but should be rinsed with alcohol. A coat of clear lacquer will
protect some samples against dirt.


Arranging Your Collection

Put a spot of enamel on the specimen. Write on the spot--in India
ink--a catalog number and have this number refer to a card in a
file drawer. The card should list date, place found, identification
of specimen, etc.

Group your samples: metallic minerals, semiprecious stones, nonmetallic
minerals. Display them on a shelf, or buy or build a mineral cabinet
with partitioned drawers. For smaller samples, use a Riker mount
with a glass top.

[figure captions]

A common rock

Here's the equipment to take: newspapers for wrapping samples,
notebook and pencil, geologist's pick, cold chisel, magnifying
glass, compass, heavy gloves, a knife, and a knapsack.


What Do I Have?

How do you identify specimens?

Get books and magazines on rocks and minerals. Many have colored