44 Nebraskaland • March 2024
Big and Little Nemaha rivers, Long
Pine Creek and Bone Creek in north-
central Nebraska, and the Crawford
area in the western part of the state.
Other locations Wooldridge
recommends include the Oglala
National Grasslands, the Big and Little
Blue rivers and their tributaries, and
the Platte River and its tributaries.
A Rockhound's
Toolkit
For a good day of rockhounding,
you'll need a few things. A walking
stick is important; Wooldridge uses
a gem scoop for this, a sturdy, long-
handled tool that allows him to retrieve
rocks without bending over. You'll also
need something to carry your fi nds.
Wooldridge likes a turkey hunting
vest since it distributes weight evenly
across the shoulders, but a backpack or
bag also works.
If you need to chip something out of
Corey Beer of Lincoln holds up a 4,000- to 8,000-year-old knife he just discovered
along a gravel bed in southeastern Nebraska.
Members of the Lincoln Gem and Mineral Club look for rocks, fossils and artifacts along the south fork of the Big
Nemaha River.
