Gemstones

Though it has been known to happen (especially if you have a luck-boosting gemstone like Tiger's Eye, Garnet, or Aventurine in your pocket), you don't have to wait to get hit in the head with a gem to find these natural treasures.

Here are just some of the places you might stumble across a glimmering gemstone or two:

Your backyard

What better place to start your gemstone-hunting journey than your own backyard?

With a little bit of patience and some keen eyesight, you might find gemstones such as Jade, Apatite, Obsidian, Topaz, Opal, Malachite, Quartz, Garnet, and Tourmaline just lying around waiting to be discovered.

The beach

Agate, Jasper, Quartz, Chalcedony—these are just a few of the many, many gemstones you might find on a sandy beach.

Look for dry, rocky areas where water has receded.

Bring a metal detector to help you zero in on potential finds!

A river, creek, or stream

These bubbling bodies of water are hotspots for Quartz, Agate, Petrified Wood, Amethyst, Garnet, Sapphire, Tourmaline, and Jasper.

Rivers with strong currents are especially good places to look, as they tend to deposit smooth, polished gemstones on the bank. With creeks, you're looking for shallow, still water, especially during the rainy season when water is higher and can reach into hidden crevices to dislodge gems.

Mountains and hills

Going on a hike? Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for potential gemstone finds!

Mountains and hills are home to an assortment of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic gemstones such as Labradorite, Apatite, and Calcite.

The best time to look is after a rainfall when the water has had a chance to loosen gems from the dirt and wash them down the slope.

Note that many parks and hiking trails prohibit rock hunting, so make sure to check the rules before you start exploring.

Deserts

These sun-baked expanses might seem drab and lifeless, but they actually offer a surprising variety of gems that draw in intrepid rockhounds from all over the world.

Petrified Wood, Opal, Quartz, Obsidian, Jade, Malachite, Peridot, Chrysocolla, Jasper, and Garnet can all be found in deserts.

The best time to look for gemstones is early morning or late evening when the desert floor is cooler and easier on the feet.

Keep an eye out for areas with exposed bedrock—that's where you're likely to find the most treasure!

What are Gemstones Used For?

Aside from their obvious use as jewelry or home decor, gemstones have a variety of other uses that make them an indispensable part of many people's lives.

Gemstones can:

• Boost your energy levels
• Help you achieve your goals
• Balance and harmonize your chakras
• Connect you with the natural world
• Help you relax and de-stress
• Take your yoga or meditation practice to the next level
• Assist in healing injuries, illness, and traumas
• Facilitate lucid dreaming, astral travel, and other out-of-body experiences

And so much more—so if you ever find yourself with a hankering to go on a treasure hunt, remember that Mother Nature is always ready and waiting to share her bounty!