Van Pigtain

Van Pigtain is a former earth science and geology lab instructor at the University of North Texas and a Cambridge-educated researcher who studied Archaeology at the Ph.D. level. He has collected rocks, minerals, and fossils since childhood, with decades of hands-on fieldwork across sites in England and the U.S. Van is also credited as a contributing researcher on this site's consolidated guides — see the full list here.

Best Rockhounding Sites and Beaches in Maine

Maine Rockhounding: 9 Best Spots with Map & Laws

With its rugged topography and varied geology, Maine is one of the best states east of the Mississippi River to rockhound in. The pegmatites found …

Rockhounding in Kentucky: Best Locations & What to Find

Rockhounding in Kentucky: 9 Best Spots & Regulations

As far as states with good rockhounding go, Kentucky is certainly listed among them. There is a wide variety of interesting rocks, minerals, and fossils …

Best Rockhounding Sites in Alaska & What You Can Find

Rockhounding in Alaska: 12 Best Spots & Regulations

Rockhounding in America’s “Last Frontier” can be a very enjoyable activity due to the incredibly diverse and rich geologic history of the state, which gives …

Where to rockhounding in Alabama and What you can find

Rockhounding in Alabama: 10 Best Spots & Regulations

Alabama is a state often dismissed by rockhounders as a place of little mineralogical interest. However, there are still plenty of rockhounding sites to be …

Where to rockhound in Louisiana and what to find

Rockhounding in Louisiana: 8 Best Spots with Map & Laws

Well known for its very flat topography and lush foliage, Louisiana is not a state famous for its rockhounding. Despite this, there are a variety …