2. Remember that some mineral species may only appear in micro form. Be alert for this possibility when collecting. Of equal importance to the mineral species being collected, is the rock that hosts the mineral.  To understand why a mineral is deposited it is often helpful to understand the nature of the host rocks. Be sure to collect representative samples of the host rocks from the site.

3. Take good notes. The more information the better. Physical measurements at the collecting site are of importance. An example would be using a measuring tape to measure the thickness of a rock unit. A small ruler is useful in photographs to give a sense of scale.

4. When you draw maps and sketches of the collecting site, try for as much accuracy as possible.

5. By all means, have FUN! Yeah I know this all sounds like a whole lot of work. But then, a job well done can be fun and is indeed a joy forever.