Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14 § 4611

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 52, December 27, 2024

Section 4611 - Rockhounding

(a) Rockhounding is authorized by Section 5001.65 of the Public Resources Code.

(b) Units and portions thereof (o)pen for Rockhounding will be posted in accordance with Section 4301(i).

(c) Commercial Use.

Rocks or mineral specimens gathered within a unit may not be sold or used commercially for the production of profit.

(d) Maximum Take.

One person may gather, in one day in one unit, not more than 15 pounds of mineralogical material or not more than one specimen plus 15 pounds of mineralogical material.

(e) Use of Tools.

Tools, except goldpans to be used in gold panning, may not be used in rockhounding within a unit.

(f) Areas for Swimming and Boating.

In state recreation areas rockhounding may not be practiced in areas designated for swimming or for boat launching.

(g) Areas Limited for Collecting.

In state recreation areas rockhounding is limited to beaches which lie within the jurisdiction of the Department and within the wave action zone on lakes, bays, reservoirs, or on the ocean, and to the beaches or gravel bars which are subject to annual flooding on streams.

(h) Indian Artifacts.

Rockhounding in a unit specifically does not include the gathering of Indian arrowheads, Indian stone tools, or other archeological specimens, even when such specimens may be found occurring naturally on the surface.

(i) Panning for Gold.

Panning for gold is considered to be "rockhounding" as the term is applied in the Department. The goldpan is the only exception permitted to the exclusion of tools from rockhounding in a unit as provided in Section 4610.5. Muddy water from panning operations must not be visible more than 20 feet from the panning operation.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 4611

1. Amendment filed 1-28-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 5).
2. Change without regulatory effect repealing section and renumbering sections 4610, 4610.1, 4610.2, 4610.3, 4610.5, 4610.7, 4610.8, 4610.9 and 4610.10 to new section 4611, subsections (a)-(i), respectively, with amendments, filed 6-18-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 25).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 5001.65 and 5003, Public Resources Code. Reference: Section 5001.65, Public Resources Code.

1. Amendment filed 1-28-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 5).
2. Change without regulatory effect repealing section and renumbering sections 4610, 4610.1, 4610.2, 4610.3, 4610.5, 4610.7, 4610.8, 4610.9 and 4610.10 to new section 4611, subsections (a)-(i), respectively, with amendments, filed 6-18-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 25).