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How to Dig for Gemstones or Meteorites

Prospecting was once a huge business in the United States. In the Old West, gold diggers literally drove economies and sprung several cities into existence. Unfortunately, when the gold rush dried up, the gold diggers left or became poor, the economies went downhill and the cities became ghost towns. However, it is still possible to prospect for gemstones and meteorites for money and enjoyment.

Things You'll Need

Prospecting tools
Gemstone identification book

Instructions

- 1
  Hunt around your local area for a spot that may be rich in gemstones or meteorites. Some local parks may advertise it, but most likely you will have to do some searching on your own. A simple web search for "gemstone prospecting areas" with the name of your city or state should produce good results. You may need to travel a bit though, so be prepared to make a trip out of it
- 2
  Apply for a permit to dig in the area. Every state government has an application for prospecting--prospecting without a permit is illegal. You will have to pay for everything that comes out of the ground, but the prices are not as high as buying the stones at retail prices.
- 3
  Buy or rent prospecting tools. Whether you buy them or rent them depends on your commitment to prospecting. Prospecting can be a fun, one-time trip, a full hobby or a source of income. Rent the tools at first and then decide if you want to continue pursuing prospecting as a regular activity.
- 4
  Go camping. Prospecting is a great reason to go camping. It's an alternative to the usual fishing and hiking trips and may take you to some interesting and desolate environments. Technically, you only have to spend one full day to go prospecting. But if you are going to drag yourself out to the middle of nowhere, get a permit and rent equipment, you might as well maximize the experience.
- 5
  Learn how to identify gemstones and meteorites. Buying a gemstone identification book beforehand will save you a lot of work. Not everyone is a geologist and you may not be able to tell the difference between pyrite and gold. See the Resources section for a website that shows how to check stones.

Rock Collecting