Some advice for a beginner

[Rydo]

Hi All,

I'm new to prospecting and I'm looking for a little advice to get me started. I live in Scotland and I'm really interested in finding some pockets and pulling some crystals out the ground. I've started taking a keen interest in geology and since most of my time is spent at a computer coding it's a fitting hobby to keep me outdoors. I'm going to make my first camping trip next weekend and I have some questions that hopefully you guys can help me with.

What equipment is a must for prospecting?
How do I choose an initial location to prospect, should I be looking at locations that have had previous scores or should I look at the geology?
What should I be looking for in the geology to indicate a good place to start digging?

I realize these questions are quite loaded. I'm just looking for some basic tips and pointers to get me moving in the right direction.

Thanks

 

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[Scooter268]

You could bring:

Hand shovel, geologist hammer (aka Mason's hammer), rock chisel, hammer (made to hit hard metal and the chisel), and pry bar among others.

Look for both basically. Places with scores may yield some stuff still and it's a start on your rockhounding adventures.

Do web searches of the geology of where you're going as well. Know what to look for before going look. No use busting rocks that won't have anything of interest (although I like all rocks).

One thing as well, is find out what signs are of a possible pocket. In some states (in the US), they look for a certain color in the soil. Example- Red dominate colored clay suddenly changes to a yellowish color. People start following the "yellow" color. Others look for a certain type of rock (Ex. pegmatite) and use that to locate a "pocket" or as an indication of what they are looking for (IE- Aquamarine).

 

[Scooter268]

Found this for you too

http://www.holyroodpr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Precious-Scotland-Map.jpg

 

[Las Vegas Bob]

Along with what was already mentioned, I always take along some old newspaper to wrap any finds in and some storage "ziplock" bags to keep stuffed separated if I am finding more then one kind of specimen. When I started collecting I researched the locations of limestone quarries to look for fossils and crystals. Another place I looked was along road cuts where the road is cut through a hillside. Once I found an ancient riverbed that ran across a road cut, that yielded a large amount of fossils. You might try looking into peat bogs as a source for fossils.

 

[Rydo]

Thanks for the information guys. I'm so excited. Work is suffering as I can't stop watching videos and reading articles. It's very interesting. This is a recent obsession for me and long may it continue. I'll let you guys know how I get on.

 

[DDancer]

Happy hunting

 

[BurntBear]

Please share your experiences with us; as most of us are in the U.S., it would be interesting to see some of the mineralogy of Scotland.

 

[loco oro]

All good advice here i am a little late to the thread but i may sugest that since you are new to it you may increase your odds of score if you were to chose a material to look for that way you can research where when how and what associative geology it is found in this will increase your odds until you are well versed in all geology best of fortune to ya.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Lot's of good advice. I'd also add a compass and map to the equipment list. "prospecting for gemstones and minerals" by John Sinkankas will get you an overview of where and how to start.
Good book to get.