I have loved crystals and mineral specimens since I was a small boy. I still have my first book on rocks from my mother. My mom and grandmother took me to interesting locales in northern California looking for fascinating specimens. Their enthusiasm for the outdoors really helped ignite my interest. There is something very unique and special about crystals and minerals that is hard to describe.

A deep purple Amethyst crystal.

My mom found these two turquoise rocks shown above.

Speaking of minerals, here is one very heavy petrified wood carved bear we found in Bali. Marla and I imported many pieces of petrified wood over the years to sell to our interior design customers out of our Denver showroom and warehouse. A designer from Vail purchased this piece.

Marla is ordering from one of our suppliers in Bali. Most of the pieces we sourced came from western Java and Sumatra.

A view of a few of our petrified wood pieces in our old warehouse.

On a 2019 trip with our grandsons in Thailand we came upon an mineral exhibition at River City in Bangkok.

Our youngest daughter Stacy really reignited my love crystals and minerals. She is pictured sourcing at the world’s largest gem and mineral show in Tucson. I of course had to go with her!

She created oodles of amazing creations when she had her jewelry business.

I had to have this apophyllite cluster.

A wonderful glow of crystals at the Tucson show.

This interesting multi-story building in Shanghai China was full of dealers. I found a cool small specimen.

Our grandson Paxton was fascinated with all the amazing crystals at the Museum of Natural history in Washington DC.

Fabulous specimens on display.

Deep under the tiny mining town of Naica, Mexico, is an enormous cave of amazingly large crystals 

An abandoned mine in Spain hides a sparkling treasure – the world’s largest geode, a natural crystal phenomenon that has stunned scientists.

The American Museum of Natural History in New York displays a most unusual specimen. This massive block of vibrant blue azurite and green malachite (both copper ore minerals) is also known as the “Singing Stone”. Its nickname refers to high-pitched sounds it made when the humidity changed with the weather and seasons when it was first displayed at the Museum many years ago. 

Photos: Dick Gentry. 1-15. Not to be used without permission.