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Alice Harrison | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> "For the beauty of the earth...." tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

"For the beauty of the earth...."

That's what this stuff is... The beauty of the earth. I had a small rock and mineral collection my grandmother sent when I was a kid. She had a rock shop in her home at 1 Tucson Terrace just off the highway as you come into Tucson, AZ. (See below for story about my grandmother, Ann Rutledge's part in the starting of the very first Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 1955. Where it speaks of "the motels", it should be capitalized. Motel was the people's last name.) I'm just now finding time in my life to take it up as a hobby. I love learning about it and photographing the specimens is fitting in with another of my newly found hobbies. If anyone has any info on any of these or has any questions, feel free to leave comments. I've just started collecting, so I don't have much yet. I've purchased some on eBay. What you see here is what I have so far. I'll keep adding. Specimens in picture 3 were purchased from scepterguy on eBay (store name is Cascade Scepters and can be found at cascadescepters.com) Just click on the pictures to see them better. Specimens 4 through 26g were an old collection purchased from treasurechest565 on eBay. They are fabulous! Enjoy the eye candy!
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Latest purchase. From chipeta1 on eBay. I love buying these old collections. Check out his store on ebay. Great stuff.
Latest purchase. From chipeta1 on eBay. I love buying these old collections. Check out his store on ebay. Great stuff.		 I get these old collections and look up every specimen I'm not familiar with.
I get these old collections and look up every specimen I'm not familiar with.		 When I get time, I'll try to photograph some of these individually.
When I get time, I'll try to photograph some of these individually.		 Chinese Writing Stones. Found by my family and I. A great haul. Eastern Washinton
Chinese Writing Stones. Found by my family and I. A great haul. Eastern Washinton
Also called Porphyry. An expert told me they are microlites of plagioclase in basalt.
Also called Porphyry. An expert told me they are microlites of plagioclase in basalt.		 Anyone out there know how to tumble or polish these???
Anyone out there know how to tumble or polish these???		 If you look Online you can see some great jewelry made from this.
If you look Online you can see some great jewelry made from this.		 This and the collection in next pic came from rooster5rocks on eBay, He sent lots of freebies and great specimens.
This and the collection in next pic came from rooster5rocks on eBay, He sent lots of freebies and great specimens.
Rooster5rocks puts these great collections together. These two collections are going to a couple of young rockhounds I know.
Rooster5rocks puts these great collections together. These two collections are going to a couple of young rockhounds I know.		 4 starter collections for 4 great kids. All this + gobs of freebies from goldman627 on ebay.
4 starter collections for 4 great kids. All this + gobs of freebies from goldman627 on ebay.		 Fantastic dealer, goldman627, on ebay, sent great stuff for the kids, including freebies.
Fantastic dealer, goldman627, on ebay, sent great stuff for the kids, including freebies.		 Some of the freebies from goldman627.
Some of the freebies from goldman627.
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comment | share
Guest 01-May-2010 03:49
Nice Collection! Even bigger than the one I had about 10 years ago. I like the Mining Scenes, that Goldman627 does a Great job.LOL Thanks for the Pics. and the Posting for me.:)
Alice Harrison10-Jul-2009 18:08
JOHN,
Thanks for your comments. I hope your family finds time to at least look at some of their treasure's through some kind of micro lens. As if they aren't beautiful enough through the naked eye, but some are just incredible if you can see them through a macro setting on our camera or some other magnifying device. Glad you enjoyed these and good luck with your collecting.
John Wells 09-Jul-2009 23:49
It is wonderful to see your enthusiasm and awe for these treasures of nature. Our family feels the same way about what we have collected. We don't have the time yet to photo ours and post on the web, thanks for sharing yours.
Alice Harrison06-May-2009 21:08
Page 9 - NEWEST FINDS AS OF 5/5/09: Chinese Writing Stones found by my family and me in Eastern Washington.
John Bogert 28-Apr-2009 10:35
Nice Pictures! I'm a Rockhound in Washington State.The ones you asked if they were petrified wood or opal are opalized wood or wood opal we have some in Eastern Washington that is Precious Wood Opal and has fire.I find petrified wood at a river and almost always has the wood grain all the way through.Sometimes it has Amber in or on it or agate.
Sincerely,John
Alice Harrison04-Sep-2008 07:21
Chris,
Thanks for your comments. I took it to a local show, here, and several dealers thought it was a meteorite. But a few said they didn't think so because of the white quartz-like layer on the back. Do some meteorites have this? See #50.
Christopher 01-Sep-2008 20:50
#49 appears to be a small meteorite. Have it checked.
Alice Harrison11-Aug-2008 05:48
Frank, Thanks for your comments. That find of your mother's near Casper would get anyone hooked on the hobby. Your collection must be huge if you've been collecting since you were 10 years old. I envy you. And how nice that you can share the hobby with a spouse. My husband says, "why buy when you have all those out in the driveway?" Glad you enjoyed the pics. I really am a newbie, so feel free to critique.
Frank Foster 10-Aug-2008 22:38
Dear Ms Harrison: I have enjoyed your gallery of rocks and minerals. I have been collectiong since I was 10 years old and was really hooked when my faterr took me back to Wyoming in 1962. I was born in Cheyenne Wyoming and now reside in Georgia near Atlanta. My Dad got tired and pulled between to road cuts between Casper and Sundance to take a nap. During his nap time, my mother found a big fairly flat chunk of red sandstone, turned it over and there were fossil selenite crystals of flowers on the back. I have rock collecting fever bad. I even met my wife in Geology 101 at college. I reckon she showed me her rock pile and I showed her mine and we have been together for 35 years now. I even went on a field trip yesterday to Lower Ablabam to collect petrified wood and other fossils. Thank you so much for sharing your photograghs. Very Nice !!!!!
mart senior01-Mar-2008 10:01
very interesting ,great hobby must be enjoyable.
mart senior01-Mar-2008 09:57
you have photographed this gallery very well,,,v
The Third Side15-Nov-2007 02:40
Nice collection and some beautiful photos too.
Alice Harrison28-Aug-2007 22:42
This link will take you to an article about my grandmother, Ann Rutlege and her part in the creation of the very first Tucson Gem and Mineral Show back in 1955. Just click link and scroll to bottom of page, to "Rags to Riches", next to last article.
http://www.amfed.org/news/n2002_02.htm
My Aunt Sally Franklin started the Rock Shop with my Grandmother and used to make some of the gifts they sold.
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