If you enjoy collecting precious stones, you don’t necessarily have to buy them on the internet, or go to your local dealer.
You could find a lot of valuable rocks in the back yard, including tourmaline, topaz, quartz, jade.
While they may be less valuable than diamonds They can be useful to add to your collection.
Some of them will sell at a reasonable price while many of them don’t sell for much more than a pack of gum.
What Equipment Do You Need to Find Valuable Rocks?
Here’s the equipment you’ll want to dig up value rocks in your backyard.
Bucket
A bucket helps you carry the rock breaeding the gemstones. It’s also helpful for ferrying away extra soil.
Because mining can be a hard job, you are better off working with metal buckets.
Pickaxe
A pickaxe tool will help remove dirt off rocks for digging out gemstones.
It’s basically a T-shape tool with one end sharper than the other.
Shovel
A shovel or a spade is used for scooping dirt off the surface of the earth.
They will also be useful for excavating any excess soil when digging into the surface.
Tweezers
Sometimes valuable rocks can break down to tiny little specks that can’t be picked up with your bare hands.
This is where tweezers will come in handy.
Classifier
Classifiers are a tool used to remove tiny pearls used to classify gold.
However, they’re useful for getting rid of waste and debris while excavating treasure rocks in your backyard.
Where Are You Likely to Get Valuable Rocks?
Once you gather all the necessary tools, the next step is to find a location that is likely to contain valuable rocks.
Again, it is best to work in rocky areas first. Most minerals are usually preserved below rocks.
Usually, areas that experience a lot of earth movement usually have more minerals.
This is because those areas are bringing valuable rocks closer to the earth’s surface.
If you do not have a rocky area in your backyard, seek a creek, river, or lake.
Those locations will also have mineral deposits in abundance.
How to Identify Valuable Rocks
If you see a rock that looks a little different than normal, don’t just ignore it. It might be worth something, or like, it contains gemstones or something.
The best way to assess the value of a rock is to observe its color, the feel or hardness of the rock, and the surface markings.
Color inspection
Color is an important attribute, but it is not a reliable gemstone identifier.
For example, iron pyrite looks like gold, but it holds little or no value compared to gold.
Besides, color is only good for one-color minerals.
Most gemstones have multiple colors due to impurities.
Color can narrow the gemstone sample down to a handful of minerals, but not provide a definitive answer.
The streak test
The powder from crushing a rock typically has a different color than the rock itself.
So, in this case, you probably don’t want to crush the rock thinking its valuable, because you would want to just do a streak test.
You are going to need some unglazed porcelain to do this. Just take the sample, swipe the sample across the time, and note the streak that is left.
For example – jade leaves a green streak, and chalcopyrite leaves a black streak. The only downside to the streak test is you’re out of luck if the mineral is harder than the porcelain.
The hardness test
The hardness test is a 1 to 10 scale, created by a mineralogist named Frederich Mohs.
Typically, minerals that are harder are worth more than minerals that are softer.
If the mineral can get scratched by your fingernails, it has a hardness of 2.5 Mohs or less.
Minerals that have a hardness of 5.5 Mohs require glass to scratch, and minerals at a hardness of 6.5 Mohs and below can leave a streak on unglazed porcelain.
Diamonds are 10 Mohs hardness and can only get scratched by another diamond.
Identifying meteorites
While the rocks in your backyard might be valuable, they might also not belong there as they could’ve come from meteorites as opposed to being in the ground.
Meteorites typically have a crust where the heat from their rapid descent through the atmosphere has melted the meteorite’s surface.
They are usually darker than most rocks found on earth and have flow lines that were created while the meteorite traveled through the atmosphere while in a semi-solid state.
Which Valuable Rocks Can You Find in Your Backyard?
The following are some of the rocks you can find in your yard.
1. Quartz
Quartz is considered the most abundant rock on earth.
Pure quartz is colorless – impurities cause vibrant colors, so there are many gemstone versions like amethyst, carnelian, or citrine, for example.
Quartz is generally not expensive and works well in jewelry and sculptured states.
High quality quartz has frost-free temperature on hands and is clear and glassy.
Because quartz crystals are easy to find, their cost is lower than that of other gemstone crystals.
However, the larger and clearer the quartz crystals possess at a greater expense.
2. Opal
Opal’s a stunning gemstone that’s made from silica.
Some unique opal gemstones can sell for more than a diamond.
You can get opal’s in lots of different colors:
- black
- brown
- green
- pink
- purple
The main purpose of opal is to make jewelry, but opals are also used for carving.
Opals are easy to come by because they are so shiny.
Opal’s can be found in the Southwestern states like Nevada and California.
The most expensive opal’s are prismatic, meaning they can show every color in the light spectrum based on the directions that you hold them in light.
The brighter the reflection, the more valuable the opal is.
3. Topaz
Topaz is a strong stone (and one of the hardest minerals in the world) that comes in several colors.
It’s cost effective, they can produce large crystals of the stone.
Topaz crystals are usually a lighter colored natural stone, but colorless topaz is first on the list of diamond simulants.
After Being Treated – Topaz can be made into different jewelry items such as earrings, bracelets, and pendants.
Quality of topaz is mainly dependent on the color of the stone.
Pink is the most valuable of all the varieties, and can be used for expensive jewelry. It’s also common to confuse topaz with citrine, which is a less expensive option.
4. Peridot
Peridot’s a pretty common precious stone. It has a light yellow-green shade.
It is popular with collectors because it reflects bright green light depending on the light source.
Peridot is unique because it comes in flakes and tiny bits, so you usually find large pieces but only on very rare occasions.
Within the United States, this stone can generally be found in:
- Arizona
- Hawaii
- New Mexico
- Wyoming
The small size of peridot makes it hard to discover the gemstone in soil. So it’s best to wear a loupe when looking for this gemstone so you can see its distinctive green sparkle.
Color intensity is the measure of quality of peridot crystals. The greener the stone, the more valuable it is.
Yellow peridots are the easiest stones to find. On the other hand, a brown streak tells you that it is really a low-quality peridot.
5. Obsidian
Obsidian is glassy rock that is usually black.
There is usually green obsidian and brown obsidian. Obsidian is formed when molten rocks cool quickly to hard large, soft textured crystals.
In the old days, people used obsidian to make cutting tools because it was tough and had sharp edges.
Today, a surgeon can use an obsidian blade to operate because they are sharper than steel and they make precise cuts.
Because of its glassy appearance, it is very easy to find obsidians.
It is a main rock in the Western States and mainly in:
- Arizona
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
The value of obsidians depend on the age of a crystal. But it is not easy to find old pieces because of the fragility of this rock.
If you are lucky – you can find yourself a crystal that has been around for awhile – a couple of million years. You could make a good chunk of change.
6. Garnet
Garnets are a gemstone you can pull out of your backyard without specialized knowledge.
Garnets are mostly used in jewelry, or other decorative items.
Garnets typically come in three varieties: almandine , pyrople, and rhodolite.
Of the three, the almandine is the easiest to find and is commonly set into jewelry.
The other two varieties are rare, but also useful for beauty accessories.
While the hardness of garnets varies based on the variety, Garnets are hard enough to be considered an abrasive material.
Tough garnet crystals have a number of industrial uses, such as cutting steel and other metals.
You can’t tell a garnet’s quality by looking at a garnet crystal.
Garnet gemstones have multiple impurities which makes them appear particularly dark. Mostly, good quality garnets appear translucent and bright.
7. Jade
Typically when people think of “jade” they imagine green, but jade can also be found both purple and white crystals.
Jade is a mixture of two minerals – jadeite and nephrite.
Historically, the primary use of jade is in the manufacture of jewelry. This has gone on for many centuries, and offers additional uses for jade, such as carving for sculptures, and making tools and other items.
Jade naturally occurs in specific metamorphic rocks and is considered common in areas such as:
- California
- Washington
- Wyoming
Due to its high demand in China, jade is considered an expensive gemstone, and the price has increased dramatically.
The highest price for jade is known as ‘’imperial jade,’ which exhibits a more intense green color and a premium appearance.
8. Malachite
Malachite isn’t know for a pretty rock. Its opaque crystals form rings and spots in a random manner over its surface, and when polished, this design makes for an interesting work of art.
As a product of limestone, malachite is used for beads and carvings.
Malachite is usually sold by volume, and is sold at a much lower price than other precious stones.
Malachite qualities depend on how vibrant its appearance is and how noticeable the rings and spots are.
As a natural stone product, every malachite crystal is unique, which is one of the reasons collectors like this stone.
9. Turquoise
Turquoise is popular because of its unique color.
Turquoise is used for jewelry, sculptures, and tools.
Unfortunately, turquoise is very porous, so you shouldn’t clean it with anything other than water. It’s also susceptible to sunlight, so it needs to be kept dark.
The good news is that this stone doesn’t change after processing.
The best turquoise, and most unique is lander blue turquoise.
In general, any intense blue turquoise crystal is considered valuable.
However, mining is becoming more commonplace globally, which is making this mineral rare. Prices will probably be on the rise soon.
10. Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a group of closely related minerals that come in many different colors. Therefore, this gemstone’s price varies depending on the size and color of crystals.
Although the majority of tourmaline crystals are monochrome, there are multiple colored crystals. Furthermore, the appearance of a tourmaline can change depending on the angle and light source location.
So, black tourmaline has the most distinctive appearance and shines the brightest in the light compared to stones of other colors that people usually confuse for other gemstones.
Smaller tourmaline crystals are used to make bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry items. While larger pieces are typically carved and made into sculptures.
In the United States tourmaline can be found in California and Maine. However, you may travel to Brazil to locate tourmaline crystals that are the most expensive and rarest and can cost thousands of dollars.
11. Agate
If think your garden has agate, try to hold a sample up to a light.
If you see the stone is reddish brown, a little clear/translucent, and some visible bands, then it is most likely an agate.
However, agate isn’t as expensive as other gemstones. That’s why they sell it in bulk, and the larger it is, the more it costs. Also, atypically unusual looking stones are far more expensive than non-atypically looking stones.
Agate is particularly more common in the Western USA and where there are igneous rocks.
12. Amethyst
Amethyst is one of the most sought after gemstones in the quartz family.
It has a stunning purple color that makes it a beautiful choice for earrings and pendants.
If you are a rockhound, amethyst can be found in Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and North Carolina.
As a rockhound, amethyst is not very easy to find outside of these states.
You’re welcome to check for rock geodes from creeks, rivers, and streams. If you are lucky, you may find the gemstone inside the larger rock geode.
The color of amethyst crystals is what determines the quality of the stone. The finest qualities of amethyst are medium to deep violet.
Darker hues are not nearly as favorable because it needs super intense light to reflect the light, stripping away the main purpose of having gemstones.
Heads up! If you want to have more value in your amethyst do not remove the gemstone from the rock geode.
What Next After Finding Gemstones?
After discovering a precious rock in your backyard, clean the gems to remove any dirt and other materials, since other materials will damage the gemstones.
First use water, because if you used other things, it’d do damage to your gemstones.
Then, use the guide above to identify which type of gemstone you have.
If you aren’t able to identify it, bring the sample to a gemologist for additional tests.
After you identify it, you can add the rock to your collection or sell it.
Other Ways of Finding Valuable Rocks
So, if you aren’t lucky enough to find valuable rocks in your backyard, don’t sweat it – there are many other ways of expanding your gemstone collection.
Here are some other methods of finding valuable rocks.
Fee mining
As the name suggests, you pay a small fee to get permission to go snooping around for minerals on a designated piece of land.
The United States has countless fee mines across the country; however, most are situated on the West Coast, which is famous for its large gemstone deposits.
In addition, fee mining is a great way to expand your knowledge about gemstones.
This is because the sites have mineral experts demonstrating how to identify precious stones and to recognize mineral deposits.
Opencast mining
Opencast mining namely “open-pit.” is a favored method of mineral exploration because it doesn’t require you to excavate major amounts of land.
If you have a hard rock quarry that is no longer being mined, you are welcome to recce the area for minerals.
Just remember to have the appropriate gear and a buddy in case of an emergency.
Oceanside mining
Oceans have large deposits of gemstones. If you’re located on the beach, try the shallow, sandy beaches!
A popular area for underwater exploration is the Jade Cove Trail in Big Sur, California.
Most states have policies on what you can do in connection with seas. Make sure you aren’t endangering marine life while you’re out looking.
Mountain prospecting
As we said above, ground movement is also typically where there are high levels of mineralization.
So in mountainous areas it can often be easy to find very precious rocks.
But this exploration needs some academic research to find the locations that could yield those rocks.
Wrapping Up
You might not even know this, but every time you’re just chilling in your backyard, you may be stepping on some valuable gemstones.
Some valuable stones like quartz are plentiful and can be found everyed, but obserivng the shade of the stone can be hard when it’s just sitting with everything found in nature.
If you live in a rocky area that has experience volcanic activity or earthquakes, etc, the surface of your property may be a wealth of valuable rock stuff.
Regardless, there’s no acceptable reason to go treasure hunting without first obtaining some educational background about minerals.
If you pick up a good pair of mineral holes, and get to work to look for rocks and minerals after you’re have information about specifics to identify, who knows maybe you’ll be lucky enough to have another gem in your collection or even one that you can sell for a profit.
Either way, it’s an awesome feeling when you successfully mine your first gemstone!