Ever since the pet rock made a splash on the scene, the idea of rock collecting got a little bit cooler. What is especially neat about starting your own rock collection is that your collection can serve as a reflection of all the interesting places you have been and the things you have seen. For example, when you bring home a piece of hardened lava from the volcano on the island of Hawaii, you not only have a great addition to your rock collection, but you have a unique memento from your trip. Rock collecting also encourages you to get out and do more things and see more places. It has nothing to do with the boring idea of sitting around and looking at inanimate objects.
Rock collectors need to know that rocks are divided up into three different categories: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Any rock that you are going to pick up along the way will fall into one of these three groups. The division of the groups is defined by how the rock was originally formed. The purpose behind rock collecting is to gather selected representations of rocks from each category and properly labeling them. As you find better specimens, you replace those of lesser quality, so your collection can always evolve and improve.
It will be your job as a rock collector to properly identify the pieces you have discovered. For this you will need to train your eye to pick up on subtle features of individual rocks. There are classes you can take and books you can read to help with this. Or if you know someone else who loves to collect rocks, they can also help point you in the right direction. Who knows, you might find a rock or two worthy of becoming your pet rock along the way.
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