Vancouver Island is an excellent place to hunt for unusual minerals, gems, semi-precious stones, fossils and gold. With its unique geological environment it is one of the finest locations for rockhounding in Western Canada. Featuring detailed maps ranging from Victoria through the Chemainus Valley and up to Port Hardy, A Field Guide to Gold, Gemstone & Mineral Sites of British Columbia, Vol. 1 covers more than 100 sites on Vancouver Island and adjacent islands.

These field guides are essential equipment for the armchair geologist and active rockhound alike, packed with know-how that can turn any trip into a prospecting bonanza.

These comprehensive guidebooks reveal a vast deposit of information including: mining history and prospecting techniques; extensive list of sites in each area; at-a-glance information on types of minerals at each site, map location and ease of access; glossary of geological terms and suggested reading list.

Rick Hudson, Ph.D., is a passionate outdoorsman and rockhound who has spent more than two decades exploring Southern British Columbia. The former editor of the Western Canadian Gemstone Newsletter and assistant editor of British Columbia Rockhound Magazine, he now frequently writes about wilderness adventures for various publications including the Globe and Mail, Island Explorer and Rock and Gem Magazine. He is also the author of Gold, Gemstone & Mineral Sites of British Columbia: Volume I, Vancouver Island.

Rick Hudson's profile page