Don't try to collect too much at once. Work early in the day or
late in the afternoon. A hot sun on bare rock can make you
sizzle--especially if you're loaded with equipment and samples.
Here's the equipment to take: newspapers for wrapping samples,
notebook and pencil, geologist's pick, cold chisel, magnifying
glass, compass, heavy gloves, a knife, and a knapsack. Later on,
you may want a Geiger counter for spotting radioactive rocks.
Be selective. Hand-sized specimens are best. If your sample is
too large, trim it to size, showing its most striking feature
to best advantage. When you wrap the sample in newspaper, include
a note telling when and where you found it. This information will
be transcribed to a filing card when you add the specimens to your
display, so make it as complete and accurate as you can.
When you get home, clean specimens with soapy, warm water, applied
with a soft brush. Soluble minerals like halite can't be washed,
but should be rinsed with alcohol. A coat of clear lacquer will
protect some samples against dirt.