
FOR EPISODE COMMENTS PLEASE VISIT:
Friends of Minerals Forum
Recorded live at the 2018 Fine Mineral Show: Denver, Gail and Jim sit down with Krystle Dorris-Dinkel, Rick Kennedy, Tom Praszkier, Jeff Swanger, Rod Tyson and James Zigras to get a snapshot of the perspectives of some of the biggest Professional Diggers out there in the field.
These are the people who spend their lives running the mining operations that bring us all the great material that we all love. Most often, these people are passionate collectors too and, believe it or not, they are NICE people. Listen to the episode to get a better idea of some of the problems they face and just get to know them better.
The next time you're at a show and you see one of these people, go up and introduce yourself to them and tell them that you heard them right here on Breakfast With Minerals.
And remember, if you have an idea on a topic you'd like to hear addressed on future episodes of Breakfast With Minerals, drop us a line at: [email protected]
SHOW NOTES
7:58:04 - The Big Kahuna Pocket - Jeff Swanger
The pocket that Jeff is referring to is the Big Kahuna Pocket - one of the biggest and most prolific pockets ever to be discovered at the OceanView Mine. This pocket was discovered in and ended up producing about 1 ton of gem material and specimens. The primary minerals found were Kunzite and Tourmaline.
http://www.oceanviewmine.com/page8/page11/
14:10:12 - Hallelujah Junction - Rick Kennedy
One of the world's premiere spots for finding amethyst scepters is Hallelujah Junction on Peterson Mountain just on the border of California and Nevada. About 40 minutes from downtown Reno, Rick and his partners always have some great finds from this classic locale.
https://www.mindat.org/loc-235512.htm\
20:29:17 - The Prospectors television show - Jim Spann
The Prospectors was a television show that aired on the Weather Channel from 2013 to 2016. The show followed different Colorado mining families around as they dug in the mountains in search of mineral treasures. The Dorris family - Joe (father), Tim (brother) and Krystle were one of the families the show highlighted.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3216258/
22:08:11 - Avant Mining - James Zigras
Avant Mining operates out of the Blue Springs area of Arkansas - less than 20 miles away from Hot Springs, AR. Since 2014, Avant Mining has produced some of the finest quartz specimens ever seen.
http://avantmining.com/
23:38:12 - The American Museum - James Zigras
The Henry Frank Guggenheim Hall of Minerals and the Morgan Memorial Hall of Gems at the American Museum in Manhattan are both undergoing major renovations and are scheduled to reopen in the Fall of 2019.
Henry Frank Guggenheim Hall of Minerals
https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/harry-frank-guggenheim-hall-of-minerals
Morgan Memorial Hall of Gems
https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/morgan-memorial-hall-of-gems
25:10:19 - The Rogerley Mine - Tom Praszkier
The Rogerley Mine in Northern England is one of the most famous Fluorite mines in Europe. Now operated by Crystal Classics out of the U.K. Crystal Classics President, Ian Bruce, was one of our guests in Breakfast With Minerals - Episode 2.
https://www.mindat.org/loc-4995.html
32:56:04 - Hallelujah Junction - Rick Kennedy
https://www.mindat.org/loc-235512.htm\
33:18:15 - HJ Fee Dig - Rick Kennedy
Rick Kennedy has set up a Pay-To-Dig site operation on his claim at Hallelujah Junction. If you'd like to visit it, contact Rick Kennedy directly at the following email address:[email protected]
33:33:21 - Jacksons Crossroads - Rick Kennedy
The finest amethyst specimens to come out of the United States of America undoubtedly is from Jackson's Crossroads in Wilkes County, Georgia.
https://www.mindat.org/loc-59885.html
35:24:19 - Topaz Mountain Gem Mine - Krystle Dorris-Dinkel
In addition to owning and running the Smoky Hawk Claim that produces the world's most stunning Amazonite and Smoky Quartz specimens, the Dorris family also own the Topaz Mountain Gem Mine claim in Park County, Colorado. Collecting is STRICTLY PROHIBITED unless you have permission from the Dorris family. If you'd like to visit, contact them through this link:
http://pinnacle5minerals.com/GlacierPeakWeb/Visits/TopazVisits.htm
https://www.mindat.org/loc-159278.html
37:49:20 - OceanView Pay-To-Dig site - Jeff Swanger
In addition to operating the last producing gem mine in the Pala region of north San Diego County, California, Jeff Swanger also has a Fee Dig operation where you can make a reservation to visit and find your own gems.
digforgems.com
41:14:07 - Hamilton Hill Mine - James Zigras
Begun shortly after the end of the American Civil War, Hamilton Hill Mine is one of the oldest crystal mines in Arkansas.
https://www.mindat.org/loc-11725.html
46:58:22 - UK Mining Ventures - Tom Praszkier
Formerly owned and run by Cal Graeber and Jesse Fisher (of California), UK Mining Venture is now wholly owned by Ian and Diana Bruce of Crystal Classics in the UK.
On FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ukminingventures/
55:04:13 - Society Girl Mine in British Columbia, Canada for Pyromorphites - Rod Tyson
https://www.mindat.org/loc-490.html
56:25:13 - Victoria Island - Hematite - Rod Tyson
Classic locality for Hematite in Hadley Bay, Northwest Territory, Canada.
https://www.mindat.org/loc-191847.html
58:24:17 - Baffin Island - Pyrite - Rod Tyson
The Nanisivik Mine on Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada has produced some incredible pyrite specimens.
https://www.mindat.org/loc-514.html
58:15:19 - Smithsoniana Museum - Rod Tyson
America's National Museum in Washington D.C. Home of the Hope Diamond and an incredible collection of mineral specimens from around the world. Including, "The Candelabra" - one of the classic and best known specimens of bluecap tourmalines from the Queen Mine.
https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/janet-annenberg-hooker-hall-geology-gems-and-minerals-event-exhib-31
58:18:12 - ROM Museum - Rod Tyson
The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The largest museum in all of Canada and home of an exceptional collection of fine mineral specimens.
https://www.rom.on.ca/en/exhibitions-galleries/galleries/natural-history/teck-suite-galleries-earths-treasures
1:02:02:21 - Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada - Sperrylites - Jim Spann
https://www.mindat.org/gallery.php?loc=571&min=3723
1:04:42:02 - The Miner’s Inn - Jeff Swanger
In addition to running the OceanView Mine, the Pala Chief Mine AND his Pay-To-Dig site, Swanger also runs a B&B located onsite at the OceanView called the Miner's Inn. This is available for anyone wanting to spend an explore the area.
https://digforgems.com/
If you're interested in Sponsoring future episodes of Breakfast With Minerals, please contact Bryan Swoboda at [email protected] Guests: James Zigras, Jeff Swanger, Krystle Dorris-Dinkel, Rick Kennedy, Rod Tyson, and Tom Praszkier.
Dec 24, 2018
1 hr 8 min

FOR EPISODE COMMENTS PLEASE VISIT:
Friends of Minerals Forum
This episode is a continuation of Episdoe 3 - Professional Diggers.
After we wrapped the recording of Episode 3, the conversation around the breakfast table continued and got even more animated. With most of the microphones still hot, we continued the recording becasue there were some great things being shared.
We subsequently went out to all the participants and let them listen to a preview of this Addendum BEFORE we released it to the public.
So with everyone's permission, we're happy to present our conuation of Breakfast With Minerals - Episode 3 - Professional Diggers.
And remember, if you have an idea on a topic you'd like to hear addressed on future episodes of Breakfast With Minerals, drop us a line at: [email protected]
SHOW NOTES
7:56:07 - Volodarsk - Tom Praszkier
The Volodarsk-Volynskii Mine that Tom is referring to is in the North-West part of the Ukraine. Historically, this mine has produced some of the finest heliodor specimens ever discovered. This mine also produced huge amounts of fantastic topaz - including a lot of bi-color ones, smoky quartz and morion quartz (aka black quartz).
https://www.mindat.org/loc-11331.html
11:30:08 - Young Mineral Collector Group - Gail Spann
Keep checking back with us. We’ll have an upcoming podcast with key members of the Young Mineral Collector Group.
12:29:01 - Perot Museum - Gail Spann
The Perot Museum is the newest natural history museum in Dallas, Texas. Their Lyda Hill Gem and Mineral Hall is one of the newest mineral museums in the country and consists, primarily, of specimens loaned to the museum by local collectors. One of the huge benefits of this approach is that the display is constantly changing and specimens are returned and new ones accepted.
https://www.perotmuseum.org/
https://www.perotmuseum.org/exhibits-and-films/permanent-exhibit-halls/lyda-hill-gems-and-minerals-hall.html
17:13:04 - Shirley McClain on cover of Time Magazine in 80s - James Zigras
Shirley McClain was on the cover of the December 7, 1987 issue of Time Magazine. The article was called, "The New Age."
28:25:17 - Summit Series in LA - James Zigras
The world's preeminent ideas festival. Right in the City of Angles.
https://2017.summit.co/
29:56:19 - Fahina in Maiami Beach - James Zigras
A high-end luxury hotel overlooking Miami Beach.
https://www.lhw.com/hotel/Faena-Miami-Beach-Fl
31:59:02 - Crystal Days in Poland - Tom Praszkier
The most important mineral show in Poland.
https://www.facebook.com/crystaldayspoland/
If you're interested in Sponsoring future episodes of Breakfast With Minerals, please contact Bryan Swoboda at [email protected] Guests: James Zigras, Jeff Swanger, Krystle Dorris-Dinkel, Rick Kennedy, Rod Tyson, and Tom Praszkier.
Dec 21, 2018
40 min

FOR EPISODE COMMENTS PLEASE VISIT:
Friends of Minerals Forum
Recorded at the 2018 Fine Mineral Shows: Tucson (AKA The Westward Look Show), Gail and Jim sit down with Ian Bruce, Alan Hart, Christoph Keilmann, Jolyon Ralph, Peter Lyckberg and John Cornish to address the issue of The Current State of the Mineral Collecting World and How We Preserve it for Future Generations - but this time with a slightly European perspective.
This panel represents a good slice of the European mineral-collecting community. We have a Mineral Dealer (Bruce), a former Museum Curator and gem expert (Hart), someone in the mineral media world (Ralph), a Show Promoter (Keilmann) a two great Field Collectors (Lyckberg and Cornish).
Lots of great comments, suggestions and ideas.
And remember, if you have an idea on a topic you'd like to hear addressed on future episodes of Breakfast With Minerals, drop us a line at: [email protected]
SHOW NOTES
8:22 - Rod Tyson from Tyson's Fine Minerals - Ian Bruce
Rod was the 2018 winner of the American Mineral Heritage Award - the Mineralogical Record's annual award given out to living individuals recognizing their, "field collecting achievements contributing to the heritage of American mineral specimens." Past award recipients include: Edward Swoboda, Bill Larson, Bryan Lees, Wayne Thompson, Terry Szenics and Stanley Esbenshade.
Tysons' Fine Minerals - http://www.tysonsfineminerals.com
9:58 - The Munich Show: Europe's largest mineral show - Christoph Keilmann
https://munichshow.com
10:53 - MinDat: the largest mineral database in the world - Jolyon Ralph
https://www.mindat.org
15:39 - Natural History Museum of London (aka The British Museum) - Alan Hart
http://www.nhm.ac.uk
16:53 - Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP) - Alan Hart
http://www.smmp.net/
27:39 - Perot Museum in Dallas, Texas - Gail Spann
www.perotmuseum.org
36:09 - Mineral photographer Thomas Spann - Jim Spann
https://www.facebook.com/thomas.spann
44:16 - Gem shows in Tucson - Alan Hart
AGTA - https://agta.org/
GJX - http://www.gjxusa.com/
44:28 - The Hope Diamond - Gail Spann
Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_Diamond
Smithsonian Museum - https://www.si.edu/spotlight/hope-diamond
45:04 - The Prospectors show on the Weather Channel - Peter Lyckberg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospectors_(TV_series)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3216258/
45:18 - The New Crystal Hunters series produced by BlueCap Productions - Peter Lyckberg
NCH: The Sterling Mine - https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nch04
NCH: Smoky Hawk - https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nch03
NCH: Arkansas - https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nch02
52:54 - The Changsha Mineral Show in China - Jolyon Ralph
www.changsha-show.com
57:48 - Social media and BlueCap Productions films - Ian Bruce
www.bluecapproductions.com
https://vimeo.com/bluecapproductions/vod_pages
1:04:25 - The mineral magazines in Europe vs America - Ian Bruce
Mineralogical Record - https://mineralogicalrecord.com/
Lapis Magazine - http://www.lapis.de/
1:11:38 - The Tsumeb Show - a new mini show in Tucson - Ian Bruce
http://www.tsumeb.com/en/
1:13:28 - David Bowie exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum - Alan Hart
https://www.vam.ac.uk/
1:13:28 - "It's The Artifacts Stupid!" article by Bill Smith - Alan Hart
The Mineralogical Record - Vol.35, No.2 - Mar/Apr 2004
https://mineralogicalrecord.com/detail.asp?id=233
https://mineralogicalrecord.com/pdfs/TheMineralogicalRecord_GuestEditorial.pdf
1:15:35 - Houston Museum of Natural Science - Gail Spann
http://www.hmns.org/exhibits/permanent-exhibitions/gems-and-minerals/
1:16:52 - Friday morning at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society (TGMS) show- John Cornish
http://www.tgms.org/show/
1:21:16 - Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP) - Jolyon Ralph
http://www.smmp.net/
1:27:56 - A mineral-collecting field trip to the cliffs of Dover, UK - Jolyon Ralph
https://www.mindat.org/loc-223577.html
1:29:49 - Digging Arkansas Quartz at the James Zigras Mine - Gail Spann
http://avantmining.com/
1:31:43 - The mineral museums in Madrid, Spain - Peter Lyckberg
Museo Geominero - http://www.igme.es/museo/
Museo de la Geología - https://www.ucm.es/cultura/m.geologia
1:35:15 - The Prospectors show on the Weather Channel - Gail Spann
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospectors_(TV_series)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3216258/
1:45:22 - The Fersman Museum in Moscow, Russia - Jolyon Ralph
https://www.fmm.ru/Index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fersman_Mineralogical_Museum
If you're interested in Sponsoring future episodes of Breakfast With Minerals, please contact Bryan Swoboda at [email protected] Guests: Alan Hart, Christoph Keilmann, Ian Bruce, John Cornish, Jolyon Ralph, and Peter Lyckberg.
Aug 15, 2018
1 hr 49 min

FOR EPISODE COMMENTS PLEASE VISIT:
Friends of Minerals Forum
Recorded at the 2018 Fine Mineral Shows: Tucson (AKA The Westward Look Show, Gail and Jim sit down with Bryan Lees, Jamie Newman, John Rakovan, Dave Waisman and Stephen Neely to address the issue of The Current State of the Mineral Collecting World and How we Preserve it for Future Generations.
This panel represents a good slice of the American mineral-collecting community. We have a Mineral Dealer (Lees), a Museum Curator (Newmann), someone in the mineral media world (Rakovan), a Show Promoter (Waisman) and a Collector (Neely).
Lots of great comments, suggestions and ideas.
And remember, if you have an idea on a topic you'd like to hear addressed on future episodes of Breakfast With Minerals, drop us a line at: [email protected]
SHOW NOTES
11:04.804 - Rock Currier series on Being A Collector - referenced by John Rakovan
Published in The Mineralogical Record (https://mineralogicalrecord.com)
Only a few bound copies left. Otherwise, the articles were printed in the following issues:
Vol. 42-3 - https://mineralogicalrecord.com/detail.asp?id=293
Vol. 40-3 - https://mineralogicalrecord.com/detail.asp?id=279
Vol. 40-2 - https://mineralogicalrecord.com/detail.asp?id=277
Vol. 40-1 - https://mineralogicalrecord.com/detail.asp?id=276
Vol. 39-5 - https://mineralogicalrecord.com/detail.asp?id=274
Vol. 39-4 - https://mineralogicalrecord.com/detail.asp?id=272
12:23.954 - American Museum renovation - Jamie Newman
https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/earth-and-planetary-sciences-halls/harry-frank-guggenheim-hall-of-minerals
26:30.236 - Friends of Mineralogy, FMF, MinDat chat rooms - John Rakovan
http://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/
https://www.mindat.org/forum.php
26:59.339 - COLIDO chat room - Bryan Lees
http://www.colido.de/en-us
30:17.537 - Jurassic Park interested in Amber - Dave Waisman
http://jurassicpark.wikia.com/wiki/Amber
34:34.675 - John Culberson - Congressman from Houston - collector - Steve Neely
https://culberson.house.gov
37:45.008 - “Garden of Crystals” book - Steve Neely
https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Garden-Crystals-Vandall-King/dp/0983201749
https://kristalle.com/product/natures-garden-of-crystals/
45:29.000 - Monica Rakovan’s book for children - John Rakovan
https://issuu.com/irocks/docs/shiny_purple_crystals_-_mk_final
https://www.facebook.com/AppleValleyMinerals/
45:45.027 - Mineralogical Society of America - Website focusing on minerals for kids - John Rakovan
http://www.mineralogy4kids.org
http://www.minsocam.org
46:55.970 - Friends of Mineralogy Symposiums - Dave Waisman
https://www.friendsofmineralogy.org/symposia/
https://www.friendsofmineralogy.org/
49:13.776 - NCH: Smoky Hawk - Jim Spann
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nch03
56:02.530 - Triphylite - Rechargable batteris - John Rakovan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triphylite
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/triphylite.aspx
https://www.britannica.com/science/triphylite
1:06:05.903 - Yale Museum - Jim Spann
http://peabody.yale.edu/exhibits/hall-minerals-earth-and-space
1:07:30.905 - Mineral Museums - Dave Waisman
Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History - New Haven, CT
http://peabody.yale.edu/exhibits/hall-minerals-earth-and-space
Perot Museum of Nature and Science - Dallas, TX
https://www.perotmuseum.org
University of Arizona Gem & Mineral Museum - Tucson, AZ
http://gemandmineralmuseum.arizona.edu
http://www.uamineralmuseum.org/content/welcome-university-arizona-gem-mineral-museum
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals - Hillsboro, OR
https://ricenorthwestmuseum.org
1:08:22.483 - SMMP - Bryan Lees
http://www.smmp.net
1:10:38.621 - Prospectors & Mineral Explorers - Bryan Lees
Prospectors Show
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospectors_(TV_series)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3216258/
Mineral Explorers Show
https://www.crystalspringsmining.com/season-1_ep_71.html
https://www.facebook.com/mineral.explorers/
1:15:56.229 - OceanView Mine - Dave Waisman
http://digforgems.com
http://www.oceanviewmine.com
https://www.facebook.com/OceanviewMine/
1:16:21.884 - Arkansas Pay To Dig Sites - Gail Spann
Crater Of Diamonds
http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com
Ron Coleman Mine
https://colemanquartz.com
1:17:11.406 - Rocks & Minerals article on fee digging sites - John Rakovan
http://www.rocksandminerals.org
1:17:27.465 - Crystal Park near Butte. Montana - Dave Waisman
http://southwestmt.com/listings/11967.htm
http://ourtravelingtribe.com/2014/10/rock-hounding-prisms-crystal-park-montana.html
If you're interested in Sponsoring future episodes of Breakfast With Minerals, please contact Bryan Swoboda at [email protected] Guests: Bryan Lees, Dave Waisman, Jamie Newman, John Rakovan, and Stephen Neely.
May 15, 2018
1 hr 19 min