New to rock hunting seeking advice

[jasona]

I'm new to rock hunting, where are good places to look in West Virginia for fossils, crystals, gems, etc.. What all can I find? I have a steam on the property I live on I would like to hunt with bedrock and a couple small waterfalls.

 

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[DDancer]

Welcome to the Forum. What you can do is go out to that stream and start looking for things that catch your eye. After that visit a library or two, book store or three and gather some identification guides and rock hound guides. Start reading up and compare them to what you've found. Pay attention to testing methods in those books as aids. After that its all research. Lots on the .net to be found. Check around for rock and mineral clubs, even lapidary clubs, for hands on experience. It takes time, a lot, and effort but there's buckets of rocks waiting for ya. Luck

 

[Rific]

You can find gold in west virginia! Ive heard theres not too much and its further east in the state, but its there! One very basic principal in gem hunting is usually the harder the gem, the more valuable it is! So, read up on the MOHs hardness scale and test it out. Its neat how you can scratch steel with a rock

 

[ToddsPoint]

If you want fossils, find limestone. If you want gems and minerals, find hardstone outcrops. Gary

 

[IAMZIM]

Welcome to the forum jasona! Look forward to seeing what you find!