This book has everything that you will need for your rockhounding adventure: clear and concise directions to each site including precise GPS coordinates, location maps depicting major roads and towns, detailed topographic maps of each site that show the entire collecting area and surrounding vicinity, a list and pictures of rocks and minerals to be found at each site, artistic photographs of mines and minerals, recommended tools and complete directions for their use, color photographs of all mineral specimens, an informative glossary of geological terms, a complete index of all sites and minerals and a listing of rock and mineral museums and dozens of rock and mineral clubs. Also included in the book are guidelines for safe and responsible collecting, a geologic history of western North Carolina and loads of information on the region's colorful mining history. This book is packed with useful information - an excellent resource and educational guide and the only North Carolina rockhounding guide that contains four full pages of accurate color photographs of authentic rocks and minerals collected at every location in the book.

I began rockhounding over 35 years ago as an "Air Force Brat". My passion for rocks and minerals inspired me to enter college where I obtained Bachelor's and Master's degrees in geology. I have been collecting in western North Carolina where I live and work as a licensed professional geologist for nearly 12 years. After about a decade of actual hands-on rockhounding experience at every site in this book and more, it took about two years to painstakingly research, write and edit this book. With many dozens of collecting sites to choose from, I carefully decided to include only "quality" and accessible sites in my book - only places where even a beginning rockhound would have an excellent chance of success and where permission to collect is not an issue or can be very easily obtained. This rockhounding guide is uniquely designed to appeal to rockhounds, history buffs, photography enthusiasts and nature lovers. Each book was printed on high quality paper, using state of the art digital technology for the sharpest and clearest text and most accurate, true to life maps and photographs possible. This book is complete - no additional maps, directions or information are necessary to find your way to loads of rocks and minerals.