How to Actually Find Your Own Rockhounding Locations

How to Actually Find Your Own Rockhounding Locations

It always seems to go the same way. Someone posts a photo or video of a rock and someone asks “Where is this?”. The response is something to the effect of giving a vague location such as a state or county and sometimes it’s “my own spot”. Or, if asked to clarify, the statement comes out “find your own spot!” with nothing else, and no real help.

I’m here to help you because first off it’s really rare that someone find a new fully undiscovered location with a mineral to collect, it does happen from time to time but often what happens is a person has tip or clue leading them to an area or knows of an area that is rich in ______ mineral and goes off looking.

This should be used as a tool to help you find minerals. Understand that some of the mines on Gaia are active, private property and have the potential to be dangerous.

GaiaGPS is used in the planning of almost all of our rockhounding adventures and you can now receive a discount on Gaia by using this reference link https://www.gaiagps.com/discounts/?fp_ref=currentlyrockhounding

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50 Comments

  1. @bambukairomantikai on December 27, 2023 at 8:37 am

    Before I buy Premium, are the minerals maps only for US? I am interested in Europe. Thank you for this amazing video !

  2. @nen.user.3764 on December 27, 2023 at 8:39 am

    Do you know if one of these layers has had any info on any mines that are inactive or older historic properties and quarry sites that may have been filled over. The area I live has a lot of history and it’s not widely available or mentioned in great detail online. I doubt that there was no records . Anyway another great video. I use this and Mancos as well when it’s being slow ha.

    Happy prospecting

  3. @openlens3091 on December 27, 2023 at 8:40 am

    hi nice video’s do you know if there is any good area’s to look for gems in the sandpoint bonners ferry Idaho area’s

  4. @msclairesstuff3179 on December 27, 2023 at 8:40 am

    I just went thru the pain of trying to decipher how many apps & database’s I had to install, just to read 1 USGS geo map quadrangle with similar layers.
    You made Gaia look too easy bravo

  5. @kayperrault on December 27, 2023 at 8:40 am

    I bought the premium Gaia gps app and nowhere can I find anything remotely resemble this screen! even used the link you offer

  6. @aureliekingsley660 on December 27, 2023 at 8:41 am

    Thanks for te advice. Let you know if it gets me somewhere to find interesting rocks.

  7. @karenhill9912 on December 27, 2023 at 8:47 am

    Cool!!

  8. @CC-vw1cs on December 27, 2023 at 8:48 am

    Thank you !

  9. @cathypotosnyak8219 on December 27, 2023 at 8:49 am

    This was absolutely and utterly amazing!!! A million thanks!

  10. @daniellagoodwin5378 on December 27, 2023 at 8:51 am

    🧮🔐📝🧮🔗📏

  11. @geocore3928 on December 27, 2023 at 8:51 am

    Good work

  12. @illusionistbeamish4204 on December 27, 2023 at 8:52 am

    I did a ton of drilling up in goat mountain from 2016 to 2018. Really cool area.

  13. @daniellagoodwin5378 on December 27, 2023 at 8:53 am

    I really want to stone so thank you my favorites are moon Stones🔍🔎✏️

  14. @bokunokintama5523 on December 27, 2023 at 8:55 am

    Been wondering about what to do because I live in snohomish co. and between my local gem and mineral club and the internet, I’ve only found a couple spots within a 50 mile radius. It sucks. Ps, as of April 20th, 2022 do you (or anyone here) know if Hansen creek dig area is safe/snow gone?

  15. @reneespiricueta3543 on December 27, 2023 at 8:56 am

    Im glad that someone is really helping a whole bunch of us rock hounds by giving this info. That really cuts down on a lot of research. Which I think I do more of that than get out on the field since my biggest fear and my grandkids is to walk into private property. We always leave the area better when we leave taking some xtra trash with U.S. We are very appreciate of you taking the time to share this info. Good luck to you and all your followers.

  16. @truthl0ver777 on December 27, 2023 at 8:57 am

    Thank you so much for this! I got the app. Do you know what the layer is called to show property owners and boundaries?

  17. @easttennesseerocks on December 27, 2023 at 8:59 am

    If you don’t have a desktop computer or if you can’t afford to pay for this service I use "Mindat" which has maps of known mines and also known quartz deposits. I have actually found great spots to hound using the maps provided here

  18. @TheDarkDanny4 on December 27, 2023 at 8:59 am

    Not only was this video really helpful but I liked that this was shown on Wyoming of all places. My little home state lol.

  19. @rockcrazygal5166 on December 27, 2023 at 8:59 am

    Thx! I live in Canada, same thing.

  20. @inraviratious6418 on December 27, 2023 at 9:01 am

    Thank you, sir! I’m a teenager who has gotten into rockhounding, and enjoy the activity thoroughly. There is a mine in the mountains where I live… Is there anything I need to know before going near an abandoned mine?

  21. @Anya-jk2dy on December 27, 2023 at 9:03 am

    Thanks for posting. I’m starting to rekindle my interest in paleontology. This app looks great for finding the right types of formations in public lands

  22. @BB-dr2zs on December 27, 2023 at 9:04 am

    this dude just might be my yoda

  23. @kiddkarnelian3723 on December 27, 2023 at 9:04 am

    I got gaia gps, for the year, It pretty hard to use. So if you offer tutorials on how to use it for members. I would mention that. Because just trying to use it on your own, is pretty hard, it does break down property lines

  24. @sharonschwab7104 on December 27, 2023 at 9:06 am

    On my hi-tech 6" trim saw, the arbor is stuck to the shaft. I tried using oil and heating the shaft recommended by hi-tech technician. No luck. What do I need to do now?

  25. @QuintonMurdock on December 27, 2023 at 9:09 am

    My trick for rockhounding was working at a concrete plant and being the one often doing GQ inspections of deliveries of gravel

  26. @OffTheBeatenPath1 on December 27, 2023 at 9:09 am

    Excellent video and very educational. I find the Mindat site to full of good rockhounding info.

  27. @user-hn7zl4yj4q on December 27, 2023 at 9:09 am

    What about Madison IN? Its an area on the Ohio River. There are many places within the area of Canon, small creeks and other places in our town. What do you recommend for us? Ive found Agates, and crystals. I’ll try to send you some pictures. thanks …

  28. @20greeneyes20 on December 27, 2023 at 9:11 am

    Thanks great information!!!

  29. @galenschwan-skinner7214 on December 27, 2023 at 9:12 am

    A good free alternative is CalTopo, it has scanned topos which include mines,and it has a public land layer, and a geologic map layer. I use it in combo with mindat and paleobiodb for mine information and fossil information

  30. @michealst.pierrejr9202 on December 27, 2023 at 9:12 am

    I did look into The gaia gps

    I’m putting it side by side with mindat and I’m curious to see if gaia gps has any new mineral localities that mindat or diggings doesn’t have om thier website

  31. @thecrystalhunters on December 27, 2023 at 9:12 am

    Awesome! Thx for sharing! Sub’d 🏆

  32. @paulgalloway3844 on December 27, 2023 at 9:12 am

    I love your videos. I thought I would thank some of my favourite Youtubers. I’m an armchair rockhound. I can’t actually go myself because a stroke has left me partially disabled and affected my balance, but I do enjoy it vicariously through you and others.

  33. @dimracrhamacid1756 on December 27, 2023 at 9:13 am

    A free option would be to check your states geology website. My state has all of this available and more.

  34. @dollylower4872 on December 27, 2023 at 9:13 am

    I bought the premium package is to hard to understand. Not worth the price

  35. @paigelee6321 on December 27, 2023 at 9:19 am

    Thank you very informative 😊💙

  36. @glennmonson4034 on December 27, 2023 at 9:19 am

    They dont tell you how because those of us who know how had to go to school and learn how. When people dont have to earn things they lack respect for it.
    Every time i discovered a new dig site and let it leak to even just one person. Within 6 months the place was trashed. Every Yahoo and Wannabe shows up and destroys the place not even recognizing half the minerals that were there. Until they crushed most of them. So do us a favor send them to generic places if you must, but stop giving up ways to find the good ones or there wont be many left.
    Good thing you dont know how to find pegmatite dykes

  37. @MatthewSchnupp on December 27, 2023 at 9:20 am

    Thanks for all you share!

  38. @k3nt778 on December 27, 2023 at 9:21 am

    These amazing rockhounding layers don’t exist for Canada. I immediately subscribe after watching your video. Only to ask for a refund. Sad.

  39. @jurassiclizzard on December 27, 2023 at 9:21 am

    I think if you’re sing a PC a lot of these same layers are available to view freely on the BLM interactive maps at least for most western states. If you’re a little more advanced with mapping software layers such as topos, mine locations, claims, land ownership, and geology data can be downloaded using the BLM Geospatial Business Platform to create custom maps for your phone or handheld GPS in a free program like QGIS in combination with google earth pro. Gaia is a cool tool for the convenience but hate having to pay. If you don’t want to pay either there are other good options. USGS has pretty good maps and data available online for free too. Where do you think Gaia gets all their mapping data?

  40. @wbwright79 on December 27, 2023 at 9:22 am

    interesting. have had GAIA for a few years and never saw the Mines and Minerals overlay. thanks!

  41. @1000to1 on December 27, 2023 at 9:23 am

    I enjoy your youtube videos Thanks for sharing GaiaGPS! -Russ Murray the 70-year-old Uranium prospector

  42. @laurabarnett5650 on December 27, 2023 at 9:23 am

    Do you still recommend the premium Gaia GPS app? I was reading some reviews that implied the company changed hands recently and there have been negative changes. OnX was suggested by some. Any feedback would be appreciated before I invest. Thanks!

  43. @DaughterofAlbion on December 27, 2023 at 9:26 am

    This was awfully helpful! Thank you for being kind enough to share your tips. It’s really hugely appreciated 🙂

  44. @kathyyosten1497 on December 27, 2023 at 9:26 am

    Especially in north Texas, it mostly fossils.

  45. @karenhill9912 on December 27, 2023 at 9:27 am

    Hey was it your video that had Arlberg Park if so where is it! Thanks Karen

  46. @brisurface3251 on December 27, 2023 at 9:29 am

    Thank you im in okanogan county and I am trying to rock hunt with my kids! It’s been a struggle

  47. @alimohamadi865 on December 27, 2023 at 9:34 am

    Thanks for sharing nice videos
    Can use this tool for global?

  48. @CurrentlyRockhounding on December 27, 2023 at 9:34 am

    Did you enjoy this video and find it to be informative? You can help ensure that more videos just like this get made by supporting the project on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/currentlyrockhounding

  49. @Anna-ff1zn on December 27, 2023 at 9:35 am

    I will volunteer where i go rockhounding. Why would i gatekeep this hobby? It goes against my ethics and morals to gatekeep

  50. @patriciamckean4186 on December 27, 2023 at 9:36 am

    Brrrr…..thanks for braving the cold 🥶 . We appreciate your risking freezing to share your experience with us

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