Nkkua stone in your palm: a guide for beginner mineral collectors

An independent guide for beginner mineral collectors. We are not a publication, museum or shop, we do not appraise or buy finds, and we are not connected with the former website on this domain.

New

New articles

This feed lists the guide's pages in the order they were prepared: the newest entries at the top, older ones below. Each entry has a couple of lines about its content and a note on why it is worth opening. Topic tags show at a glance what a page is about: practice, mineral properties, fieldwork or collection. If you want the full list with a topic filter, head to the archive.

Only finished pages make it into the feed. We would rather add material less often, so that each piece can be applied right away to a find of your own.

— A thought in the margin

Topics:

  1. How to set up your first collection

    A step-by-step article on numbers, labels, a field log and divided boxes, with common mistakes and a checklist.

    Why read it: Helps you keep the story of every find.

    • collection
    • practice

  2. Guide sections

    A map of the guide's four topics with a short introduction to each.

    Why read it: Helps you find the right topic right away.

    • practice
    • fieldwork

  3. A collector's glossary

    Terms about what stones are made of, their properties, searching and storage, explained in plain words.

    Why read it: Lets you understand textbooks and describe specimens more precisely.

    • properties

  4. Archive

    All published pages, organized by date and main topic.

    Why read it: Shows what is already ready to read.

    • collection

  5. Reading collections

    Reading paths for first outings, for activities with kids and for a collection at home.

    Why read it: Suggests a reading order that fits your goal.

    • practice

  6. Questions and answers

    Short answers about identifying finds, searching safely and legally, and storing specimens.

    Why read it: Quickly clears up a beginner's most common doubts.

    • fieldwork
    • properties

  7. Identify a stone in five steps

    A short routine for examining a find with a hand lens, a porcelain tile and a notebook.

    Why read it: Gives you a first meaningful look at any stone.

    • properties
    • practice
  • Collections

    Reading paths: first rock-hunting trips, stones with kids, and a collection on the shelf.

  • Archive

    Every finished page of the guide, organized by preparation date and main topic.

  • Guides

    How to set up your first collection: labels, boxes and a field log. The article catalog lives here too.

Sources

  • Nkku guide materials

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.