Although known for its gold production, California is a virtual haven for rock and gem collectors. With Rockhounding Southern California, you can explore the mineral-rich desert regions, comb tide-washed beaches for jade, agate, abalone, fossilized whale bone, and prospect in the mountains and hills for gold, copper, and other minerals and gems. It describes the state's best rockhounding sites and covers popular and commercial sites as well as numerous little-known areas. This handy guide also describes how to collect specimens, includes maps, directions, and GPS coordinates for each site, and lists rockhound clubs around the state. Rockhounding Southern California offers a complete introduction to this many-faceted hobby.
| Acknowledgments |
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| Introduction |
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1 | (1) |
| Southern California's Geology |
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1 | (8) |
| Rockhounding Southern California |
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9 | (2) |
| Collecting Regulations and Etiquette |
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11 | (2) |
| How to Use This Book |
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13 | (2) |
| Safety |
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15 | (4) |
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19 | (2) |
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21 | (4) |
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25 | (3) |
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28 | (3) |
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31 | (3) |
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34 | (4) |
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38 | (2) |
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40 | (3) |
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43 | (2) |
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45 | (4) |
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49 | (2) |
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51 | (2) |
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12 Mule Canyon Petrified Wood |
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53 | (2) |
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55 | (2) |
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57 | (2) |
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59 | (2) |
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61 | (2) |
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63 | (2) |
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65 | (2) |
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67 | (2) |
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69 | (2) |
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21 Turtle Mountain Chalcedony Roses |
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71 | (3) |
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74 | (2) |
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76 | (3) |
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79 | (2) |
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81 | (2) |
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83 | (3) |
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86 | (2) |
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88 | (2) |
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90 | (2) |
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92 | (2) |
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94 | (2) |
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96 | (2) |
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33 Cargo Muchacho Mountains |
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98 | (3) |
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101 | (2) |
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103 | (3) |
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106 | (2) |
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108 | (2) |
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38 Coyote Mountains Fossils |
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110 | (2) |
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112 | (2) |
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114 | (2) |
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116 | (3) |
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42 Gold Prospectors Association of America |
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119 | (2) |
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43 Gold Rush Mining Company |
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121 | (2) |
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123 | (2) |
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125 | (2) |
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46 Barstow Road Pegmatites |
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127 | (2) |
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129 | (2) |
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131 | (3) |
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134 | (4) |
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138 | (2) |
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140 | (2) |
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142 | (3) |
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53 Keysville Recreational Mining Area |
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145 | (2) |
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147 | (2) |
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55 The Owl Gold Mining Outpost |
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149 | (2) |
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151 | (2) |
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57 Redrock-Inyokern Agate |
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153 | (2) |
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155 | (2) |
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157 | (2) |
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159 | (2) |
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161 | (2) |
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163 | (2) |
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165 | (2) |
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167 | (2) |
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169 | (2) |
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171 | (2) |
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173 | (2) |
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68 Sand Dollar to Jade Cove Beachcombing |
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175 | (3) |
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69 San Martin Serpentinite |
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178 | (2) |
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70 San Carpoforo Creek Beachcombing |
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180 | (2) |
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71 Moonstone Beachcombing |
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182 | (2) |
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184 | (2) |
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73 Morro Bay Beachcombing |
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186 | (2) |
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74 Cuesta Ridge Serpentinite |
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188 | (2) |
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190 | (2) |
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192 | (2) |
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77 Spooner's Cove Beachcombing |
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194 | (2) |
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78 Avila to Pismo Beachcombing |
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196 | (3) |
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79 Jalama to Santa Barbara Beachcombing |
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199 | (2) |
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80 Malibu to San Pedro Beachcombing |
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201 | (3) |
| Appendix A: Glossary |
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204 | (4) |
| Site Index |
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208 | (3) |
| About the Author |
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211 | |
Montana Hodges, a journalist who has worked as a backcountry guide and outdoor/geographic photographer, is the author of Rockhounding Montana, Camping Alaska, and Best Easy Day Hikes Fairbanks (all FalconGuides). An active member of the Chugach Gem and Mineral Society, she has traveled throughout Alaska, from the entire Marine Highway to thousands of roadless miles, by car, bush plane, and foot. Montana lives in Elk Grove, California.
