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Outdoors & Nature |
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Gem Trails of Arizona
written by James R. Mitchell, James R. Michell, Bessie Simpson
Studio : Gem Guides Book Company
by Gem Guides Book Company
Publisher : Gem Guides Book Company
Released : 2001-04-01
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9781889786148
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 5 reviews)
List Price : $11.95
Our Price : $10.75
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Product Description |
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Arizona is known the world over for its rich abundance and variety of geological treasures. Newly revised, the fourth edition of this best-selling guide updates the well-known sites and features twenty new locations for collecting rocks, minerals, crystals and fossils. Situated in landscape as diverse as the minerals themselves, these sites vary from arid desert to pine covered peaks. Includes over 90 collecting sites. Detailed text describes where to go and what to look for at each collecting area. Maps for each site lead the rockhound to an almost limitless supply of specimens. Black and white photographs picture the collecting areas. Color photographs highlight beautiful specimens. A new glossary makes it easier to locate that special specimen for your collection. Filled with expert advice based on years of experience, Gem Trails of Arizona is an invaluable guide for the rockhound just starting out. For the experienced collector who has searched for Arizona's mineral resources for years, it is an outstanding source for the best collecting sites throughout this scenic state. |
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A Must For The Rockhound |
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The Gem Trails guides are always the best choice for a rockhound unfamilar with an area. The site descriptions and maps are always very accurate. |
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sorely in need of another revision |
We tried half a dozen or more of the recommended trails and had success with only one! Arizona has been developing fast and many roads were closed, gone, blocked or built over. We did enjoy our one successful day (although I wish he had noted that it would take hours to cross the unpaved dirt roads...), but lost several vacation days to paths which no longer existed :(
We ultimately decided to ditch the book so that we could enjoy more of our vacation and give up the "wild goose" chases.
I'd recommend this only for people who live in arizona and have abundant time on their hands. expect to experience more disappointments and failures than successes, and you will not be disappointed. |
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Using the book in the field |
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After purchasing the book, I used it by going to some of the sites listed in the book and after being successful at two out of 5 of the sites I went to I would have to say that the book needs a new revised edition. But overall it is an outstanding book and a must for the rockhounds heading for Arizona. |
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Needs better maps and/or GPS coordinates |
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This review is based on visiting only 4 of the sites covered in the book. For three of the four sites, I found the hand drawn maps in the book rather confusing. Based on my limited experience, it appears that most AZ roads outside of medium to large population centers are rough, may be unmarked and, if marked, often have names/numbers that may not match the book, the gazetteer, or USGS topo maps. Furthermore, some of these collecting sites are old mine workings that are not readily visible due to overgrowth. In any case, GPS coordinates would take some of the confusion out of the location descriptions. Better maps would help also. However, we did eventually find what was advertised and this certainly is a helpful guide and worth the money spent. |
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Gem Trails of Arizona |
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I own three different revisions of this book. All are very useful for amateur rock hounds. My sons and I have visited about a dozen of the listed sites and all have produced nice specimens. |
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