17 Best Gifts for Geologists (in 2024)

9 min read

Last edited: September 22nd, 2024

Geology gifts are easy to find but it’s hard to decide which one is quite right. So we scoured our sources to find the most popular and high-quality gifts for geologists that will definitely win a smile. I hope this gift guide helps you finish your shopping faster than ever. Show them you understand their passion for geology and relish the moment when they geek out over your perfect gift.

This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!

1. The Pocket Paleontologist fossil and mineral-hunting field reference tool

Your favorite geologist will never forget this unique gift! They can carry this credit card-sized photo scale ruler and GSA (geological timeline) reference every day in the field or in the lab. It's named for Paleontologists, but whether they are searching for mineral fossils or organism fossils, the same tools are needed. See the product page for a full list of features we've packed in!

You can also add a custom logo to this for events, networking, or promotional giveaways! Custom orders start at 100 pieces - just email us for more info.

Available with free shipping from our website or from Amazon Prime.

pocket geologist field tool

P.S. We also have versions specifically for Chemists and Engineers if those are a better fit for the person you have in mind!

2. Geological Hammer with Pointed Tip

Geologists will appreciate a quality rock hammer as a gift. That's because every serious rockhound owns one and uses it on a regular basis! Estwing's rock pick is fully forged in one piece, making it a durable and reliable geological tool. It features a Shock Reduction Grip that reduces impact vibration by over 70%. That's why Estwing rock hammers are a popular choice for geologists all around the world, and an excellent choice for your favorite geologist.

Check the price on Amazon

3. Pocket field microscope and flashlight (with UV)

Geologists often find themselves out in the field without the lab tools they love. When hunting for rocks and minerals, they may want to take a closer look at their new find before they get home!

This little pocket microscope has internal white light and UV lighting with 20x magnification for identifying small features like mineral inclusions and iridescent geodes. The UV helps with minerals that have hidden fluorescence!

Check the price on Amazon

4. 1000x Portable Digital Microscope

For a little more power than a pocket microscope, but a little less flexibility, a portable digital microscope fills a need for many rockhounds.

The big difference with this digital microscope is the built-in camera. So, you need to pair it with a phone or laptop to record the images. But with the boost of 50x-1000x magnification, it really lets you zoom in on and capture the tiniest details before getting back to your fancy tools in the lab.

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5. Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals (Smithsonian Handbooks)

This comprehensive book includes over 500 rocks and minerals and was created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution. It’s jam-packed with images and information on traits, distinctive features, and more, making identification for geologists a breeze. The book is well-written and easy to follow and understand. It’s both an excellent beginners book and a reference guide for geologists that’s small enough to carry as a companion out on the field.

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5. Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised Fifth Edition

Gemstones of the World is the most comprehensive and detailed guide to the world of gemstones available. It's rare to come across a gemstone reference book that can be used by geologists, scientists, jewellers, collectors, and laypeople alike, but this one does, with colored images of over 2500 gemstones.

It also includes information on the lore and history of well-known gems, as well as a section on synthetics. The text is small and in some cases reduced and condensed, but this is to squeeze as much information as possible into a small manual. It’s a perfect gift for anyone who’s interested in gemstones.

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6. Set of 4 Agate Coasters

These coasters would make an unusual and interesting geology-themed gift for your favorite geologist. The coasters are a fun pop of color and add a nice little touch to any living space. Each coaster is one-of-a-kind, with a different pattern from the others. It comes with little adhesive rubber feet to put on the bottom to keep them from sliding around.

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7. Rocketbook Matrix cloud-connected reusable paper notebook

This is my favorite clever invention. It was inevitable. Rocketbook finally solved the problem of merging your hand-written notes into your favorite digital services. You simply use their app to take a photo of your pages of notes and the QR code and marked symbols on each page trigger the app to send the digitized page to any of the 9 pre-set digital destinations you choose. This includes OneNote, Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox and even specific emails. Want a shortcut to send notes via email straight to your colleague or boss? This is what you’re looking for.

The Rocketbook Matrix is my personal favorite because it's designed for more technical work. It's got 30 pages of graphing paper and one regular lined page for taking notes, plus a built-in ruler on the inside cover. Did I mention they are resuable? Use their "Pilot Frixion" pens and then wipe the page with a damp cloth after uploading your notes to use it all over again (and win one for the environment!).

Check the price on Amazon.

8. ROCK ON! Geology Game with Rock & Mineral Collection

Have you ever wondered if there is a geology game that your favorite rockhound would enjoy? ROCK ON! Geology Game is a terrific rockhounding game for everyone who likes rocks and minerals, as well as gems and fossils. This entertaining STEM-based game is similar to bingo, except with pebbles instead of cards. To win, you must locate and identify rock samples and fill up your card. There are many levels, as well as trivia-style cards with facts and information.

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9. Rock Shaped Soap Set

After a day of dirty, sweaty rock and mineral collecting, geologists deserve to come home to a nice and relaxing bath. These amazing gemstone-shaped soaps are perfect for scrubbing away the dirt from a long day of digging. Each of these lovely soaps is handcrafted to resemble a distinct gemstone, making each one truly one-of-a-kind. Lavender honey, ocean, pink peony, vanilla cookie, fresh lily, and rose are the distinct scents available for this set. Your favorite geologist will surely love this unique gift!

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10. Agate Bookends

With these lovely agate bookends, you can help your favorite geologist keep their stacks of geology and scientific books organized. Each bookend is made of natural agate stone, with the front polished smooth and the back retaining the natural agate rough crust for a unique and appealing design. Beautiful, one-of-a-kind, these agate bookends come in a variety of colors and make a wonderful gift for any rockhound. Because geologists and science enthusiasts have a lot of books, these hefty beauties are the ideal gift in terms of both form and function.

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11. Portable field digging shovel

Maybe the most exhilarating part of Geology is getting out into the field and actually digging. Not all Geologists do this, but most that I know really love to get out there and do some rock hounding

For those that love doing some casual rockhounding, a portable digging shovel can be a huge asset. This one is telescoping so it stays compact in a trunk or backpack, and also comes in handy in case of a field emergency like a big storm or sheltering a fire.

Check the price on Amazon

12. The Craft of Research, Fifth Edition

The Craft of Research is now a classic book for any scientist trying to conduct factual, unbiased research and report about it in the scientific literature. For Geologists who must piece together a host of clues from many different researchers to generate new theories, doing this correctly is critical.

This is the 5th edition - and you know a book doesn't get 5 editions unless it's successful and useful in the first 4. Updated to include things like AI tools and to address emerging ethical issues, it's becoming more important than ever to conduct research in a way that you don't fool others...or yourself. This book will guide any Geologist in doing things the right way!

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13. Geology Field Notebook - Passport Sized Mini Book

For a geologist who’s fascinated by rocks and minerals, magma and lava, plate tectonics, volcanoes, and mountain formation, here's the ideal notebook for your favorite down-to-earth person. This passport-sized notebook offers charts and features for rock identification, as well as plenty of space to record any field observations and to-do lists. It can be used for a variety of purposes, making it a lovely and practical gift.

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14. 200 Pieces Emergency Survival Kit

For all adventurers, young and old, safety is always a top priority. Field visits are often taken by geologists to specific locations in order to conduct research, collect data, or check sites. Sudden geyser eruptions, earthquakes, cliffs, and sunstroke are all dangerous scenarios that could happen. This 200 in 1 emergency survival kit is an essential tool for adventurers that includes a first aid kit, survival tools, and emergency blanket. It’s a thoughtful gift that will help keep your geologist secure in any emergency!

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15. Adjustable rock display case

For most rocks and minerals collectors, displaying their best finds is half the fun. I've seen gorgeous collections of rare minerals in all types of display cases, but this lockable wood and glass case is a great starter for a geologist who wants to show off a few great finds to decorate their office. This particular one has some removable shelves to allow for taller mineral finds as needed.

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16. A Dictionary of Geology and Earth Sciences (Oxford Quick Reference)

Michael Allaby's A Dictionary of Geology and Earth Sciences is an excellent book for geologists. It contains 10,000 entries in planetary science, oceanography, palaeontology, mineralogy, and volcanology, among other fields of geoscience. There are also graphics and web links to aid the reader in their search for additional knowledge. It is authoritative, free of jargon, and an excellent reference for geologists.

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17. Subscription to AI-powered Research and Writing Software (SciSpace)

Geologists and geology grad students have to keep track of a HUGE amount of information to complete their research and write new papers. Luckily, AI is now ready to help! SciSpace is a new software tool that combines AI search engines with reference/bibliography management to quickly get answers to highly technical questions - all sourced from peer-reviewed journals.

The Copilot feature is my favorite! It can scan those clunky PDF files to make summaries and even pull tables out into an editable format! That would have saved me hundreds of hours in grad school...The other neat thing is that it lets you take notes on every journal article, link it to that file, and search your notes later with the AI engine.

The best move here is to gift them a 1-year subscription! Make sure to use my ambassador code “DEREK40” to save 40% on the first year. Just create an account here with your email, and then print out the login details to put into a gift box for the big day! They can move the account to their email address right after.