A collection of rockhounding and arrowhead (Indian artifact) field reports from across the nation. Join us for exciting geological and historical adventures involving rocks, minerals, crystals, fossils, and Native American artifacts as we include reports, photos, videos, maps and more. If you love rocks, minerals, fossils, and artifacts, then Rockhounding USA is your new home.
Rockhounding USA: an informative and media-rich blog with articles, photos, videos, and maps to a wide variety of rock, mineral, fossil, and Indian artifact collecting sites across the USA.
Many fossil locations require a long hike into the forest, or an exhausting trip across the desert, or extensive travels into the wilderness. BUT NOT THIS ONE.
Join us as we explore a rich fossil site that sits a few feet off of State Road 146, about 5 miles east of Anna, Illinois. Crinoids, Blastoids, Archimedes screws, and more await even the casual collector:
You can clean limestone fossils (Calcium-based) with weak solutions of acid (Vinegar), but be careful. The acid will dissolve (not only the matrix) but also the fossil itself. To halt the action of the acid, add small amounts of Baking Soda until the fizzing stops, then soak the fossils overnight in fresh water. If your fossils are silica-based (quartz) then you can use stronger acids (Muriatic) to dissolve away the surrounding matrix, since silica is impervious to most acids.
Mention the word "Arizona" to rockhounds, and instantly visions of large chunks of luscious petrified logs will fill their minds. Indeed, there is even a national park in Arizona dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of an incredible area of petrified wood.
But where can rockhounds legally collect those wonderful bits of wood-turned-stone? In this episode of Rockhounding USA, we travel about 15 miles east of Holbrook, Arizona to the DoBell Ranch and find more petrified wood than we can haul.
NOTE: When using Muriatic Acid to clean your fossils, be sure to wear gloves and eye protection, and avoid breathing the fumes. Always add acid to water, and never add water to acid, and always do your cleaning OUTDOORS. To neutralize your acid bath, use generous amounts of baking soda (until the solution stops fizzing), and then allow at least a few more hours. Once neutralized, pour out the old solution, and then soak your fossils (petrified wood) in fresh water and allow to soak for a few more hours, overnight is best. Never clean fossils containing calcium in Muriatic Acid, as the strong acid will attack your fossil. Use weaker acids, such as Vinegar to clean calcium-based fossils (most fossils in limestone). Only use Muriatic Acid on silica-based fossils, since the Hydrochloric Acid cannot dissolve the silica.
