Amateur geology

Eventually, however, more people have been drawn to amateur geology for recreational purposes, mainly for the beauty that rocks and minerals provide.

One reason for the rise in popularity of amateur geology is that a collection can begin by simply picking up a rock.

Collectors usually search for rocks in quarries, road cuts, rocky hills, mountains, and streams.

Many beautiful crystal varieties are typically found in very small samples which requires a good microscope for working with and photographing the specimen.

The hobby can be as simple as finding pretty rocks for a windowsill or develop into a detailed and comprehensive museum quality display.