For many Americans, the most popular vacation time is summer, but spring may be the real MVP for a geo-getaway.
Gem Hunting Vacations
Jono Melamed/ Courtesy of Cate Larsen
If your idea of a good time involves standing in the sun hunting for rocks and minerals, you better do it when it’s not terribly hot. Let’s look at some notable not-too-hot-spots and the spoils you can dig up there!
Known for its native rubies and sapphires, this mine provides a genuine prospecting experience. Each visitor gets a large bucket of pre-collected gravel to sift through at a water trough and find their own stunning gems.
The gems hail from the upper-Precambrian metamorphic rocks of the nearby Appalachians. Erosion carries this material into the valley, accumulating in old riverbeds where the mine is located.
You don’t need to bring any tools or supplies since the mine provides the screen boxes. Just make sure you bring an umbrella to set up at the trough and stay cool!
Herkimer Diamond Mines, New York
Okay, they’re not really diamonds, but they are a rare quartz with two endpoints. Fascination with double-termination draws in amateur and expert prospectors, as they can get hands-on in the pits, digging, sifting, and smashing. Geologists love it, too; I go at least once a year!
Crystals reside in cavities or ‘vugs’ of the dense, 495-million-year-old Little Falls Dolostone—an ideal and undisturbed environment for their formation over millions of years.
The Herkimer area is home to multiple pay-to-dig sites you can choose from. To make it easy for you, I made a Google Map of all the ones I know!
If REAL diamonds are what you’re after, Crater of Diamonds definitely lives up to its name: Visitors found more than 800 diamonds in 2023, and yes, you are allowed to keep everything you find!
The diamonds originate from a unique lamproite volcanic pipe, formed 100 million years ago when a deep-origin volcano explosively erupted, bringing these high-pressure minerals to the surface.
Here, April showers are your friend! Rain can loosen the soil and often helps uncover larger gems. Using wire screens to sift through gravel is also a popular hunting method to maximize your chances of finding this precious stone.
National Parks to Visit
Cavan-Images/Shutterstock.com
You’d be nuts to visit certain National Parks once it starts getting warm out—Death Valley, I’m looking at you. Thankfully, there are plenty of underrated parks that have the most to offer in springtime.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, though less known than neighboring Yosemite, provides a quieter and more unique view of geothermal activity.
The park features an active volcano—Lassen Peak—which last erupted in 1915. Visitors can explore cinder cone volcanoes and lava pinnacles to observe the effects of the volcanic activity presently shaping the landscape.
Melting snow from the winter past feeds into the hot springs and steam vents. Springtime also offers optimal wildflower viewing and scenic beauty with less of a crowd, making for a more serene visit.
This West Texas treasure features stunning sedimentary landscapes, numerous hiking trails, and exceptional night skies far from city lights.
The park is home to the Permian-age Capitan Reef, visible today as the tallest point in Texas! The surrounding basin reveals a complex history of marine and terrestrial environments frozen in time.
Spring’s milder temperatures make it ideal for hiking Guadalupe Peak or exploring the lush, vibrant McKittrick Canyon, a stark contrast to Texas’ typical desert landscape.
Nestled in the shadow of 13,000-foot Wheeler Peak, the park is a less-visited gem, offering a diverse array of colorful landscapes from deserts to mountains, and lakes to caves.
The South Snake Range encompasses most of the park, where late Precambrian-to Cambrian-age sedimentary rocks are on display. Visitors can also tour the Lehman Caves system, which offers a glimpse into the subterranean limestone environments.
Spring is the perfect time to visit, as melting snow nourishes the park’s creeks and unveils lush undergrowth. The climate is great for hiking and enjoying the park without extreme temperatures.
Keep in mind:
While these parks are considered less visited than other, more famous parks, they still experience an increase in visitation this time of year.
Check the parks’ websites to stay informed about seasonal road closures due to things like lingering snow, flooding, or mud.
Plan for temperature fluctuations, which are common in the spring. Remember it’ll be colder in the morning and get warmer as the day goes on, so wear layers!
A message from AAPG and Geothermal Rising
Registration Is Open
Geothermal, Lithium, Hydrogen: New Energy from Subsurface Fluids Conference
Join AAPG and Geothermal Rising on 6-7 June as geothermal, critical minerals, and gases are brought together to explore the connections between them, either in the formation of the reservoirs or reserves, or in exploring for, evaluating, and producing them.
Explore the role that geology plays in natural ecosystems and how it interacts with elements like water, soil, and life by going on a hike with an expert naturalist.
Benefits for geoscientists: Guided nature hikes are a chance to see how local plants and wildlife fit into the bigger geological picture, adding a practical twist to our professional knowledge.
Springtime advantage: Mild temperatures and blooming nature make spring ideal for hikes, enhancing trail comfort and rock visibility. It’s the last time you’ll be able to see woodsy outcrops before the darn greenery covers ‘em up again!
Finding upcoming hikes: Search on sites like Eventbrite or check if a park or trail offers official group treks! Note that not everyone advertises their services online, so you may have to find out about these opportunities through word of mouth. Ask around!
Do-it-yourself: If you know a whole lot about the geology and ecology in your own area, consider hosting your own guided nature hike with some friends!
The bottom line: Geoscientists and nature lovers alike can deepen their knowledge of geology’s link to nature through these guided springtime hikes. They offer valuable insights into local ecosystems and are overall a delightful outdoor experience.
Thanks for reading this week’s GeoLifestyle! Inspired by last week’s edition—available to read here—I’ve taken the plunge into spring cleaning and I’m thrilled to be unpacking my warmer-weather adventure gear! See you out there ✌😉
Cate Larsen
Editor, GeoLifestyle
👍 If you enjoyed this edition of GeoLifestyle, consider supporting AAPG's brand of newsletters by forwarding to a friend or colleague and signing up for our other newsletters here.
Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up for GeoLifestyle here.
AAPG thanks our advertisers for their support. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. If you're interested in supporting AAPG digital products, reach out to Melissa Roberts.
%20(2).png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=Geothermal%2c%20Lithium%2c%20Hydrogen%20New%20Energy%20from%20Subsurface%20Fluids2%20(955%20x%20400%20px)%20(2).png)
