Rockhounding Utah (Paperback)

by William A. Kappele (Author)
Key Phrases: nice agate, barite nodules, rock hammer, Utah Highway, Green River, Cedar City (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
As William A. Kappele reminds us in the introduction to Rockhounding Utah, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Accordingly, he gives us "just the facts" that rockhounds need to know to find their way to the best collecting sites in the Beehive State and what mineral samples, rocks, and formations are to be found there. Still, most readers will find between the lines that Kappele can't quite squelch his enthusiasm for the grandeur of Utah's exposed formations, its canyon walls etched with fossils, and the spires and arches of the Needles District in Canyonlands National Park. Kappele, who has traveled the western United States for 30 years in search of rocks, gems, and other lapidary pleasures, brings his experience to bear on Utah's 54.4 million acres, providing detailed descriptions of 86 sites. Each description includes concise information on the material to be found there, the tools to bring, the best season to visit, the vehicle to drive, or when a remote find suggests it's time to lace up the hiking boots. Readers can glean new insights into the obsidian of the Black Rock sites, jasper at Hell's Backbone, petrified wood at Bullfrog Turnoff, and fossils of sea lilies along the Wasatch Range. May your journeys be fruitful and your bag be heavy on the way home. Somewhere in that bag among your rocks, we hope you haven't forgotten your copy of Rockhounding Utah.

From the Back Cover
Author William A. Kappele shows you the grandeur of Utah's exposed formations, its canyon walls etched with fossils, and the spires and arches of the Needles District in Canyonlands National Park. Each description includes concise information on the material to be found there, the tools to bring, the best season to visit, the vehicle to drive, or when a remote find suggests it's time to lace up the hiking boots. Readers will glean new insights into the obsidian of the Black Rock sites, jasper at Hell's Backbone, petrified wood at Bullfrog Turnoff, and fossils of sea lillies along the Wasatch Range. May your journeys be fruitful and your bag be heavy on the way home. Somewhere in that bag among your rocks, we hope you haven't forgotten your copy of <i>Rockhounding Utah</i>.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 1st edition (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560444460
• ISBN-13: 978-1560444466
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #117,995 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #36 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Natural Resources > Rocks & Minerals
  #37 in	Books > Travel > United States > States > Utah

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful guide to Rockhounding sites in Utah, November 5, 1999

By	Susan Jones (Northern Utah, US) - See all my reviews

I found this book to be very helpful in finding rock-collecting sites in Utah. It has directions to the collecting sites, information about near by attractions, tools needed, elevations, driving conditions and best time of year to go. I use the book religiously when I'm out and about. I give it a 4 star rating, and could have been a 5 star rating had the pictures of the rock specimen been in color, instead of black and white =)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 2003 Summer review, July 12, 2003

By	"klamath1" (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

I found this book very useful in exploring the different sites in Utah. I have only been to a few sites but was not disappointed in the results. One should read the Forward/Intro section. It has good tips on the Utah and it's climate that literally could be a life saver.
The author has put a real effort in listing the different sites and given good directions. I like the site format including the elevation and the best time to collect. I used it to visit Utah in early March and petrified wood from sand creek. I have given the book a four star rating due to it's age. It was published in 1996 so it's seven years old at this writing. the Utah sites still seem to be intact compared to the sites in New Mexico and Colorado. As I have suggested in my other reviews I would like to see GPS Coordinates for Main turn offs and the initial starting points at a collecting site. The forest service/BLM has a habit of closing roads. and there are Vandals that deface signs right when you need them the most. I also use the GPS Data for mapping software at home before the trip. preplanning at home beats driving 10 miles of washboard and dust on the wrong road.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rockhounding Utah, June 18, 2004

By	Chuck Randall (Silver Spring, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

I found the book to be very useful in finding sites to look for rocks and fossils during a recent trip to Utah. The directions to the sites were clear, and advice on conditions helpful. All of the sites I visited (10-12)were as described and productive, particularly when viewed as jumping off points to explore. The only thing I would ask for are more sites and a wider variety of things to look for. Two weeks more of vacation would be nice, as well. While I'm asking, gas money and a mailer to avoid carrying 25 lbs. of rocks home on the plane...