https://rockhoundguide.com/categories/getting-started/ Recent content in Getting-Started on RockhoundGuide Hugo en-us Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/best-beginner-rockhounding-sites/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/best-beginner-rockhounding-sites/ The best public rockhounding and mineral collecting locations in North America for beginners. Fee-dig sites, public lands, and what to bring on your fir... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/best-places-find-gemstones-canada/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/best-places-find-gemstones-canada/ Explore Canada's rich gemstone localities. From BC jade to Bay of Fundy agates, discover where to find amethyst, tourmaline, and rare minerals across th... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/best-rock-tumbler-beginners-2026/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/best-rock-tumbler-beginners-2026/ The best rock tumblers for beginners in 2026, ranked by a rockhound who's run dozens of batches. Honest picks for first-timers — what to buy, what to sk... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/best-rockhounding-gear-guide/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/best-rockhounding-gear-guide/ The complete rockhounding gear guide for 2026. Everything you need for field collecting: rock hammers, loupes, chisels, safety gear, and carrying equipm... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/gemstone-identification-guide/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/gemstone-identification-guide/ Step-by-step guide to identifying gemstones and minerals using visual clues, hardness tests, streak tests, and specific gravity. https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-clean-rocks-and-minerals/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-clean-rocks-and-minerals/ Learn how to clean rocks and minerals safely — from basic water soaking to chemical treatments for iron staining, calcite coatings, and more. Includes m... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-cut-rocks-tile-saw/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-cut-rocks-tile-saw/ Unlock the world of lapidary on a budget! Learn how to safely and effectively cut rocks using a common wet tile saw, turning raw finds into polished tre... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-identify-agates/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-identify-agates/ Learn how to identify agates in the field using the translucency test, surface texture, banding, and fracture patterns. Includes common lookalikes to av... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-identify-fools-gold/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-identify-fools-gold/ Learn the key differences between real gold and pyrite (fool's gold) with simple tests for color, streak, hardness, and malleability. Never confuse them... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-identify-rocks-minerals-field/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-identify-rocks-minerals-field/ Learn how to identify rocks and minerals in the field with this comprehensive beginner's guide. Discover essential tools, physical properties for identi... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-pan-for-gold-beginners-guide/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/how-to-pan-for-gold-beginners-guide/ Learn how to pan for gold with this complete beginner's guide. Covers equipment, technique, Ontario & Canadian locations, legality, and how to store and... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/mineral-collecting-field-guide/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/mineral-collecting-field-guide/ Essential field guide for mineral collectors. Learn how to read geological maps, identify promising locations, and collect specimens ethically. https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/rock-tumbling-grit-guide/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/rock-tumbling-grit-guide/ Complete rock tumbling grit guide: which silicon carbide grits to use for each stage, how much per batch, and how to avoid the contamination mistakes th... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/rock-tumbling-step-by-step/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/rock-tumbling-step-by-step/ Detailed guide to the rock tumbling process from rough stone to polished gem, including grit schedules, cleaning tips, and troubleshooting. https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/rockhounding-in-ontario-guide/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/rockhounding-in-ontario-guide/ A definitive guide to rockhounding in Ontario — covering Bancroft, Haliburton, Lake Superior, the Niagara Escarpment, Cobalt, and Timmins, plus land acc... https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/mohs-hardness-scale-guide/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/mohs-hardness-scale-guide/ Master the Mohs Hardness Scale for mineral identification. Learn to test scratch resistance with common tools and understand its importance for rockhounds. https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/where-to-find-fossils-near-me/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://rockhoundguide.com/articles/where-to-find-fossils-near-me/ A state-by-state guide to finding fossils in the US. The best fossil hunting locations, what types you'll find, land access rules, and what to bring. Up...