Finding crystals in the ground has never been easier. All you have to do is look outside! You can find them by digging around your yard or even by just walking through it. If you’re lucky enough, they might be right under your feet!
But what many people don’t know is that the crystals they find in their backyard may actually be gemstones. What’s the difference, you ask? While a crystal is any solid substance that has a natural geometrically regular form, a gemstone is a mineral that is very precious and occurs only in limited geographical areas.
This article will give you a comprehensive list of what types of crystals or gemstones you can find in your yard, how to clean them, and where to look for them in your backyard.
How to Find Crystals In Your Backyard
Here’s a simple six-step method to find crystals in your backyard, confirm that they are in fact crystals, and then store them safely in case you intend to use them in the future.
1. Get Your Tools
Have all the materials you need to find crystals at hand before you start your search. You’ll need a metal spoon, a clean bowl or cup, scissors, and rubbing alcohol (isopropyl). All of these tools should be free from residue and not sharp enough to scratch glass.
2. Collect Your Specimens
Wear protective gloves before you collect your specimens. Make sure the gloves also have no residue on them.
You can use a spoon or a clean toothpick to carefully gather your specimens off of various surfaces, such as rocks and leaves. It may be necessary to supplement with additional materials from nature, such as sticks or pinecones.
3. Clean and Dry
After gathering your specimens, carefully clean each one with a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol. Make sure to dry them thoroughly before removing them from the gloves. This step is very important because it prevents bacteria from growing on your crystals once you bring them home.
4. Place Your Specimens
Before you place your specimens, make sure that you have a clean, dry area to work in. For example, your kitchen table is probably fine if it has been cleaned recently.
5. Observe and Test
Observe the way each of your crystals reflects light with natural and artificial lighting. You can test their strength and durability by attempting to scratch them with a metal spoon or toothpick.
If any of your crystals shatter, throw them away as they are likely not genuine.
6. Store Them
When you’re done observing, carefully put each of your specimens in a Ziploc bag and label it before placing it in a drawer. Make sure that you have plenty of room to store them for future use.
What Types of Crystals You May Find In Your Backyard
Here are the five most commonly found crystals in backyards.
1. Beryl Crystals
You may find crystals of beryl in your backyard. They come in the color blue, green, and red and can be found on other surfaces such as tree trunks, pebbles, and leaves. Beryl is a hard material that doesn’t corrode easily. However, despite this strength, it’s very fragile and can easily shatter if it’s not handled properly.
2. Quartz Crystals
Quartz crystals are another commonly found crystal in the backyard. They come in many different colors, including blue, yellow, purple, black, brown, white, pink, and clear. Their distinctive properties make them ideal for use in computers and watches. If you find one in your backyard, you’re very lucky!
3. Rose Quartz Crystals
Rose quartz crystals come in the color pink and are often found on pebbles or leaves. They can also be found near trees, so keep an eye out during your strolls through the yard. Rose quartz crystals are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they’re also strong enough to be used in jewelry or decorations.
4. Selenite Crystals
Selenite crystals grow like blades of grass and can be found on rocks, logs, and even pebbles!
They come in many different colors including gray, white, yellow, and clear. Selenite crystals are often used as a source of natural light or as decoration in lamps and vases.
5. Amethyst Crystals
Amethyst crystals come in the color purple and can be found on many different surfaces such as rocks, soil, pebbles, leaves, and logs. They’re known to be very strong and come in many different sizes.
How to Clean Crystals Properly
While you’re searching, place all the crystals you find inside a bucket.
Once you’re done with searching, it’s time for cleaning. To clean a crystal, the first thing you need to do is dry it. So use a dusting cloth to dry up your crystal. Then, apply alcohol on a brush and use it to remove particulates, dirt, and oils. For stubborn stains, consider using vinegar or rubbing more alcohol.
Once you’ve cleaned it up, make sure to store it in a dry location away from sunlight.
That’s the general method for cleaning crystals. However, each crystal has its own distinct properties and it may require a unique approach to be cleaned properly. So it’s best to identify your crystal and research the web for cleaning methods that suit its specific properties.
Where to Look for Crystals In Your Backyard
There are several common backyard areas that contain minerals and crystals, including the following.
- Bluebonnet Patch: Do you have a bluebonnet patch in your yard? If you do, search the patch thoroughly because you may find some quartz crystals, beryl crystals, or rose quartz crystals hidden there.
- Near Trees: In general, trees tend to house many minerals because of their rough bark. So if you’re lucky enough to have a tree in your backyard, try searching around it to see what types of crystals you can find.
- Rock Piles: If you have a rock pile or other stone structure, then there’s a chance that crystals will be found on or around them.
- In-Between Gravel: If your backyard has a gravel path, then crystals may be found in the gravel itself.
- In Wet Soil: Lay down a towel or some sheeting around any area that gets wet when it rains. Then, when the soil is dry, search through the area for crystals that might be hiding beneath it!
So if you’re interested in finding crystals in your backyard, look around these common areas and see what’s there! You never know what you’ll find!
Final Thoughts
Crystal mining can be a fun outdoor activity for both children and adults to do together.
Children tend to like collecting crystals and rocks, while parents often enjoy bonding time with their children in nature. However, when it comes to crystal mining, you must be responsible and keep the environment in mind. You do not want to ruin or damage your natural backyard setting by digging too deep into the soil.
So if you’re crystal mining with your children, exploring a gravel path with a stone-mining trip within a serene yard landscape is the ideal choice. Your kids can search for crystals there without damaging any delicate plants.
