A rock slide in Yosemite last fall made me rethink my whole collection method

I was hiking near the base of El Capitan, just looking for some cool granite samples. Saw a bunch of fresh debris from a recent slide. Grabbed a piece that looked solid. Got back to my car and it just crumbled in my hand. Like, turned to gravel. That was a $40 drive for nothing. Now I always do a quick scratch test with my knife before I pack anything up. Even if it looks good. How do you guys check rocks in the field before you haul them home?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancy_wood2d ago

Learned that the hard way too lol, my first "big find" turned to dust in my backpack.

kimw572d ago

Wait, it just crumbled in your hand... like right there in the parking lot? That's so brutal. I'd be staring at a pile of dust wondering what I did wrong.

felixlane2d ago

See it as a natural return to the earth.