This past weekend my family was lucky enough to get to go dig at a site here in Georgia for Gems and Minerals. We didn’t though know just what supplies we would need for this dig but thankfully the experts helped us and we wanted to be sure to pass this knowledge on to all the other nature loving families here on littlecrunchy.com
Graves Mountain,
Lincolton, GA
Is a site open to the public twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
Lazulite, Pyrophyllite, Rutile, Iridescent Hematite, and Quartz are the main things people dig for.
In order to dig though you need tools and supplies!
Mark F. Gaskins Sr. who made that dig possible shared this photo.
What To Pack For Digging Minerals
- Safety Glasses
- Work Gloves
- Boots
- Hat (for sun protection)
- Hard Hat (if in an area with possible falling rocks or caves)
- Sun Screen
- BackPack to hold tools and personal items.
- First Aid Kit
- Knee Pads
- Water
- Snacks
- Bucket (to hold your specimens)
- Newspaper to wrap your nice specimens.
- Chisels
- Hammer/sledge
- Pry Bar
- Screwdrivers for detail work.
- If walking in and out of sites wagons and coolers are helpful.
- Appropriate clothing.
- Baby Wipes
- Shovel
Thanks to Mark and others my family felt like we were well prepared for our day on the mountain because of this supply list! While the rocks are the big reason people go out to these events, the people are a real treasure too! We met some really nice people who just wanted to share their knowledge about their passions.
Our family loves to travel and we love nature and we consider this event a homeschool field trip. Goodness we learned a lot. We learned the hard way that yes, gloves are needed even if you are not chipping away at a mountain or rock. My son was climbing a rock face above me, sent down accidentally some rocks, one was sharp and cut my hand a bit. The second time we learned the value of gloves was a few hours later when he was trying to break a rock with a pick and a piece flew off and cut hit hand a bit!
Layers is a good idea when going on a mineral dig as the temperature can change quickly. We wore jeans and feel this was best for us even though it was possibly a hot Georgia day. One thing I learned was that the loose T-shirt I had on wasn’t good for me. It was lower cut and so while chipping away at the rock wall, stone dust was getting in my bra. This was not comfortable. When working this way, the rock dust gets everywhere! Kids and Adults on the spectrum may have an issue with this so baby wipes are your friend!
We hope this list helps you bring the things you need for your Mineral Dig and that you have as a great a time as we did!
Check back for more posts about Graves Mountain Soon!
Image Credit: Mark F. Gaskins Sr.
