Central Illinois

Gem & Mineral Club

of Decatur

Rockhunter Safety Guidelines

When you collect rocks and fossils, you have to make sure you don’t get hurt. Rockhounds need to know all about how to collect safely.

1. Never try to break a rock without wearing safety goggles.
2. Breaking rocks takes practice. Have an experienced rockhound show you how. Each rock has a different way of breaking.
3. You will also need a proper sledge. Never try to break a specimen by hitting it with the pointed end of a geologists pick.
   Do not use regular tools like hammers, chisels, woodworking chisels, axes etc. to break your rocks. They weren’t designed for this, you will damage them and you will hurt yourself when the tool breaks.
4. Wear gloves. Sometimes rocks can give you slivers and quartz is sharp enough to give you a nasty cut.
   Rocks are hard and often rough. They can scratch you as well as any furniture you put it on.
5. Wash you hands thoroughly after handling rocks and before eating. Some minerals can make you sick.
6. Don’t wash your rocks in the sink at home. You could scratch the sink and the dirt could clog up your pipes. Wash your rocks in a tub of water and dump the water on your flowerbed outside.

 

Code of Ethics

Respecting the areas we collect in is just as important as personal safety. Many collecting sites are on private lands or parks. Always get permission before collecting! These are the things that we all need to follow to keep our hobby alive.

I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without permission from the owner.

I will keep informed on all laws, regulations or rules governing collecting on public lands and will observe them.

I will, to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.

I will use no firearms or blasting material in collecting areas.

I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind such as fences, signs, buildings, etc.

I will leave all gates as found.

I will build fires only in designated or safe places and will be certain they are completely extinguished before leaving the area.

I will discard no burning material - matches, cigarettes, etc.
I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock.

I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supplies.

I will cause no willful damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use.

I will practice conservation and undertake to utilize fully and well the materials I have collected and will recycle my surplus for the pleasure and benefit of others.

I will support the rockhound project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found.

I will cooperate with field-trip leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas.

I will report to my club or federation officers, Bureau of Land Management or other authorities, any deposit of petrified wood or other materials on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations for public educational and scientific purposes.

I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources.

I will observe the "Golden Rule", will use Good Outdoor Manners and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and Public Image of Rockhounds everywhere.

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Central Illinois Gem & Mineral Club