Collection: Gemstone Paydirt

Gemstone Paydirt & Rock Collecting: A Buyer's Guide

What is gemstone paydirt?

Gemstone paydirt is a bag of genuine rough rocks, minerals, and gemstones mixed into material you sift through to find your treasure. It is the rockhound's version of gold paydirt, instead of panning for flakes, you sort out stones, identify them, and keep the best ones. No trip to a quarry required.

What rocks and minerals will I find?

Each bag holds a variety of rough rocks, minerals, and gemstones, with our larger bags including a dozen or more types. The exact mix varies bag to bag, which is part of the fun, you never know exactly what you will pull out until you sift and sort.

What is the difference between rough and tumbled stones?

Rough stones are natural and uncut, the way they come out of the ground. Tumbled stones have been polished smooth. Our tumbled rocks and rough gemstone kit includes both, so you can compare the raw material to the finished, polished result, and pick out rough pieces worth tumbling yourself.

Is gemstone paydirt good for kids and beginners?

Absolutely. It is one of the easiest and safest ways to start rockhounding, no hammers or field trips needed. Kids love the surprise of digging out each stone, and sorting and identifying the finds is a great hands-on lesson in geology.

What do I need to sort and identify my finds?

A sifting screen helps separate the stones from the loose material, and a loupe and testing stone from our rockhounding accessories let you examine and identify each piece. Want to crack open crystals next? Try a break-your-own geode kit.