Gem Trails of Pennsylvania and New Jersey [Paperback]

Scott Stepanski (Author), Karenne Snow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1996

Revised and updated, Gem Trails of Pennsylvania and New Jersey is the essential guide for veteran and new collectors alike. Follow gem trails to beautiful agate, jasper, galena, pyrite, quartz crystals, fossils, and much more! The authors become your personal guides to unearthing the beautiful geologic treasures found Throughout the best sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Sites are presented with directions, rockhounding tips, descriptive text, maps, and numerous black and white photos. Rocks, minerals, and fossils found at the ends of the gem trails are pictured in full-color to aid in identification.

From seaside beaches to overgrown quarries, explore old favorites as well as newly-discovered sites that hold a wide variety of specimens for he rockhound to uncover. Gem Trails of Pennsylvania and New Jersey is the most complete gem trail guidebook for all rockhounds.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Gem Guides Book Co (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935182853
• ISBN-13: 978-0935182859
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,494,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, June 16, 2006

By 

C. Smith (The Jersey Shore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gem Trails of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Paperback)

All in all this book has helped me collect many nice specimens although you have to be careful with some of the sites. The provided directions tend to me vague or wrong and some of the locations listed are just plain worthless. One site, hellertown jasper consists of a trickle of water running through a golf course, with an area about 100ft long that is not fenced off. You get to wade in the stream grabbing very low quality material as the golfers ride by in their carts laughing at you. Some of the sites however, make the book worthwhile, such as the buckwheat dump, big brook, wissahickon garnets, etc. If you go on a long trip that turns out to be a wild goose chase don't say I didnt warn you.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gem rails of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, January 11, 2007

By 

Stephen G. Fisher "northshore" (New York and Europe) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gem Trails of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Paperback)

Excellent description of fossil and mineral sites in PA and NJ. I found the maps to be clear, and the site descriptions to be very helpful. Also, here are several sites listed, with pretty good distribution over various parts of PA. Not a lot of information or illustrations about the samples one might hope to find, but generally a VERY good handbook for specific sites in this region. Well worth the price.

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit outdated. What's the status of 2011 revision?, September 20, 2011

By 

Dennis Bradley Price "yeldarb68" (Souderton, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gem Trails of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Paperback)

I attended a rock and mineral show with my kids and saw a sign promoting a "2011 Revised Edition" of this book. Other web sites suggest things like "Expected Jan 2011". I have the 2000 edition and it's a bit dated, a revision is certainly warranted. Where is it? Otherwise this is a great book for PA rock hunters.