There are ten shopping days left before Christmas. Do you have a geologist in your family but are not sure what to buy him or her? Never fear, the annual Georneys “What to Buy a Geologist for Christmas” list is here! Below are ten great gift ideas for geologists. If you don’t see something that strikes your fancy on this list, check out the previous years lists:

2010 – Part I

2010 – Part II

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Happy shopping!

Gift #1: A T-Rex Cookie Jar

I’m currently visiting the US for two weeks, and I recently went to Target with my mom. In the kitchenware section I saw an amazing T-Rex cookie jar that you can also buy online. I was very tempted to buy the cookie jar, but it was a little big to put in my suitcase to bring back to South Africa, especially since I’d already done some other shopping! Maybe I’ll buy it next year. This cookie jar is bound to be a hit with the paleontologist in your family… or with any geologist, actually!

Cost: $19.99

Gift #2: Planetary Fleece

The geologist in your family will adore snuggling up in a planetary fleece available from ThinkGeek.com. You can even choose from one of three options: Earth, Mars, or Jupiter. If you’re not sure which one to pick, I recommend the Earth one… or buy all three!

Cost: $29.99

Gift #3: Planetary Necklace

I really like the lovely “Solar Orbit Necklace” on ThinkGeek.com, and clearly I’m not the only one since the necklace is currently sold out. Perhaps keep this gift in mind for next year, or write a voucher for its purchase once it’s back in stock. The necklace is made up of lovely semi-precious stones that represent the solar system, including the sun, the planets, and the asteroid belt.

Cost: $39.99 (Original) or $79.99 (Sterling Silver)

Gift #4: Rock Display Case

Geologists are well-known for decorating with rocks, including making “deskcrops” in their offices. I certainly have quite a few rocks on display, both at home and at the office. Why not provide the geologist in your family with a pretty display case for more elegantly showcasing part of his or her rock collection? The geologist in your family is bound to pile up more rocks in random corners, but a case could at least keep a few of them in order! The display case could vary from very small to vary large, depending upon your budget and the space that your geologist loved one has for decorating. The case in the picture above is available on Amazon here.

Cost: Variable – about $10-$15 to several hundred dollars

Gift #5: Geology Field Notebook Bag

Does the geologist in your family do field work? Most likely! In that case, he or she will really appreciate a little bag for storing a field notebook, writing implements, and other supplies, such as rulers. The bag shown above clips onto a field belt to allow the geologist easy access to his or her field notebook at all times. The bag shown above can be purchased from Rite in the Rain.

Cost: Variable – about $30 for a canvas bag and about $200 for a leather bag

Gift #6: A Ruler

Geologists can never have too many rulers since they are always measuring things (usually rocks!), both in the field and in the office. Geologists are also always in need of suitable items to include in photographs (usually of rocks!) for scale. You can buy any type of ruler, from a simple wooden or plastic ruler to a fun ruler decorated with dinosaurs or planets. Perhaps buy a few different types of rulers as stocking stuffers!

Cost: Variable – about $1 to $10

Gift #7: A Roadside Geology Book

Is the geologist in your family planning a roadtrip soon? If so, why not buy them the relevant “Roadside Geology” book? These books showcase key geology along various roads and are available for many parts of the US. You can also find similar types of books covering some other parts of the world. For example, a similar book for South Africa (where I live now) is Geological Journeys. Above, I’ve shown the book for my home territory of Vermont and New Hampshire. Check out a more complete list on the Mountain Press website or on Amazon.

Cost: Variable – about $20

Gift #8: Volcanic Eruption Paperweight

I found this little volcanic eruption paperweight on the Spectrum Scientifics website, and it delights me. The geologist in your family is sure to love it, especially if he or she is a volcanologist!

Cost: $4.99

Gift #9: A Set of Geological TOOB Figurines

I really like the TOOB sets of toys, which are plastic tubes filled with small plastic figurines. The figurine sets are really fun and are often educational. There are a few sets of TOOB toys that are geology-themed and the geologist in your family is sure to love them, even if he or she is no longer a child! You could buy the geologist in your family the Dinos TOOB or Space TOOB. These are sure to be a hit. However, if you want something really geological in nature, I recommend the Ancient Fossils TOOB or the Cambrian Life TOOB. Those ones are really neat!

Cost: $11.99

Gift #10: A Donation to a Scientific Organization

Scientific organizations can really use our support right now, especially in the US where some scientific research (including much Earth Science research!) is under political threat. The geologist in your family will definitely appreciate a donation to a worthy scientific organization. Two that I can recommend are the National Center for Science Education and The Planetary Society.

Cost: Variable – $25 is a great amount to donate