Mike
Welcome to the world of Rock Hounding..
How do you become a rock hound?
1: get a bag of marbles
2: go to a likely collecting area
3: fill your mouth with marbles
4: spit a marble at every pretty rock you see
5: when you've lost all your marbles, you're a rock hound!
I know I'm stepping into the conversation a bit late, but hopefully can add to the conversation.
If your daughter is still interested in rocks, I suggest:
Locate a local club and join. You will learn and if it's a good club, they will offer lapidary classes & have club equipment to use.
Like M.D. there will be mostly older folks, but if you're polite and ask questions, they will welcome you and take you under their wing.
A vibrating tumbler, it will turn out finished stones in days instead of weeks.. can also be used with crushed walnut shells to clean up those coins etc that you've found with your M.D.
If you decide to take the leap and purchase lapidary equipment, seriously consider used equipment. Most is extremely well built and will last for generations with upkeep,
or build you own, parts are available
New diamond stuff is fast cutting, but pricey. The old belt & expanding drum machines work well and can be found reasonably priced new or used.
If you can find them, old copies of Lapidary Journal or Rock & Gems magazines are treasure troves of information.
Books;
Northeast Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide
Audubon Guide to North American Rocks & Minerals
or
Peterson Guide to Rocks & Minerals
If you can't locate these books locally, you can order them from:
Kingsley North
http://www.kingsleynorth.com/
link is to their web site.
if nothing else, it's a nice site to peruse.
I am a former rock shop owner, still a rock-hound/ lapidary/silversmith...
sixdogs