114 collector's manual 



Specimens should be regular in form., about 4 by 5 inches 

 across and 1 to 2 inches in thickness. Avoid irregular pieces 

 with sharp corners. With a little practice it is possible to trim 

 a specimen to a convenient size by striking the edge nearest you 

 with a flat-headed trimming hammer (fig. 66) . A single hard blow 

 usualry knocks off sizable chips. 



After the specimens have been properly prepared write a field 

 label in black pencil or carbon ink, including the date, the 

 collector's name, and the detailed location of the occurrence. 

 Trust nothing to memory. Rivers, towns, mountain peaks, and 

 other permanent landmarks are useful. Give exact distances and 

 bearings, plotted from a map if possible. If a map is used, give 

 a reference to it in the label. Fold the field label so that the 

 writing will not become blurred by rubbing against the sample. 

 Wrap each specimen with its label in paper to protect the 

 samples from grinding against each other during shipment. This 

 also keeps the label and the specimen together. 



Always pack specimens tightly in strong containers so that they 

 cannot move around. Do not overload a box beyond the weight 

 that it can safely carry. 



MINERALS 



The collector must work carefully with mineral specimens so 

 that they are removed free from man-made scars. When a 

 mineral is formed in such a way that it is bounded by sharply 

 defined flat surfaces, it is said to be a crystal. It is not always 

 possible to obtain crystallized samples, but before effort is spent 

 on massive or shapeless minerals, search carefully to make certain 

 that no crystals are available. 



Good specimens have been found in all types of rocks, but to 



