A Rockhound in the Gem State
Nick Arens transforms stones into wearable art
By day, Nick Arens works as production manager for Gravity Graphics in Victor. But in his free time, he’s roaming around Idaho, Montana, and beyond in search of jade and other gems to turn into jewelry.
A rockhound and artist, he transforms his foraged finds into intricate pendants made from pine cone slabs embedded with stones, as well as wire-wrapped jewelry with rocks and crystals and silversmithing.
Since childhood in Iowa, Nick has been fascinated by stones and rocks. Beach trips would always involve searching out rocks and shells, and he fondly remembers his third grade trip to a gravel pit loaded with fossils. But it wasn’t until he injured his shoulder in a mountain biking accident around ten years ago that he became a serious hobbyist. With torn ligaments in his shoulder, he took a step back from his usual activities and started making jewelry.
“I was just sitting at home, so I started getting into wire wrapping,” Nick says. He already had a modest collection of rocks and cabochons, or polished gemstones, so he began with those, but the small project quickly snowballed as he acquired more and more gems. “Before I knew it, I had rocks everywhere,” he says.
Nick began selling pieces to people he knew, but his business quickly expanded beyond the valley. He built a sizable collection and opened his Etsy shop called Burnt Fern, burntfern.etsy.com. He also enhanced his jewelry-making skills by learning about silversmithing from the late Jack Walker, a notable Teton area artist. Now, he continues to grow his business, spending summers searching for rocks and gems and expanding his collection.
When he’s collecting rocks in the local region, Nick primarily focuses on finding jade. He also travels to Montana in search of quartz crystals, though he’s always on the lookout for rocks and gems wherever he goes. “The shinier the better,” he says. In the summer, he tries to get out at least once or twice a month in search of gem treasures.
When venturing beyond the local locations he knows well, Nick says it’s always a little tricky to find the best spots to search, which are often closely guarded secrets.
“It’s tough to find places to go because it’s like a treasure hunt,” he says. “Every rockhound likes to keep their secrets. Trying to find people to give away their secret spots—it can prove to be difficult.”
Most of Nick’s searches bring him to Bureau of Land Management areas where collecting is allowed, and he says there are resources like maps and rockhounding books that point out places to search. He says he’s always very careful about determining where land boundaries are and what activities are allowed.
“You definitely don’t want to find yourself trespassing and digging on someone else’s land, especially in certain areas where people have claims for gold or whatever else they find,” Nick says. “I’ve heard some horror stories.”
When he’s out in the field, Nick will bring a few tools, usually a shovel, rock pick, and sifter, as well as a container to carry out any finds. He often hikes miles to reach his quarries, so he packs fairly lightly. Bringing water is also key, since identifying wet rocks is much easier. “If it’s dry, it just looks like dirt,” Nick says.
So, what is it about rockhounding that keeps Nick trekking miles, digging through dirt, and hauling heavy rocks out before transforming them into beautiful wearable art? “I feel like just about everybody has this weird love for crystals [and gems], whether it be because they are pretty and shiny or it just resonates to you,” he says. And there’s no better place to pursue this hobby, it seems, than in the aptly nicknamed Gem State.
Rockhounding in Idaho: Become a Rockhound
Idaho is called the Gem State for a reason. Intrepid searchers will find plenty of gems to whet their rockhounding appetites. Nick Arens encourages people who are interested in the art to give it a try. “Just start diving in,” he says. “There are so many resources at your fingertips on the internet, and there are all sorts of groups and forums. People are more than happy to lend out information—at least enough to get you going. It’s hard to get the ‘honey hole’ information from people, but just start diving in and let it take off.”
Idaho Department of Lands
If you’re wondering where to search for gems in Idaho, start with the Idaho Department of Lands website. It includes information about gemstones on public lands, including which counties are good places to find different stones. The site includes a number of rockhounding locations in Fremont County, where searchers may find colorful gems like feldspar, malachite, and even jade.
Site: idl.idaho.gov/mining-minerals/rockhounding/
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management has published a helpful guide to rockhounding on Idaho’s BLM lands. It notes collecting personal specimens is allowed, in reasonable quantities, with hand tools in certain areas. Check out the brochure (or call one of the BLM offices listed in it) for more information. And remember, never enter abandoned mines, which can be very dangerous.
Site: blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/docu
ments/files/Recreational-Rockhounding.pdf
Spencer Opal Mines
If you’re curious about rockhounding but not sure where to begin, consider a day trip just a hundred miles away to the Spencer Opal Mines in Clark County. Visitors bring their own tools and dig through a pile of rocks in search of opals. Be sure to dress appropriately with closed toe shoes, eye protection, and sun protection.
Check their website for more information:
spenceropalmines.com.
