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Have you ever wondered how to find quartz crystals in your backyard? This article will cover just that so that you can be searching for quartz in no time, and it’s actually pretty easy to get started.
You likely have all the materials you need to get your first dig underway! As long as you take these four tips into account whenever you set out to start digging for quartz, there’s a chance you’ll find some beautiful crystals on your property.
How to Find Quartz Crystals in Your Backyard – 4 Tips
Many crystals, including quartz, can be found in your own backyard. All you need to find your own crystals is a little bit of knowledge of the ideal tools for digging these rocks out of the ground.
Let’s have a look at 4 tips for finding quartz crystals in your own backyard!
1. Determine the Tools You Need
To get started, you’ll need to invest in a few tools so you can dig far enough into the ground. If your yard is extremely rocky, you’ll need a pickaxe to break up rocks or any compact ground matter. Depending on how far into the ground your crystals are, you’ll need a shovel to move more soil.
If the crystals you’re finding are quite small, buying a classifier is a good idea. This will allow you to sift the dirt and rocks out to identify any crystal formations more efficiently as you’re digging. If this is the route you’re going to take, it’s also a good idea to have some long tweezers to pick out tiny crystals that may be challenging to grasp with just your fingers.
When you’re starting out, it’s a good idea to try using the tools you already have first. Try utilizing the gardening supplies or shovels that you have on hand. This is the best way to determine if you have everything you need or if additional tools that would be useful.
This hobby does not need to be expensive, meaning you don’t need costly or top of the line tools to find beautiful crystal quartz. So don’t spend too much time or money preparing your tools. Instead, save your time for the actual digging.
You could always start with a geology rock picking kit like this one, it’s got a little bit of everything in it including a chisel, small shovel.
2. Choose a Sieve
When you first get started, you’ll want to practice using your sieve/classifier. This will be extremely useful in getting through piles of dirt or rock efficiently. If you opt for a handheld sifter, you’ll be able to get through your soil more quickly than if you use a larger sifter.
The larger sifters are ideal for covering the most land possible at one time. However, you’ll need to determine which is more important: doing small batches quickly or large sets slowly.
The larger sifters will work better if you’re digging deeper into the ground, as it’ll save you some labor in the digging. This gemstone sifter on Amazon is affordable and stackable for easy storage.
If you’re working primarily near water sources, be sure you have a pan for your sifter, so you don’t lose any treasures into the water stream. With this, you’ll use the same technique you would when just sifting dirt; however, you’ll trap more extraneous materials.
3. Determine Where You Should Start Looking
Once you have all your equipment ready, you’ll need to pinpoint exactly where to start searching. Keep in mind that you’re very likely to find crystals near concrete, like your driveway. This can be a great starting place for some beginner’s luck!
The driveway is always a good idea because of the rock formations beneath the rock and concrete mixture. If you have any regions of your yard with limestone deposits, this is also a great starting place to forage for some quartz. Wherever you can find rocks, it’s possible you’ll find quartz.
Another great starting place is near natural water sources. If your property is along a river, creek, or lake, you may be able to find gemstones in the soil near the water. While all of these locations differ immensely, your luck in finding crystals will solely depend on the area you live.
Apart from your location, having good luck plays a massive role in finding quartz. Some days you may come up empty-handed, and others, you may find several crystals.
Popular Regions to Find Quartz
The United States is generally rich in quartz. These crystals can come in several colors, including:
- White
- Citrine/yellow
- Purple
- Pink
- Gray to black
Therefore, if you find a crystal that isn’t wholly colorless, don’t write it off as something other than quartz. And while you can find these crystals everywhere in the US, they’re most known to be found in Arkansas and North Carolina.
4. Be Mindful of Your Safety When Digging
Before you start digging through your yard for crystals, always call 811 to request the location of underground utilities. Identify where your electrical and water lines lie so you can best avoid searching near them. It’s critical not to disrupt these lines as it could be dangerous for you or cause issues in your home.
Your cable lines might be pretty close to the surface, so be aware of where they should be before getting into the soil. Always make sure to wear gloves and long pants to avoid cutting your hands or legs while you’re on the ground digging. Some crystals and rocks can be sharp and cause injury while you’re searching.
Conclusion
It’s so common to find crystals in jewelry shops or on sculptures that so many people believe they have to travel far and wide to forage for their crystals. This could not be further from the truth!
Even you’re one of the unlucky ones and your property doesn’t have any of these cool rocks, you can look for quartz when you’re out. If you often go hiking, that’s a great opportunity to look for quartz crystals.
Either way, good luck in your search and thanks for reading!
