I am a gemstone miner/prospector/collector. My first collecting experience was panning for gold in the Truckee River on a family vacation with my Dad when I was 4 years old. I have been involved with rocks, minerals, lapidary, gems and mining ever since that time. My primary interests and specialties are in Precious Opal from the Virgin Valley area of Nevada, USA, and the Gem and Lithium bearing pegmatites of Southern California, particularly the Pala District. I am also very interested in documenting the history of the mines and miners of these regions and have been working on a book for many years about American gemstone mining. Maybe someday I will get the chance to finish it. I am particularly fond of older photos and descriptions of gem mining areas and finds. I also enjoy collecting mining memorabilia from these old gem mines and deposits, and when I have time, finding old "forgotten" or "lost" mines. I am also particularly interested in the study of American Mining Law, most of which was settled in the late 1800's to early 1900's, with exception to a few distinguishments. I often find that the miners themselves are as, (if not more), interesting than the mines and treasures they seek. I consider the most "valuable" piece in my collection not to be an actual mineral specimen, but rather an old rusty pick that George Ashley had given to me when I was 15 or 16 years old. I was so inspired by this that I began spending my weekends "growing up" at his place and primarily on Hiriart Mountain, and branching out studying other deposits in San Diego County. Besides my family, George (and another treasured friend who always told me to "look deeper") was the largest early influence in my becoming a collector, and miner myself. My heroes are all miners, collectors, geologists and prospectors who came before me, as well as those now and in the future. I am currently living in South Dakota and in 2011-2013 working a new Rose Quartz/pegmatite deposit/claim in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I am a member of the Coteau Des Plains Gem & Mineral Society (Watertown, SD)(Midwest Federation) and serve as the editor of the club newsletter as well as on the Board of Directors through 2013.