Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Find a location to dig for crystals that is legal. Many crystal mines around the Hot Springs area of Arkansas allow you to dig for a small fee. There are also two areas near Mount Ida where you can dig for free--Jessieville and Perryville. It's a good idea to go to one of these spots because the material has already been extracted from the mine veins, and you will only have to dig through the tailings. Digging at these locations will save you a lot of time and energy.
Wear old clothes and old, durable shoes. This can be a messy job that could ruin your clothing.
Apply bug spray before starting your dig.
Put on work gloves. Quartz crystals are sharp, so you will want to protect your hands from cuts.
Dig through the mine tailings using your small shovel until you find a pocket of crystal. There is no sure-fire way to pinpoint where the crystals will be. You just have to start digging.
Dig around the crystal with your small shovel. Dig slowly and carefully so as not to scratch or break the crystal.
Move away rock debris using your garden rake.
Loosen the dirt around the crystal using your screwdriver.
Wrap large crystals in newspaper and place them in your bucket. Place smaller, more fragile crystals in seal-tight bags.