If you’re out for a nature hike and you stumble across a beautiful example of smoky quartz or a large ammonite - is it legal for you to take them home with you? What about if collecting is your hobby, and you want to go out looking for some new items - is that legal? When it comes to collecting minerals and fossils, otherwise known as rock hunting, there is unfortunately no one universal answer to these questions. It very much depends on what the specimen is, the type of land you are on, the country you are in, and numerous other applicable laws. Trevor Boyd, one of our in-house natural history experts is here to explain what you need to know before going out on a rock hunt. With a degree in environmental science and 35 years of experience, he is ready to equip you with the knowledge and ethical practices you need to understand when it comes to collecting minerals & fossils. Read on to find out what he has to say.
Understanding the Law
It’s worth noting that removing fossils or minerals from certain locations may be a violation of law, local regulation or personal property rights. The consequences of not following applicable laws when fossil or mineral collecting could lead to a warning, a fine or even possible imprisonment. So how can you avoid this? Research the rules regarding the land you plan to explore, before you begin. For example, is it private or public? Or is it locally or nationally governed? Be aware that it is never legal to take minerals or fossils from national parks or heritage sites, without express permission to do so. And you should never collect specimens from scientifically important sites, such as ASSIs - Areas of Special Scientific Interest - in the UK.
Collecting fossils and minerals can be thrilling, but Trevor advises to do your research first
Collecting on Private Land
Additionally, you should never enter private land to collect specimens without the permission of the landowner, Trevor advises. Not only could you be violating regulations regarding the collection of specimens, but simply trespassing on someone else’s private land could be illegal in itself. Of course it is certainly acceptable to ask a landowner for permission to access their land to collect however. By informing the landowner what you would like to do and getting their full and official approval of your activities, you can then enter their land for your hunt. But even if you have permission to be on a private landowner’s property, does this automatically make any finds you discover yours to keep?
This trilobite discovered in Zagora, Morocco was sold at our Fossils auction in 2018
Why You Should Report Any Finds
If you are lucky enough to stumble upon a particularly interesting fossil or mineral - even if you are legally on private land - collectors are strongly encouraged to report their find to researchers, for scientific purposes. Over the years, a lot of key information has been lost through commercial over-collecting, or even through the innocent removal of fossils and minerals by tourists. If information about a specimen is not logged, it is effectively lost to science. In the case of an exceptional find, collectors are encouraged to leave the specimen where they found it, so that researchers can record not only data about the specimen but also how and where it was found.
In the case of an exceptional find like this Megalodon tooth found in North Carolina, USA, leave the specimen where it was found
Ethical and Safe Collecting
Once you have identified that you can legally collect fossils on a particular site, there are a few ethical principles which Trevor advises to adhere to. “Always collect ethically,” he says. “Don’t hammer or potentially damage items you would never be able to extract. And don’t over-collect just for the sake of taking items.” Often sites can be potentially dangerous, for example, old quarries or cliff faces, so you should always consider the safety issues of collecting there. There may be risk of rock falls or getting too close to a cliff edge - so always be mindful of your environment and remember that your safety is the most important thing.
Trevor’s Final Words of Advice
“I first became hooked on geology at the age of 11 when a school teacher took us to the coast to hunt for fossils. The feeling of finding your first mineral or fossil is really special and can lead to a lifetime of enjoyment as you build your collection. However, as with most things in life, the privilege of doing this comes with responsibility. Sometime you may just have to leave a great specimen in situ because it is either the legal or right thing to do. But in most cases, if you follow the guidelines just discussed, you will be free to enjoy this great hobby to the full.”
If you’re fascinated by minerals & fossils then why not discover our weekly Natural History auctions? Trevor and the team curate a varied selection of exciting finds and with new auctions every week, there’s always something new to discover. Do you have a mineral or fossil collection you’d like to sell? Then Catawiki is the place for you! Register as a seller to start offering up your items for auction.
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