Persevering in Trying Times
With the entire country still in a form of shutting down, practicing social distancing, and observing various restrictions, there are no mineral shows, no in-person club meetings, no group mineral activities, and even club field trips
For those in the lapidary community, you have plenty of time to work with what you have in stock, but that’s it. For mineral collectors, your library is there to enjoy. With the regular arrival of monthly mineral magazines, you can at least enjoy stories and adventures while learning more about your mineral collection. Thank goodness for the internet and magazines! With the internet, we can keep in touch with fellow collectors, share knowledge, photographs, and anecdotes about collecting.
INVESTING IN THE ‘BRIGHT SIDE’
On the bright side, with no group activities possible, the internet opens up a whole new way of enjoying minerals. Dealers are still marketing their minerals, and collectors, as you know, are more than willing to talk minerals online. Also, if club leaders are on the ball, they have set up some sort of group communication online, so club members can use the internet and email to keep in touch, share stories, talk about past field trips, and share photos.
We have such a group here in Phoenix, with about thirty of us communicating daily about minerals. The group began over ten years ago, just some good collector friends informally visiting each other’s homes to see and talk about minerals, and even enjoy lunch. The group grew, with friends inviting friends. Now the group is more formal, and we even set up a mineral exhibit in Tucson each year.
As the group grew to about 30 or so collectors, wives included, it was named “Minions.” Normally, we would meet after Tucson each year for “show and tell.” Still, this year, group meetings and group activities are no longer possible, so we simply developed a wonderful email communication process. It started with collectors exchanging photos of newly acquired minerals. Then we began sharing mineral information, in particular talking about collecting experiences, old mines we
Selling a shop and collection. Includes a diamond mill, facet station, gemology site, and jewelers bench. Finished gold and silver jewelry. Loose color and diamonds. Call 719-689-5869.
Cams Crystal Gallery We sell exceptional value specimens for most any collector ordecorator. Please contact us at camscrystalgallery@ gmail.com or (310) 922-8864 with any special requests. CamsCrystalGallery.com
Bonanza Mining. Highest quality Gems & Minerals for lowest prices. Wyoming Nephrite Jade $12/pp 10# minimum over 100#/$4.50pp. Beautiful Agate, all colors Gem Grade 10#’s /$3.50pp 50#+ $3.00pp. Gary Green Bogwood petrified Jasper – Gem Grade. Beautiful green & other colors $6/pp 10# minimum 50#+ $5/ pp. Mahogany Obsidian. Also, giant Apache Tears 3x7 inches. Gem Grade. $2/pp 20# minimum. Beautiful opalized petrified wood from Virgin Valley, NV $8/pp 10# minimum 25#’s $7/ pp. Satisfaction Guaranteed. For more information call 208-351-5576
Selling my hobby. A ton of rough rock, mineral, specimans, and equipment. $20,000. Call: Susan M. Toth, Ohio 419-631-2981 between 12 to 6p.m. Monday - Friday
Mining Supplies and Rock Shop, Hesperia, CA. Our store has gold mining supplies, metal detectors, crystals, slabs, cabochons, fossils, mineral specimens, turquoise, jewelry, and jewelrysupplies. 16808 F Main St. (760) 244-9642. www.miningsuppliesandrockshop.com
Dean’s Sphere’s and Slabs. Variety of slabs and spheres for sale comprised of jaspers, agate, marble, jade, travertine, thulite, basanite, obsidian and mariposite. www.deansspheresandslabs.com Phone 310-291-8828. Dean Delahaut PO Box 129 Ridgecrest, CA 93556
TEXAS FOSSILS: 6 books, 1700 pages, drawings of EVERY genus & species, collecting localities, descriptions by Houston Gem & Mineral Society members: Cretaceous Ammonites, Echinoids, Gastropods, Bivalves; Pennsylvanian Brachiopods; and the Eocene, Claiborne Group deposit near Bryan, Tx. hgms.org for details.
Rare Minerals and classic specimens from new discoveries and old collections. Over 200,000 specimens on hand, unique gift items and more. Open Tues-Sat, Excalibur Mineral 1885 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22901, (434)-964-0875. www.excaliburmineral.com
Vibratory Lot-O-Tumbler built since the 1960’s, produces a high quality shine in only 7 days. Superior finish on specimens and gemstones. Great for beginners and used by many professional gem cutters. 507-451-2254 Belt, Inc. 2746 Hoffman, Dr. NW Owatonna, MN 55060, www.lototumbler.com
Loveland, CO. Colorado’s source for fine gems and minerals. On the road to Rocky Mountain National Park. Jewelry, Crystals, Fossils. Our own cut designer cabochons. Huge selection! 4855 W. Eisenhower. www.bluestonegemshop. com. Facebook – Bluestone Jewelry Store Austin, Texas: Nature’s Treasures 14,000 ft2 campus includes a Retail Showroom with Minerals, Agates, Fossils, Jewelry and Unique Gifts. The Rock Yard has bulk rock and natural-scape pieces leading to the Rock Depot that offers lapidary services, supplies, tools & equipment. Open 7 days. 4103 N Interstate 35, 78722. (512) 472-5015. NTRocks.com.
Marbleton, WY – J L Gray Rock Shop. Rough rock, slabs, cabochons, and beads, 614 E. 3rd Street Marbleton, WY. (307) 260-6442 or (307) 260-6443. Email: graysrocks@wy oming.com Facebook: JL Gray Rock Shop
Indianapolis Area (Lawrence). Findings, supplies, minerals, fossils, equipment, rough and finished stones. No list. Jox Rox, 4825 N. Franklin Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46226. Hours 10am – 6pm. Monday – Saturday. (317)-542-8855.
TURQUOISE CHALK – We buy turquoise chalk in quantity. If you have chalk available for sale or have a source, call Jeff 619-633-8251 or email: jeff4rocks@gmail.com