Lower Mainland
The varied geology of the Lower Mainland offers many different rocks. From the low beaches to the mountain tops, rock hunters can find a wide range of interesting finds.
Kamloops
Once covered by water, Kamloops is a premier rockhounding location with fossils and minerals such as gold, opals, agates, zeolites, geodes and many other precious gemstones strewn throughout the region. The McAbee Fossil Beds (which was once a shallow lake, 50 million years ago), Savona Caves and Painted Bluffs Provincial Park are places to check out. Guided local tours are available and are recommended for novices.
Vancouver Island
Some of the best rockhounding in British Columbia is to be found on Vancouver Island due to its abundance of beaches and unique geological locales with fossils and spectacular caves. The beaches are some of the best locations to find rocks – especially as vicious winter storms toss interesting rocks onto the shores throughout the year which are easy to find.
1. The British Columbia Lapidary Society (BCLS) www.bclapidary.com which is also the official website of the umbrella association for the rockhounding clubs of British Columbia, Canada.
[button url=”https://naturekidsbc.ca/join-us/” target=”_blank|_self” style=”normal”]Get Involved with NatureKids![/button]
Some useful references: A Field Guide to Gold, Gem & Mineral Sites on Vancouver Island (2008).Rick Hudson. Harbour PublishingRockhounding: in Search of Earth’s Treasures (1994). Ministry of Energy and Mines, Geological Survey of Canada.A Field Guide to the Identification of Pebbles(2006): Eileen Van der Flier-Keller, University of Victoria. School of Earth and Ocean Sciences.
8 Comments
Rick Hudson
What about the A Field Guide to Gold, Gem & Mineral Sites on Vancouver Island, by Rick Hudson – Harbour Publishing?
Rosina
I have that book it’s a good one
art newton
were can i purchase this book
Riley
Well; I highly appreciate the self promotion! Where can I buy the book? I’m planning a camping trip around the entirety of the island specifically for hounding. It would be useful!
Marilyn McDonald
What about the rest of BC? You’ve only covered a very small part of it here. There is a huge portion of the province beyond the lower mainland and the Island full of rocks!
Kari Lee Lynee Hurtado
what is the most easy to find mineral and the hardest to find mineral in Canada?
Kai Lynne age 8
David Allen moon
I am a new gemstone collector and I live in Powell River. I am willing to travel to find all natural gemstone materials in Bc.
KL
Where can I take the kids around Vancouver bc?