Customer Reviews

The Gem & Mineral Collector's Guide to Idaho

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Lanny Ream is a giant among Pacific Northwest rockhounds; his thicker, detailed, and scientific books covering Washington and Idaho are definitive guides to even the most obscure minerals. This thin book is written more for beginners, and it has been a valuable resource for me in planning trips to the Gem State.

I used the information in this book to explore outside of Clarkia, Idaho. We ended up driving right to the kyanite locale on Freezeout Ridge. Unfortunately, we were in too much of a hurry to go on to Bathtub Mountain for twinned staurolite crystals, so that site is still on my list.

The locales that Ream lists right along US 95 seem a little unsafe, but I think that's true with all collecting spots near major highways. I'm not a big zeolite collector, so those locales didn't interest me much. But just reading the book has got me ready to try some pretty famous Idaho spots, such as Dismal Swamp, Challis, and Cuprum.

To keep costs low, the book has few photographs, no GPS readings, and no frills like a glossary, tumbling tips, etc. Still, it's a good start until something better comes along.

"The Gem & mineral collectors guide to idaho" describes some interesting collecting sites, unfortunately the directions to the sites are very poor. It would be difficult if not impossible to find most of the sites described without more information. GPS coordinates would be a great help. Quality maps would also be useful.

I happen to live in one of the areas that Lanny Reams suggests is excellent rock hounding. Actually I own property that he suggests is great for finding certain minerals. I now spend a great deal of time telling ( or occasionally argueing with) people that "this is private property. You cannot dig here." The most frequent response is " Well it says in the book I can." Mr Reams does mention in his book that people should not go on posted land. There is no mention of asking permision to dig on private land. My land is not posted, but thanks to this book it soon will be. I would suggest before he writes anymore guidebooks he checks out propery and mineral rights of the owners of the land on which he reccomends rockhounding.

The book came in excellent condition and in a very short time.
Book was in condition as promised.