It all started in third grade in a science class. After a discussion on minerals the teacher passed rough specimens around the room. A tigers eye, polished only on one side, somehow found its way into my pocket. As guilty as I still feel, it was the beginning of my lifetime interest in minerals. Roadside finds were the bulk of my collection for many years. I suppose I expressed enough interest for my mother to realize that the mineral shop that opened in Schnecksville PA was something I might enjoy. At the age of 15 I walked out of the shop with my first real specimen, a tristate galena with a touch of sphalerite. Needless to say, I pestered my mother often and managed to have her buy me about 20 specimens before going off to college. My interest took second seat to education, partying, and the company of women until I made my way to Winston Salem NC in 1983. There I befriended a fellow who enjoyed camping, digging in the dirt, and going to mineral shows. We had many great trips to the Ray Mica Mine in Burnsville( tourmalines and milky blue beryls) and digging in fields near Hiddenite for smokey quartz. We were competitive at the shows, stealing off to find specimens only to emerge afterward, retire to the campsite, open a bottle of German Auslese, and compare finds. My favorite shows were Grassy Creek and Greensboro. Kudos to Neal and Chris Pfaff, who were the most sincere and kind and patient dealers ever. Neal would note my interests and stear me to great bargains. I still have a foot long Anabelle Lee calcite and a 5" fluorite that he sold me at rediculously low prices. My friend John and I built collections over the next three to four years. A job change then had me moving to Pennsylvania. In 1993 I found myself unhappy with the collections lack of focus. I would attend shows and be completely lost with what to buy, as everything aesthetic called to me and my pocket was not thick with green. I decided I would try to sell off all specimens outside a specific focus. I boiled it down to calcites or fluorites, and calcites won, as I had alot more in the core collection from which to grow. I began selling on Ebay, and, much to my surprise, the specimens were selling for 3,4,5, even 10 times what I had paid. An Altyn Tnube dioptase I had paid $45 for sold for $800. Before I knew it I had sold off my $3,500 investment for close to $18,000.

Now I know we never think of mineral collecting as investing, but it did bring me to the realization that I had a very good eye for quality specimens, even though I was completely ignorant of chemical makeup, localities, or even a rudimentary understanding of mineralogy. I re-invested the entire amount in calcites, from worldwide localities. Before long another realization dawned on me. Collecting calcites from everywhere was nearly as unsatisfying as collecting a diverse collection of aesthetic specimens, as it felt like I would never have a truely remarkable collection. So I again re-focused, this time narrowing to specific countries. I now have suites from England, Romania, DalNegorsk, China, Southern Illinois, Tri-State, Vibernum Trend, Mexico, Kalahari and, my primary focus, Tsumeb. It is more than likely some of these suites will eventually fall prey to the never ending desire to focus further.

During the mid 1990's I also found great enjoyment in swapping and occasionally selling. I found a good wholesaler and built a decent inventory of saleable material. I then signed up for my first mineral show, in Macungie PA. Much to my surprise, I had once again selected well valued specimens and did quite well. I expanded the inventory, and eventually showed at Hellertown, Lebanon, Leesport as well as Macungie, and on E-rocks.com under the name Geokrazy Minerals. My good friend Frank Hissong would often join me at my booth and sell off some of his de-aquisitions. It was during one of those times that he began discussing his retirement and desire to travel to Namibia. I casually mentioned my interest in travelling with him to my lovely wife, and upon my 50th birthday I was presented with a gift certificate good for one South African adventure. My next article will discuss that adventure, as even 4 years later, I thrill at the memories.

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