PTravel

One of my hobbies is rock-hounding and, while in Northern California this weekend, I picked up some specimens at a rock shop going out of business. I was curious what would TSA would do as, among my fellow rock hounds, the word is, "NOT ALLOWED -- THOSE COULD BE WEAPONS!"

I put them in my rollaboard, figuring I would check the bag if necessary. This was at OAK. Sure enough, the x-ray caught it and a TSO came over to inspect my bag. Interestingly, he only checked where the "anomaly" was, rather than tearing through everything. He asked if I had anything dangerous or fragile. I told him I had crystals, which were fragile. As he started to open the box and unwrap the specimens, I said, "I was hoping you'd unwrap them and look at them -- they're nice mineral specimens." He looked at them, said they were really nice and asked me what they were (calcite, marcasite and melakaria), told me his hobby was macrophotography, these would be great to photograph, let me re-wrap them and then sent me on my way.

In a world were bookmarks and miniature souvenir baseball bats are forbidden, I was truly surprised I was allowed to take them on board. Here's at least one occasion when common sense prevailed.

chollie

^ to that rare bird, an intelligent TSO willing to exercise common sense.

He could have easily pointed out that the rocks could be hurled at someone and forced you to check them.

BJM

Crystals along with small rocks are permitted in checked or carryon baggage. This is per TSA website. Simply enter the name of the item you wish to take with you.

PTravel

These weren't small specimens and the crystal calcite wasn't a single crystal, but a druze (technical rock term) of sharp spiky crystals. The marcasite is Fe2SO4, i.e. an iron compound, is quite heavy, and larger than a pair of brass knuckles. The malikaria is fist-sized. In other words, if I wanted to damage with any of these, I could.

saizai

Those are some gorgeous rocks. Thanks for sharing. ^

jonsg

Glad you didn't get profiled, then.

GUWonder

Kids carry rocks on planes rather often, more commonly without triggering a secondary search by the airport security screeners. Rocks can be used as weapons, but so can a bunch of coins also be used as a weapon.

Section 107

And don't forget that as an organization and by some individual employees, the TSA is not any smarter than many of those rocks and the employees are allowed at the checkpoint - sometimes even past it (you know, to chase down a water bottle).

alanR

I once packed a volcanic bomb into checked luggage. It was also the same flight where the local security had a great time playing with my Leatherman.

Happy innocent days.

pa3lsvt

For what it's worth, one or two 4-packs of Duracel D batteries and a sock make for a fantastic offensive weapon. None of which is restricted or really all that suspicious.

The day TSA can interdict everything that *could* be used as a weapon will be the day they send us on airplanes empty-handed and in our underwear.

However, since they continue to "operate with an abundance of caution" I expect that your success rates with large mineral samples will not be 100%. You fortunately happened upon a not-quite-useless clerk.

FredAnderssen

I've carried Lake Superior agates as big as my fist in my carry on. No problems.

alphaod

Shouldn't be a problem. My mom is always flying with rocks.

IAD_flyer

TSA will find a reason why your underwear could be used as a weapon.

WillCAD

There is, essentially, no such thing as a "permitted" item, due to TSA's CYA language on their web page:

Notice the bolding (which is mine). The TSA officer can deny you anything he decides to deny you.