RockhoundGuide is committed to producing accurate, well-researched, and practical content about rockhounding, mineral collecting, and lapidary work. This policy explains how we create, review, and maintain our guides.

Authorship

All content on RockhoundGuide is written by Jarrod Gravison with editorial review. We take responsibility for the accuracy, currency, and completeness of everything we publish. Content is reviewed and updated as rules and localities change.

Research Standards

Every guide is based on:

  • Primary sources — Mindat.org for mineral and locality data, the USGS for geology, the Bureau of Land Management for public-land rules, and GIA for gemstone identification.
  • Spec comparison — gear recommendations are based on verified specifications and real field use.
  • Cross-referencing — facts are checked against at least two independent sources. When sources disagree, we note the discrepancy and present the consensus.

Review Process

Each article goes through the following before publication:

  1. Initial research and drafting from primary sources.
  2. Fact-checking — every claim, locality detail, and identification step is verified.
  3. Readability review — useful to a first-time rockhound without talking down to an experienced collector.
  4. Safety review — any content touching land access, claims, or field safety is checked against current agency guidance.

Safety & Legality First

Rockhounding sits at the intersection of recreation and law. We will never encourage collecting from private land, active claims, or protected areas without permission, and we will never advise entering mines or unstable terrain. When the rules are unclear, our answer is “check with the managing agency first.”

Corrections

If you find an error, tell us. We correct factual errors promptly and note significant updates on the relevant page.

Affiliate Relationships

We may earn commissions through affiliate links, disclosed on every page where they appear. Commissions never influence what we recommend. See our affiliate disclosure for full detail.