Rock & Gem

Editor’s Letter

Happy New Year! We’ve made it to 2026, and I wish all of you the best, whether you’re eld collecting, shopping for specimens, making your own creations, or running a “rocky” business. I hope you are successful in all your endeavors. is year, we’ve got...

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Rockhound Road Trip is published annually by EG MEDIA INVESTMENTS LLC, 3622 Lyckan Parkway Suite 3003, Durham, NC 27707. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2025 by EG Media Investments, LLC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rock & Gem, c/o EG Media...

Editor’s Letter

It may seem cliché, but I can’t believe it’s the holiday season already. I hope as you get this issue, you’re having fun and enjoying the festivities. We’ve got a lot packed into this issue. I enjoyed reading all the stories, but a few stood out. One...

How Ammonites ESCAPED TIME

Editor’s Letter

Ilove the depth of this issue covering rocks here at home and in far away lands, but the story that made me want to write this is the Mineral Magic Show. Forgive my soapbox, but sometimes I think we, as adults, get so caught up in our daily lives and...

RETRO ROCKS: PETOSKEY STONES

Petoskey stones are a prized nd along the shores of Lake Michigan. To paleontologists, however, they remain simply Hexagonaria coral until they are cut, polished and o en sold for a he y price. Only then do they earn the name “Petoskey Stone.”

A Private Carving Lesson with Darryl Alexander

Edinburgh: The Birthplace of Modern Geology

Editor’s Letter

Many of you know how much I love nding vintage pieces of rock collecting and learning. Call me weird, but I nd it fascinating to see how the hobby and teaching geology have evolved over the years. So, I’m excited to share my latest nd from 1961. I came...

Editor’s Letter

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful 2024 and wish you all the best for the upcoming year. I don’t want to start the year on a maudlin note, but 2024 was a tough year as we lost some long-time writers. Some have passed. Some had to step back from...

Editor’s Letter

Diamonds are top-of-mind in the holiday season. From engagement rings to gi s, it seems everyone wants one. But it’s fascinating to me how this market has changed over the years and with generational shi s. I have made-in-nature diamonds in my jewelry...

Editor’s Letter

While our October spooky issue is not a formal theme, it’s started to become a classic with our writers and everyone who helps with each issue. e rst year I did this, I pulled out a couple of story pitches that I thought would be fun for an October...

Finding Amethyst in Southwestern New Mexico