Interested in collecting your own minerals from the earth?  No mater where you live rocks and minerals are all around you.  You might even have a major mineralogical find in your backyard.  But, most of us are not that lucky, so, join your local Rock and Mineral Club; get the guidance you need.

If you have rocks you have personally collected you are already a field collector. Perhaps you brought home a rock with tiny crystals in it or have an agate you found at the beach.

One of the best ways to do field collecting is to join a local Rock and Mineral Club. Most clubs do field trips several times a year to areas where interesting minerals, rocks and fossils can be located. Many clubs are active in the lapidary area of the hobby, so rock collecting is often focused on materials that can be used for jewelry, art, home and do-it-yourself projects, in addition to specimen collecting.

Check out my resource page for field collecting rocks and minerals in Michigan.

Note - When it comes to field collecting caves are off limits.  Unless you do all your collecting with a camera.