NEW MINERAL STUDY GROUP STARTED.
 A workshop on minerals and mineralogy. A forum on how to identify minerals, where to find them, building a mineral collection, and other questions pertaining to the hobby. Bob P. and Ed H. leading.  

Happens on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. 




New Rockhounding 101 Group
New Group will meet on 3rd Monday of each month, next meeting to be determined.  
@ 6:00pm at Kathryn Heidenreich Adult Center
Question's call 928-279-9741
Educators,
 Look for lessons in Geology, fossils or rock collecting. We would love to help  contact us below and what your lesson you like to cover and we can build a presentation around your class needs. Looking forward to hearing from you.
May & July 2025
(the odd-numbered months)
Ed's House
4804 Steinke Dr, Kingman, AZ 
Third Tuesday @ 6:30 pm
RSVP to Ed (928)757-8228
​April & June 2025 
(the even-numbered months)
Bob's House
3760 Steel Ave. (west of Starbucks) Kingman AZ 
Third Tuesday @ 6:30 pm 
RSVP to Bob (928)692-8910

Why do animals eat rocks? 
While doing no favors to our teeth, eating rocks actually helps some animals to survive. Many animals need to do this reasons for this: to help digest food or to aid in mobility. Those animals have two different stomachs; one for stones and one for food.

The rocks that animals consume are called gastroliths which literally translates to “stomach stones.” Gastroliths can be found in a range of animals including birds, reptiles, fish, insects, and even some mammals. Any type of stone can become a gastrolith; it just has to have been swallowed to join that club.
why-do-animals-eat-rocks
Why Herbivores Eat Rocks

What is an herbivore? It’s an animal that primarily eats plants. Though animals that eat stones are not all herbivores, those that are, have a special reason to consume rocks. Plant material is made up of cellulose. Cellulose is one of the most abundant, yet hard-to-digest materials found in plant material.

Cellulose is difficult to break down inside the body with only stomach acid. Stones inside an animal’s gizzard help to break this material down further before transferring it to a second stomach for additional digestion. This process smooths the stones over time. Many animals then regurgitate these smooth stones in favor of more jagged ones to help with the breaking down of food.
why-do-animals-eat-rocks
Getty Images / Monty Rakusen
Why Birds Eat Rocks

Birds are the most common group of animals that eat rocks. These rocks aid in their digestion. Folks who raise birds are familiar with this as many supplement their feathered friends’ diets with grit, which are very small stones with uneven, blunt edges.

Birds don’t have teeth, or stomachs like mammals, instead, have a gizzard which is a muscular mass attached to their version of a stomach. The gizzard is where their food is ground up and mashed with the aid of the stones that they have swallowed.

Most avian consumers of stones are ground-dwelling or flightless birds. Chickens, turkeys, ostriches, and even penguins routinely swallow jagged little rocks while they are out and about foraging for food to help their digestion. Research has found that in ostriches, between one-fifth and one-half of their stomach contents are gastroliths.

These account for about one percent of the bird’s total body mass. It is speculated that the ratios and percentages are similar for other birds too (at least the ones that eat rocks).

There are some flying birds though that have been documented to be stone-eaters.

Crows and parrots are known to eat small rocks to aid their digestion. Some swimming and flying birds like ducks are also known to eat small grit-stones to help them break up their swallowed food. It is very likely that all birds swallow stones in some capacity to help break down their food.
why-do-animals-eat-rocks
“Crocodile’s eye”
Tambako the Jaguar is marked with CC BY-ND 2.0.
Why Reptiles & Amphibians Eat Rocks

The need for birds to swallow rocks is pretty well understood. The same cannot be said though for reptiles. The prevailing theory for decades was that for swimming reptiles like crocodiles, swallowing rocks helped with their buoyancy. Given that they like to hover just below the water’s surface, this might be a plausible reason. A bellyful of rocks could help weigh themselves down enough so they don’t float all the way up to where they can be easily seen by their prey.

Much recent research, however, has suggested other hypotheses for this behavior in reptiles. Scientists have found that gastroliths make up less than two percent of the body mass of reptiles. They calculate that for the gastroliths to have the previously-believed effect of achieving buoyancy, that number should be more than six percent of the animal’s body mass. The act of breathing, filling, and emptying their lungs with air, has more of an effect on buoyancy than the two percent of their body weight comprised of stones.

Current speculation is that the swallowed rocks do help to stabilize the reptiles’ bodies in the water, reducing the tendency to roll from side to side. Though not reptiles, frogs eat rocks too.

Like birds though, the hypothesis is it helps them break up the insects they eat to get more nutrients from them. Earthworms are another animal that consumes rocks. Their internal digestive muscles, along with teethlike structures known as “grinders” break up plant material so that nutrients can be extracted from them.
why-do-animals-eat-rocks
Gastroliths from Jurassic strata near Starr Springs, Utah.
by Wilson44691 is marked with CC BY-SA 3.0. https://commons. wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=19833628 Wvery
Why Sea Life Consumes Rocks

A variety of sea life eats rocks. Fish, clams, seals, and even whales are known to eat rocks, though in some cases it is believed to be inadvertent. Like crocodiles, it was once thought that sea lions, seals, walruses, and whales swallowed rocks to make diving easier.

Like other hypotheses that have arisen in recent years, the thinking for these sea creatures is that since many find their food on the ocean floor, they inadvertently scoop up rocks while scooping in on their food. This is seemingly more probable than swallowing rocks to help them dive.

The problem with the rocks as a diving aid hypothesis is that they would have to swallow huge rocks to make a difference. There is no evidence that they seek out and swallow big, heavy rocks.

Several species of bottom-feeding fish are also known to eat rocks, though again, it is not entirely known if this is intentional to aid in digestion, or accidental consumption while grabbing food off the seafloor. Other possibilities have arisen to explain this phenomenon in swimming mammals.

It is possible that some of these, and possibly other animals that eat rocks, do so to help alleviate hunger. Taking up space in their stomachs could potentially make them feel more full. Another conjecture is that they, like birds with their gizzards, swallow rocks to help their digestion (sans gizzard) and to break down the wide range of items that they may accidentally swallow.

One of the more unusual sea-dwelling rock eaters is a type of clam found in the Philippines, Lithoredo abatanica. The name roughly translates to “rock shipworm from the Abatan River.” Many would not recognize this animal as a clam.

It is fattened, worm-like, translucent, at least four inches (10 cm) long, with a shell complete with shovel-like projections. It is not akin in either appearance or bloodline to the familiar Quahog or Atlantic type of clam, but instead is a member of the shipworm family. These clams eat wood, but the newly discovered Lithoredo abatanica eats limestone, not wood. It burrows into rock and excretes sand. It is not yet known if these creatures actually derive any nutrition from these rocks.

The consumption of gastroliths by animals is a more common practice than most people would realize. Whether it be for digestion (with or without a gizzard), buoyancy, diving, deriving minerals, or feeling full, it is a widely practiced behavior in the wild animal kingdom. The next time you see a small, unassuming, round stone on the ground, it may well have been on quite a journey inside of any number of animals before finding itself at your feet.

This story about why animals eat rocks previously appeared in Rock & Gem magazine. 
Click here to subscribe! Story by Chris Bond.
​Snakebite I Basics

Well folks it's that time of year again.The days are getting longer and warmer, plants are flowering and ground birds like Quail and Roadrunners are laying eggs.As the season changes so do the activities
of our local reptiles.Small mammals, reptiles and birds are all becoming more plentiful. These critters represent the food profile for our native rattlesnakes.So with the increased ambient temperatures and the prolific nature of the natural food sources we will see an increase in snake sightings.That in of itself is not a bad thing because snakes provide a valuable service that helps keep rodent populations in check.

The problem is that people and pets sometimes cross paths with venomous snakes and this can lead to very unfortunate situation for both. The snake bite can be very painful and very destructive to tissue. The most important thing to remember is snakebites are a me.diced emergency, seek medical attention as soon as possible for a person or a pet.There are no effective home remedies for venomous snakebites.
The use of Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCL) is NOT recommended as it can mask symptoms and create additional problems.

Here in Arizona there are two types of venomous snakes.Rattlesnakes (pit vipers) and Coral snakes.The most common venomous bite comes from one of the thirteen species of rattlesnake found here. The predominant species in Mohave County are the Western Diamondback and the Mohave rattlesnake.To a lesser degree the Sidewinder can be encountered in the southern portion of the county. Coral snake bites
are much less common, but an immediate response is just as critical and perhaps even more so.The Coral snake produces a neurotoxic venom that blocks nerve impulses causing paralysis. Fewer than l o/o ofall venomous snakebites in the United States are caused by Coral snakes.

Ifyou are bitten there are some basic things to do that will improve your bodies response to the venom.

1.Remove all jewelry or tight fitting clothing that may be in the path of anticipated progression of edema (swelling).
2.If possible elevate and immobilize thebitten extremity above the level of the heart.
3.Remain calm to minimize venom absorption.
4.Gently wash the bite site to remove any topical venom or debris.
5.If a pen is available mark the bite location and the TIME of the first observation.

IMPORTANT THINGS NOT TO DO
1.Do NOT give anything to eat.
2.NO alcoholic beverages.
3.Do NOT apply a tourniquet.
4.Do NOT make any incisions.
5.Do NOT apply ice.
6.Do NOT attempt to suck the venom out with your mouth or any mechanical suction device.
7.Do NOT attempt to catch the snake (this has often led to a
second person getting bitten).If you can safely take a picture of the snake that would be great.

Once you arrive at the hospital it is important to notify the ER staff of any allergies especially if known to be allergic to horse or sheep derived products. It is a good idea to ask if there is a medical expert familiar with snakebites to assist with your case management. If an expert is not available and the closest one is hours away have the ER staff contact Poison Control at 1(800)222-1222.
Another option is to contact National Snakebite Support either on line or through Facebook.This is a very good resource that is made up of doctors and veterinarians. These folks are all experts in their respective fields of medicine and they will communicate with you and your hospital staff once you sign on with an active bite situation. If an expert is not readily available these folks would be my first choice.

The best advice is always be careful.Watch where you are stepping and pay attention to where you put your hands. For dogs, Avoidance Training is the very best option. The National Snakebite Support organization and the University of California at Davis, school of Veterinary Medicine ore both advising against the rattlesnake vaccine for dogs.

Ron Greenberg [email protected]
USA Snakebite Research Team
Animal Venom Research Institute (AVRI)

Rockhounding Location Guide & Map
Arizona is one of the most prolific and exciting states in the country for rock and mineral collectors. Famous for its turquoise and copper deposits, Arizona is one of the first destinations everyone thinks of when it comes to rockhounding. Thousands of old mining dumps, productive stream beds, and pegmatite veins continue to draw collectors and adventurers from all over the country.
Arizona is incredibly geologically diverse. The northern part of the state is part of the Colorado Plateau and is home to the world famous Grand Canyon. Most of the state is desert, and slopes gradually down to near sea level. Wherever you are in the state you aren’t far from some interesting geology and prospective collecting sites.
The best places to collect rocks in Arizona include the areas around Phoenix and Tucson, as well as smaller towns such as Cave Creek, Clifton, Morristown, and Kingman. These locations offer a diverse array of rock and mineral specimens such as agate, jasper, petrified wood, turquoise, and copper.
 
State Symbols
State MineralWulfenite
State MetalCopper
State GemstoneTurquoise
State FossilPetrified wood
Arizona: Source
 Turquoise
If you’ve already found a rock and you’re not sure what it is, I would highly recommend checking out my Practical Rock Identification System. This bundle of information includes a book, videos, and online tools. It is, simply put, the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand rock identification system you’ll find anywhere.
You can also read through my free rock identification guide and mineral identification guide which are filled with useful information and tools.
Through quite a bit of research and cross-referencing, I have compiled this list of some prospective locations in Arizona which I would recommend to people looking to do some rockhounding. These are mostly comprised of old mines, mineral prospects, and historically known rock and mineral collecting sites. 
Kingman, AZ
LocationRocks & Minerals
Emerald Isle Mine
Gold-colored Chrysocolla, Tenorite
BiMetal Gold Mine
Placer Gold
Kingman Feldspar Mine
Allanite, Microcline, Quartz crystals
15 mi. NW of Kingsman, multiple mines
Arsenopyrite, Dufrenoysite
Golden Gem & Vanderbilt Mines
Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Stibnite
Area of Mineral Park & Cerbat
Kaolin minerals & Turquoise
Area near Meadow Creek Pass
Fire Agate, Grape Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper
The area around the city in western Arizona is littered with old mines and prospects. There is an even greater variety of minerals here than in other parts of the state. There are also quite a few pegmatite veins that have yielded specimens of minerals like bismuth, beryl, and microcline. If you choose to check out any of these old mining locations be sure to, as always, get permission from landowners, don’t go underground, and exercise caution at all times.

https://rockhoundresource.com/arizona-rockhounding-location-guide/