Washington is full of dazzling minerals and fossils — you just have to know where to look.

But getting started as a so-called rockhound, or a collector of minerals and fossils, can be intimidating.

A complicated web of local, state and federal jurisdictions cover Washington’s land. Many rockhounds are tight-lipped about their hunting spots. You can spend hours going over a spot and find nothing, or discover you’ve brought the wrong tools for the job.

Many longtime rockhounds say the best way to get started is to join a field trip hosted by a local rock club or the Washington State Mineral Council .…