None of us expected to be hit with a pandemic disease in 2020 and it is undoubtedly changing many aspects of every day life. Taking precautions to slow the spread of the virus unfortunately has caused the cancellation of many of the spring and summer mineral shows that we all eagerly await. Local club meetings and field trips may also be canceled so hobbyists may get discouraged to field collect. The hobby can still be engaged in a fun way, and you can still get out and dig too. It is very important to take the new coronavirus seriously and pay attention to cleanliness, health, and social distancing. Going out rockhounding can definitely give you a healthy workout, and you’ll usually be very socially distant.

Engaging Your Club and Other Diggers-

While meetings and club shows are canceled for the time being, it’s critical that you stay engaged with your fellow members and other collectors, ensuring the health of your mineral club until you can meet again. While you are required to stay physically distant, you can still maintain a strong presence through electronic resources.

The internet, obviously is great for this. It might be a good idea if you haven’t already, to create a Facebook group for your club. After you create the group, you need to request other members to join and nurture the page with posts so it grows. Post your recent findings, something you just cut and polished, or a favorite specimen. Share your passion. It is still possible to trade material too. Make sure to pack it in a box with clean hands to mail it long distance or maybe just drop things off on your fellow club members and local friends’ doorstep so you don’t physically engage them.

There are so many online resources for collectors. It’s very easy these days to see hundreds of mineral related pictures a day through social media. Personally, I love the picture based format of Instagram. Lots of diggers are very active there, posting pictures of their findings. It is easy to get engaged in that community. Use hashtags describing the mineral you are posting, relating to appearance, species, locality, etc. Facebook, again is good too. The majority of people in the US have a Facebook and there are many regional groups, etc. It is a good place to reach out to people to discuss mineral topics.

Educating Yourself and Kids-

Mindat.org is a mineral database cataloging thousands of different minerals and possibly close to one million localities. It is a great place to learn about minerals you are unfamiliar with, or research new spots to dig. There is also a messageboard where you can discuss mineral related subjects from the most basic to graduate level academic topics. Mindat is the website that got me into minerals as a child. If your kids are into science or nature, explore the site with them and learn about your regional minerals.

Nothing beats a book either, and now many of us have plenty of time to read since it is harder to go out. While libraries are closed, plenty of books are available on Amazon and Ebay, as well as from mineral dealers, etc. Many new instructional guides on lapidary topics are excellent, there are gorgeous picture books of fine specimens, and superb field guides too. If you are an ardent field collector, old guides are available from time to time online. It’s a good time to rediscover that elusive lost locality!

Buying and Selling Minerals-

All of our favorite shows are canceled and it is a big disappointment to buyers and sellers alike. Again, we all should turn to the internet to get our mineral fix! There is so much available on private dealer websites, Instagram, Facebook, Ebay, Etsy, and even Amazon. It’s a great time to support a local miner too. Buy crystals and lapidary rough you see directly from the people who mine them! Not only will you get something unique and exclusive to add to your collection, but you’ll ensure the miner themselves continues to be productive and successful at saving crystals! May assortments, kits, and sets of minerals are available too, which are perfect for teaching a kid who is home from school about earth science with a hands on approach.

Buying and selling minerals through live feed on Facebook simulates at least some of the appeal of a mineral show and allows customers and dealers to engage in real time. It’s a great way to be able to discuss specimens and sell quickly if viewers can be attracted. A good camera is very important as well as a kind, gentle, informative speaking manner when engaging customers.

Field Collecting-

Digging your own specimens is a healthy activity and the best way to learn about how minerals occur in the wild! Due to COVID-19, I am insistent that you only collect solo or with people you live with. Social digging will have to wait. Fee dig sites are mostly closed as well. There are still ways to dig and say socially distant but you will need to take precautions. Explore sites from guides on or available through wheretofindrocks.com and also old publications and dated websites for some neat sleeper locations far off in nature. Always carry a phone on you when you are alone in case you get injured or need help. Be extra careful these days, as going to a doctor or hospital puts you in extremely close proximity to the virus. Eat well and get hydrated before you dig so you do not compromise your immune system. Don’t dig or hike too hard to avoid injury. Wear gloves and eye protection too. Be very very careful. I personally have dealt with a collecting injury that required going to the hospital and it was no fun. The best advice I can give you is MOVE SLOW!

As COVID-19 continues to spread and the situation gets more intense, it affects our every day lives more and more. Instead of focusing on the privileges we have lost, focus on those we still have. Don’t make fun your priority and go out to rockhound until you’re exhausted. Moderate it and prioritize health. Rest a lot. Take care of your body like you would your best specimens.