Choosing between a rock hammer and a sledge for a stubborn basalt outcrop

I was mapping a basalt flow near Bend, Oregon, and hit a really solid, weathered section. I had my Estwing rock hammer and a 4-pound sledge in the truck. The hammer was easier to carry, but the sledge had more power. I went with the sledge and it broke through the tough outer layer in about 5 good hits, letting me get a fresh sample. Without that force, I would have been chipping for an hour. What do you all reach for first when you hit really hard rock in the field?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancycooper2mo ago

Five good hits with a sledge sounds about right for that Oregon basalt. I always say if you're not sure which tool to use, your back will tell you the right answer by the end of the day. Carrying the sledge is the real workout, but swinging the rock hammer for an hour is its own kind of punishment. I've learned the hard way that saving your energy for the walk back to the truck is the smarter move.

young.kim2mo ago

Saving energy for the walk back is key, so I always grab the sledge first for stuff like that.

lily702mo ago

Remember my buddy who tried to be a hero with just his rock hammer on some brutal Washington columnar basalt? He spent forty minutes making dust and getting mad. Tbh his arm was shot for the rest of the day. He finally gave up and went back for the sledge, and it popped a perfect sample off in three swings. Honestly, that lesson stuck with me more than anything I learned in a class.