Rockhounding is going out and searching for different kinds of rocks, minerals and gems and finding them in their rough form. You cut, polish, etc. them.
Also includes looking for fossils. We are going for fossils and peridots in New Mexico this summer - have gotten beautiful agates, sunstones, quarts clusters, sunburns, blisters, cool fossils, opalized wood, and some other fun things so far. Next summer we are going for fire opal and trilobites further north since I won't be on a time schedule anymore.
It's sometimes - well, usually - work, but always fun. And, you are in spots where you can do some really superb stargazing!