My parents were rockounds and my first "collecting" experience was panning for gold in northern California on a family vacation when I was about 4 years old. It has never stopped since then. The first piece in my collection was a small piece of Rose Quartz my mom gave me that she had got in the Black Hills when she was about 7 and I still have it. That probably started my love for Rose Quartz which continues to this day. I grew up in southern California and focused on gold and then found the gem mines in San Diego County. I learned Lapidary from the great Larry Bidwell at Glendora Gems. I've explored most of the mines in the pegmatite areas in southern California. I've collected just about all types of minerals but have always leaned towards gems and lapidary materials. We had our own opal mines in Nevada for many years (the WRT Stonetree/Dominion Opal Group) which we sold in 2022. I currently live in South Dakota but travel frequently to dig, collect, and buy. I'm always learning something new! I also collect and study American Mining Law books and references dating back to the 1860's with a focus on mining claim law. I'm Currently involved in mineral exploration with experience in Mining Claim location and mining claim history research. My current collection is focused on the following categories:

1. Mining and Mineral Law (USA) Treatises, Caselaw/Decisions, and history.
2. San Diego County California (USA) gem pegmatites, with an emphasis on the Pala District.
3. Minerals of the Homestake Gold Mine at Lead, South Dakota (USA).
4. Black Hills South Dakota Gold and Pegmatites, and other minerals.
5. Opals from the Virgin Valley Mining District, Humboldt Co., Nevada (USA) and mining history.
6. Apache Agates from Chihuahua, Mexico.

Many thanks to all the wonderful people whom I have met and/or whom have inspired me, helped or joined in along the way! I look forward to meeting many more of you!