Product Description:
Welcome to rockhounding in Utah! From mountains that rise up over 13,000 feet in the air, to basins that sink over 2,000 feet in the earth, the rockhound is granted many unique opportunities in Utah's 84,990-mile expanse. In an expanded, fully revised edition, Gem Trails of Utah by James Mitchell leads both the enthusiast and the rock collector to over 75 sites throughout the state where specimens can be found reflecting a diversity as varied as the landscape itself. There are trunks of petrified wood, faceting-grade labradorite, topaz crystals of a color and clarity that rival any found anywhere, boulders of obsidian, delicate halite crystals and much, much more. Gather azurite, jasper, topaz, red beryl, geodes and ultraviolet minerals, while the author conducts you on a personal tour. The essential guide for the veteran and neophyte alike. Detailed text and maps lead the gem hunter to abandoned mine dumps, stunning desert terrain, deep canyons, pristine mountains and beautiful lakes in the search for specimens. Black and white photos highlight the collecting area. A color section aids in specimen identification. Additional text offers helpful hints on lapidary applications and safety tips, an overview of the geology of Utah and a list of Utah's rockhounding clubs and organizations, as well as natural history and mining museums. This latest edition of a classic, best-selling guide is invaluable for the rockhounds just starting out, filled with expert advice and years of experience. For the collector who has been discovering Utah's treasures for years, it is an outstanding source of the old and the new sites in one handy volume. James Mitchell, a contributor to the Lapidary Journal, teaches school during the year and spends summers searching the West for additional gem and mineral locations.