Collecting Equipment
In order to enhance your prospecting for gems, minerals, rocks and fossils you will need certain equipment that will allow you to remove your samples from surrounding rock and sediment. The type of materials you will be collecting in, the kind of samples you look for and the surrounding environment will determine how to conduct the collecting and what type of equipment you must bring to the site. Specific locations might require the basic equipment in addition to optional or specialized equipment.
Most of the basic and optional equipment can be purchased at your local hardware store, Home Depot or Lowes. Specialty companies include Ward’s Natural Science, Diamond Pacific, Raytech Industries, Amateur Geologist, Kingsley North and Geo 
Tools.
Basic Equipment:
Rock pick or masonry hammer
Chisel with 1-1 1/2” wide edge
Work gloves
Safety goggles or glasses
Work boots/sturdy shoes (No sandals or open footwear)
Bucket or knapsack for samples
Newspapers for wrapping samples
Small container or plastic bag for holding crystals 
First aid kit
Insect repellant
Sunscreen
Water
Magnifying glass or 10x loop
Streak plate
Glass square
Hat

Optional Equipment:
Hardhat
Crack hammer
Sledge hammer 8+ lbs 
Crow bar or pry bar
Screen sieves 1/4” mesh
Shovel
Rake
Long shaft chisels
Brush/whisk brush for removing sand & dirt 
Garden kneeling pad or strap on knee pads 
Cart or wagon
Reflective safety vest
Rubber boots/rain gear

Specialized Equipment:
Ultraviolet light to detect fluorescent minerals
HCL acid for testing for carbonate minerals
Geiger counter to test for radioactive minerals
Metal or plastic gold mining pans
X-Ray Fluorescence Analyzers
Metal detector

Helpful Suggestions:
Colored Coded Equipment
Some collectors paint part or all of their collecting equipment with a bright color so it is easier to see and retrieve them. If you loan out your equipment it is easier to distinguish your items from those of other collectors. 
GPS Positioning
More collectors are now using GPS technology to locate the exact position of a collecting site. Having accurate directions and precise location coordinates helps to find the site faster and increases valuable collecting time. GPS technology is available on cell phones, built in car navigation systems and systems such as Garmin, Magellan and Tom Tom.Collecting_Equipment_files/Pry%20bar.docx