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How to Dig for Crystals

Crystals are Mother Nature's wonders that have been around for millions of years. Found in rocks around the world, crystals come in various shapes, sizes, colors and surfaces. Crystals are found in most nonliving substances like rocks and metals, and they can also be found in your kitchen when you use salt and sugar. Going back to science class, you probably will remember that crystals can be formed in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, and that there are many types, such as calcite, gypsum, halite (rock salt), mica, tourmaline and feldspar. However, the most common crystal on Earth is quartz, which can be found in rocks just about everywhere. You can try your hand at crystal digging to find these works of nature.

Things You'll Need

Rock hammer
Camp shovel or a small shovel
Small garden rake
Hammer and chisel or screwdriver
Newspaper
Plastic baggies
Gloves

Instructions

Crystal digging in salt plains
- 1
  Dig a hole 2 feet deep by 2 feet wide, until you reach wet sand. Take your time and carefully dig the hole because, according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the "shovel may break through crystals because there is no way of predicting exactly where a bed of crystals is located." The selenite crystals that are in the salt plains are formed in wet sand and found just below the "salt-encrusted surface."
- 2
  Splash the water that trickles into the hole. You can expect 2 to 3 inches in the bottom. The gentle splashing against the sides of your hole will help remove soil from the crystals.
- 3
  Splash water around the crystals to free them from the sand and clay.
- 4
  Pick up the crystals and place them in sun to dry. Remember that crystals are fragile, so be careful when handling them. After drying, put them in a plastic baggie to take home.
Crystal digging in mines
- 5
  Find a section where you want to mine.
- 6
  Dig out the crystals with your hands, which should be protected by gloves. Digging out by hand protects the crystals from damage.
- 7
  Use a small rake and screwdriver to scrap through the tailings, which is the refuse left from mining.
- 8
  Wrap the crystals you have found in newspaper. Be careful removing them from the clay.

Rocks & Minerals