CDMC - The Capital District Mineral Club

***WEARING APPAREL***
(1) Hiking or safety boots are strongly recommended.
(2) Safety glasses or goggles must be worn in working quarries and are generally recommended all the time.
(3) Long-sleeved shirts or jackets should be worn to protect the wearer from injury or sunburn. A sun visor or hat is also recommended for protection.
(4) Gloves should be worn when digging, especially when working with sharp rocks.

***FIRST AID AND SAFETY ITEMS***
(1) Carry basic first aid materials (kits).
(2) Have enough liquid to drink with you for the day, and carry it with you into the field.
(3) A compass, flashlight, and matches are useful items to carry.
(4) Be sure someone knows of your plans - where you are going, when you plan to return, and what you plan on doing.
(5) Know the limitations of your vehicle - ground clearance, traction, etc. Be certain your vehicle is in good working order.
(6) Inform the field trip leader of any medical conditons which may require special considerations or precautions.

***INSURANCE***
(1) As members of the Eastern Federation of Mineralogical & Lapidary Society, Inc., we are covered under a broad umbrella policy.
(2) All members, who have paid their dues, are covered by the policy when they are actively pursuing a club activity (a field trip, a workshop, or attending a scheduled and authorized function.
(3) This includes new members who have just paid their dues, but does NOT include guests.
(4) The policy is a general liability one. It covers any damage you may cause...not what may or could happen to you. You are resonsible for your own injuries or costs for medical treatment.

***CODE OF ETHHICS OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MINERALOGICAL SOCIETIES***
(1) I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without permission of the owner.
(2) I will keep informed of all laws, regulations, and rules governing collecting on public lands and I will observe them.
(3) I will, to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.
(4) I will use no firearms or blasting materials in collecting areas.
(5) I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind, such as fences, signs, buildings, etc.
(6) I will leave all gates as found.
(7) I will build fires, if they are permitted, only in designated or safe places and will be certain that they are completely extinguished before leaving.
(8) I will discard no burning materials - matches, cigarettes, etc.
(9) I will fill in all excavations/holes which may be hazardous to livestock or people.
(10) I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supplies.
(11)I will cause no damage to collecting material will take only what I can reasonably use.
(12) I will support the Rockhound Project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter, Please).
(13) I will cooperate with Field Trip Leader those with designated authority in all collecting areas.
(14) I will report to by club or Federation Officers, Bureau of Land Management and other proper authorities, any deposit of petrified wood
or other material on Public Lands which should be protected for the benefit of future generations and for educational or scientific purposes.
(15) I will appreciate and protect our heritage of Natural Resources.
(16) I will observe the "Golden Rule", will use Good Outdoor Manners, and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and public image of rockhounds everywhere.

***FIELD TRIPS SAFETY RULES***
(1) Never go on a field trip alone. Have someone along who can help or summon help in an emergency. Observe the "buddy system" and do not go collecting alone.
(2) Children should always be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. That person should always keep the child/children in sight. A child alone could wander into a dangergous situation, become lost, or suffer serious injury.
(3) Do not collect directly above or beneath another person.
(4) When parking your vehicle, do not block outlets, roadways, or other vehicles.
(5) Should you have to leave a field trip early, please notify the field trip leader.
(6) Do not disturb or touch any wires in a working quarry - these could be blasting wires. Notify your field trip leader if you come across any wires, blasting caps, or explosives.
(7) Practice fire safety. Makes sure all combustibles are cold before leaving a campfire.
(8) Do not throw rocks, tools, or other items as this may cause personal injury or propery damage.
(9) Avoid old mine tunnels and shafts. They may be water-filled or have poorly supported beams.
(10) Quarry vehicles always have the right-of-way. Stay clear of quarry vehicles and equipment.
(11) Respect "No Trespassing" signs (legally posted or otherwise)!
(12) Respect your fellow collector's dig. Do not jump claims.
(13) Never eat wild plants or drink from ponds or waterways unless you are absolutely sure the water is safe for human consumption.
(14) Do not reach into crevices or into areas where you cannot see to avoid snakebit, insect, spider, or other animal hazards.
(15) Do not collect under overhangs and/or hanging walls. Such areas pose dangers from sudden collapse.
(16) Do climb tallus slopes. Rock slides are possible as well as falls.
(17) Sand pits pose many dangers due to cave-ins and should be generally avoided.

***CHILDREN ON FIELD TRIPS***
(1) A child is defined as anyone under age 18.
(2) A child must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. This person must be willing to assume full legal and behavioral resonsibility for the child.
(3) Children will be permitted on designated field trips. They will be excluded from field trips which are deemed dangerous, including some working quarries.
(4) If a child has shown reckless behavior, he/she may be excluded from all field trips. Such non-compliant behavior on a field trip will be cause for immediate expulsion from the site.

***TOOLS***
(1) Only hammers and chisels designated specifically for rockhounding should be used. The hammered tops of chisels that show flaking should be ground off.
(2) Wedges with flaked tops should also be ground off.
(3) Sledge hammer handles should be inspected before use for splinters and cracks.
(4) Tools should be compatible with the user's ability.
(5) Pry bars should have a working end which provides a snug grip in the seam.

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Edited and Amended by Louis Dushek and J. Richard Hartnett (January 1993. Capital District Mineral Club)