Forests- Permission or permit required. Richmond, Virginia 23219
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests http :1/www.dcr. virginia.gov
5162 Valleypointe Parkway 1-800-933-PARK
Roanoke, Virginia 24019
http://www.fs.fed. us/r8/ gwj/ Collecting along public roads (except Interstate
(540) 265-5100 highways where collecting is forbidden)- Allowed as
long as a hazard is not created and the flow of traffic is
State Lands not impeded.
State Forests and Parks- Written permission required.
Virginia Department ofF orestry Virginia Department of Transportation
900 Natural Resources Drive 1401 East Broad Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 Richmond, Virginia 23219
http://www.dof. virginia.gov http :1/www. virginiadot. org
(434) 977-6555
Private Lands
Virginia Departent of Conservation and Recreation Private property- Allowed only with permission of the
600 E. Main Street, 24th floor land owner.
SUGGESTED READING Penick, D . A. , 1987, Virginia mineral locality index:
Virginia Minerals, v. 33 , n. 1, p . 1-10.
Dietrich, R . V. , 1990a, Geology and Virginia: Virginia
Division ofMineral Resources, 213 p. -----
, 1987, Pyrite and other minerals from
Barger's Quarry near Lexington, Virginia: Virginia
_ _ _ _ _ , 1990b, Minerals of Virginia, 1990: Minerals, v. 33 , n 2, p . 13-17.
Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, 474 p .
_____ , 1994, Minerals of Rockbridge County,
_ _ _ _ _ , 1993, Minerals of Virginia 1990 - An Virginia: Virginia Minerals, v. 40, nos. 1 and 2, p. 1-13.
Update: Division of Mineral Resources, 28 p .
Penick, D . A. , Sweet, P. C., 1992, Mineral collecting
Giannini, W. F. , and Penick, D . A. , 1983, Large gem localities in Virginia: Virginia Minerals, v. 38, n. 2, p.
topaz crystal discovery: Virginia Minerals, v. 29, n. 1, 9-12
p. 1-3.
Sweet, P. C., 1980, Gold in Virginia, Virginia Mineral
Mitchell, R. S. , Giannini, W. F., and Penick, D . A. , Resources Publication 19, 77 p .
1992, Large andalusite crystals from Campbell
County. Virginia: Virginia Minerals, V. 38, n. 1, p . 1-8. Sweet, P. C., and Penick, D. A. , 1986, Moorfield
pegmatite mine reopens - Virginia's only active
Mitchell, R. S., and Giannini, W. F., 1988, Minerals of underground gem mine: Virginia Minerals , v. 32, n. 2,
Albermarle County, Virginia: Virginia Division of p . 13-18.
Mineral Resource Publication 89, 19 p .
Prepared by D. Allen Penick; revised 04/2007.
Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
Division of Geology andMineral Resources
900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 500
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Information : (434) 951-6341 FAX: (434) 951-6366
Sales Hours: 10:00 AM-3:00PM Mon.- Thurs.
http: //www.dmme.virginia.gov/divisionmineralresources.shtml
