Although known for its gold production, California is a virtual haven for rock and gem collectors. With this fully revised and updated edition, you can explore the mineral-rich desert regions, comb tide-washed beaches for jade, agate, abalone, fossilized whale bone, and prospect in the mountains and hills for gold, copper, and other minerals and gems. It describes 75 of the state's best rockhounding sites and covers popular and commercial sites as well as numerous little-known areas. This handy guide also describes how to collect specimens, includes maps, directions, and GPS coordinates for each site, and lists rockhound clubs around the state. Rockhounding California offers a complete introduction to this many-faceted hobby.
Gail Butler was a contributing editor to Rock and Gem magazine for more than 20 years and has written many articles on rockhounding, gold prospecting, lapidary, and other subjects for various publications. Now retired, she resides in Elsinore, Utah.
The California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) was organized in 1936 to bring about a closer association of Clubs and Societies devoted to the study of Earth Sciences and the practice of Lapidary Arts and Crafts in the Western part of the United States.
The CFMS includes approximately 137 clubs and societies mostly in California. There are a few clubs outside this area in Arizona and Nevada due to historical affiliation. The CFMS is a member of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS).
learn more at www.cfmsinc.org
