Guides
Practical guides
The first article in this section is about keeping your finds organized from the very start. While you have only a few stones, it seems easy to remember the place and date. But after a couple of seasons memories blur, and unlabeled specimens lose almost all their value for study. Below is a clear sequence of steps, from gathering materials to checking the finished shelf.
A label matters more than a display case. The humblest box of labeled specimens will tell more about your finds than a beautiful shelf where nothing is labeled.
What you'll need
- Heavy paper or card stock for labels, and a pencil or a permanent pen.
- Shallow boxes, ideally with dividers, or a set of small cardboard trays.
- Soft padding: cotton balls, tissues or scraps of fabric.
- A separate notebook for your field log, or a file on your computer.
- Small zip-top bags for tiny or crumbly specimens.
Sort your finds
Spread everything out on a table and set aside anything you remember nothing about: neither the place nor the time. You can keep those stones, but mark them separately in the collection so they don't get mixed up with well-documented ones.
Hypothetical example: a collector splits the finds into two piles and discovers there is nothing to say about half the pebbles from last summer.
Clean specimens gently
Sturdy stones can be rinsed with water and a soft brush. Soft, crumbly and water-soluble specimens should not be washed: a light dusting with a small brush is enough. If you are unsure, try a hidden spot first.
Hypothetical example: a rock salt crystal goes into the box without any water, because washing would start to dissolve it.
Assign numbers
Give each specimen its own number and write it small and neatly on an inconspicuous side of the stone or on a tag inside its bag. The number links the specimen to its label and log entry, even if they get separated by accident.
Hypothetical example: a girl writes a tiny number on the underside of a pebble, and after a cleanup the stone easily finds its place in the log again.
Fill out the label
On the label, write the number, a tentative name or “unidentified,” the place of the find in general terms, the date and who found it. Don't be afraid of a question mark: honest doubt is better than a confident mistake.
Hypothetical example: the card reads “quartz?” and below it notes that the specimen scratches glass and leaves no colored streak.
Start a field log
In the log, each line is one specimen: number, date, place, features, test results and notes. It is also a handy spot to record who helped identify the stone and what else you would like to check.
Hypothetical example: a column for streak and hardness appears in the notebook, and comparing similar finds becomes easier.
Arrange them in boxes
Place each specimen in its own compartment on soft padding, together with its label. Heavy stones should not rest on fragile ones, and sharp crystals should not touch their neighbors.
Hypothetical example: a family hands over an old divided candy box for the collection, and every stone gets its own nest.
Choose an organizing principle
Decide how the boxes will be arranged: by place of the find, by date or by mineral group. What matters is having one principle that will still make sense to you a year from now.
Hypothetical example: a collector first sorted stones by color, then rearranged them by where they were found to see where everything came from.
Pick a storage spot
Keep the boxes somewhere dry, away from direct sunlight, radiators and damp. Some minerals fade in light over time, while others draw moisture from the air.
Hypothetical example: the boxes move from the windowsill to a closed cabinet shelf, and the bright specimens stop fading.
Common mistakes
- Putting off labeling “until later,” until the memory of where you found the stone fades.
- Writing a label so small, or with such ink, that it is unreadable after a season.
- Washing everything with water, including crumbly and water-soluble specimens.
- Tossing stones loose into one bag, where they scratch and chip each other.
- Keeping the collection on a sunny windowsill or in a damp basement.
- Confidently writing down a name that no test has confirmed.
If something doesn't work for you
- If you don't have divided boxes, use egg cartons, matchboxes or homemade paper nests.
- If you'd rather not keep a paper log, set up a simple spreadsheet on your computer and add photos of your specimens.
- If stones are too small to write on, keep them in labeled bags or vials with the label inside.
Check yourself
- Finds are sorted, and specimens with no history are marked separately
- Sturdy stones are cleaned; fragile and soluble ones stayed dry
- Every specimen has its own number
- Labels are filled out legibly, with doubts marked by a question mark
- The field log is started and matches the numbers
- Stones sit in separate compartments on soft padding
- A single organizing principle is chosen
- Boxes are kept somewhere dry, out of direct sunlight
Catalog of English-language articles
This catalog will gradually fill with standalone articles for beginner rock and mineral collectors: examining finds, simple tests, collecting rules and storage. We write them specifically for the English-language version of the guide.
- Aion 2 gearing: What New Players Should Know
A beginner's view of Aion 2 gearing: what is confirmed, why patch notes matter, how to plan upgrades and the account risks of paid help and real-money trading.
- Planning for gaming service provider comparisons: Gaming Technology
How to compare boosting and coaching service sites responsibly: game rules, account security, payment protection, refund terms and transparency.
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Mythic Items — Comparison And Evaluation
How mythic items work in The Elder Scrolls Online: Antiquities, leads, scrying and excavation, five fragments, and a framework for choosing one for your build.
- GTA 6 Release Date Updates and Official Sources: What Players Should Know
GTA 6 is scheduled for 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. How the date moved, which channels confirm it, and how to read release news calmly.
What we're working on
- How to use a hand lens and what to look for on a stone's surface.
- How to tell a crystal from a water-worn pebble, and why shape matters.
- What to pack for your first rockhounding outing.
- How to photograph specimens for your log with just a phone.
- How to play a “guess the rock” game with kids.
How we publish
- Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
- Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
- We do not value or sell stones and do not publish advertising for shops or expeditions, rankings, prices or reviews.
What to read next
- Questions
Short answers about identifying a find, searching safely and storing specimens.
- Collections
Reading paths: first rock-hunting trips, stones with kids, and a collection on the shelf.
- Reference
A collector's glossary: mineral, rock, crystal, luster, streak, cleavage, fracture, spoil heap and more.
Sources
- Introductory mineralogy textbooks and handbooks
- Encyclopedia sources on the Mohs scale
This information is accurate as of the date the page was prepared. Rules for visiting a particular area can change, and they differ from country to country, so before you head out for stones, check them with whoever manages or owns the land.