How to Organize a Rock Collection

Last Updated: December 9, 2022

Do you have a pile of rocks you don't know what to do with? Do you love collecting rocks, but aren't sure how to display them? Many people love collecting rocks from beaches, forests, caves, or even their own backyard. In this wikiHow, a rock collection includes rocks, minerals, shells, fossils, and sea glass. Learn to prepare, organize, and showcase your collection.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing Your Rocks

1
Clean your rocks thoroughly. Place them in hot soapy water, scrubbing any dirt or debris off of them. Old toothbrushes can be used to clean your rocks, as long as you don't use them to brush your teeth anymore. However, don't use utensils that you'd normally use for dishes/cooking to clean your rocks, as this is unsanitary.

1
Dry your rocks. Use paper towels or rags to dry them off. Don't use towels you like, as sharp rocks may cut into the fabric. Make sure the rocks aren't too soft to dry. They may get softer after you get them wet/ wash them.
2
Discard rocks you don't like. Only keep rocks that make you feel happy. You don't want dull rocks to overshadow the more interesting rocks in your collection. If the rocks are nice but you don't want them anymore, try selling them.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Organizing Your Rocks

1
Organize by type. The three main types of rocks are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
- Use a rock identification book to classify your rocks or look up characteristics of the rock online.
- If shells, fossils, or bones are part of your collection, you can separate them from your rocks.
2
Organize by color. You can put them in rainbow order, or in separate piles by color.
3
Organize by place. You may have collected certain rocks from certain areas, and want to keep them together. This also works well for collections of shells from vacations.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Showcasing Your Rocks

1
Decide how you'd like to display your rocks. If you have a larger collection, you can put some away in storage.
- Glass containers store rocks while allowing you to see inside them.
- Shelves are an optimal way to showcase your rocks.
2
Label your rocks. If you know what kind of rock it is and want to remember it, you can print off small descriptions on paper, or even use a label-maker.

Warnings

When collecting rocks, be sure that you are not on private property, or in an area where collecting rocks is prohibited. Although uncommon, there can be legal consequences for taking rocks in prohibited areas.

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