{"id":4045,"date":"2020-02-14T23:41:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T23:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/?p=4045"},"modified":"2022-01-18T21:27:47","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T21:27:47","slug":"selling-rocks-and-minerals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/selling-rocks-and-minerals\/","title":{"rendered":"Selling Rocks And Minerals (Tips on How To Sell Your Rock Collection)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Selling Rocks: How To Make Money As A Rockhound<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are brand new to selling the rocks and minerals that you\u2019ve collected over the years, mindat.org<\/a> has some tips for those looking to sell their collection online. Perhaps you\u2019ve been the recipient of an inherited rock collection from a family member and you have no idea what to do with them. Well here are some tips to follow to help with the organization and process of selling the rocks and minerals and getting the most value from them.
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In this guide, you\u2019ll find a number of different ways you can profit from your rock and mineral collection. Selling rocks isn\u2019t difficult, but just like anything else, you want to try and get the most value from the collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


But first, you need to get an overall idea of what your rock collection is worth.
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Get a General Value for The Rocks and Minerals in Your Collection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is important to have some idea of what you have and what it is worth. You will have to learn as much about your collection as possible. Mcrocks<\/a> has good advice on how to accomplish this task. This is the advice that they give:
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Join a Rockhound Club<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have a sanctioned rockhounding club near where you live, you should join. There are mineralogical societies that provide area maps to make it easy to locate any clubs in your geographical area. Not sure where to find a club? RockTumbler.com has compiled a massive list of clubs by state. Check it out here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find a Rock Message Board Group<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Joining a message group provides an opportunity to learn from other people\u2019s specific questions and posts. You can ask questions of your own. There will be opportunities to join field trips and events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rock and Mineral Field Guides are Very Helpful<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of guides. A regional field guide will direct you to where you can collect rocks and minerals. Mineral Identification Key II<\/a> will help you identify the rocks and minerals you have collected or inherited.
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Learn the Basic Rock and Mineral Identification Process<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can develop a systematic approach to identifying your collection based on hardness, luster, streak, cleavage and other characteristics. Online resources such as the Mineral Identification Key II can help you identify minerals you may be unfamiliar with. It lists all the most common minerals as well as those that are less known.
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Be Careful of Commercial Operations That Advertise Inflated Gem and Mineral Values <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These may be an attempt to draw in customers. You have to be systematic and educated in the selling process to make a profit from rock collecting as a hobby.
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Use a Photograph that is a Representation of the Whole Collection <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Provide a general outline of the collection and post it on a few mineral sites or in a commercial area you are considering. You will most likely get a few bad offers, so don\u2019t take the first one you get. Be patient and get feedback from other rock collectors as to marketing strategies and places to advertise.
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Organize and Prepare Your Rock Collection To Sell<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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First, make a plan to set aside time where you can work on your collection, identify, organize, label, and photograph each piece<\/a>.
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There are several ways to accomplish the organization of your collection. Using index cards, mineral labels, organized box compartments, computer files, etc are just a few examples. 
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Label The Rocks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you inherited a collection from a previous owner and the specimens are labeled, these labels are going to be extremely important and can add a lot of value to the collection if the original labels are present. 
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Photograph Each Specimen<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Photos are extremely important if you\u2019re going to try selling your rocks and minerals to a buyer online. Your photograph will be much more effective than simply stating or listing a mineral<\/a> with no visual at all. As a matter of fact, you probably won\u2019t ever even get a response from a prospective buyer without a photo. It\u2019s that important to the buyer as it is simply impossible to judge the value of the specimen without seeing it.
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Catalog Each Piece of The Collection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here is a process you can use to record your rock and mineral collection:
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