Hello Everybody,

I happened across real minerals at the Houston Fine Mineral Show in 2014. Since then, I've been hooked. Before that, I was interested in geology, mines, and some ore minerals from my hiking adventures. In 2012, one of these adventures led me to the adit of the Bonanza Mine (Copper), in Kennecott, Alaska. I remember the walls of the mountain outside the mine looking like they were splatter-painted with Azurite and Malachite, and I thought this was the coolest thing ever. Lots of old copper ore still littered the ground, even though the mine closed around 1929. It is deep inside what is now the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and was featured in a "Reality TV" show, based in the town of McCarthy.

Once I discovered fine minerals, the internet hooked me up with Rob Lavinsky, then onto the HAMS collecting group, who have been very welcoming and helpful. I hope that sharing some of my collection on Mindat helps bring more documentation of some of the amazing things available from around the world. Thanks!