Bob's Rock Shop: Table of Contents

I Feel the Earth Move

Welcome to Bob's Rock Shop: About the Shop, Contributors, Submissions and Copyrights

Join the Shop's Email List: What's Happening at the Shop and Other Messages of Interest to Rockhounds; Subscribe - Unsubscribe - Check Your List Subscription Status

Rock Talk: Join Us on the Rock Net Discussion Group and Message Forum for Rockhounds!

Rock Trader Classifieds: Check Out These Free, Form Accessible Classified Ads for Rockhounds!

Still Shopping? Some Under $100 Christmas Gift Ideas for Rockhounds and Rockpups

$99.98 101 Carat Faceted Gemstone Assortment

$99.95 Terrain Navigator State Series Topographic Map CDs

$79.00 100 Carat Cabochon Gemstone Assortment

$79.50 Lortone 3A Tumbler

$58.00 Mineralogical Record Magazine Subscripriton

$57.00 Rocks & Minerals Magazine Subscription

$55.00 Ore-Rock-On Washington/Oregon/Idaho Rock Dig Locations DVD V5.0

$44.95 Sharpertek CD-3800 XP Pro Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner

$42.10 Estwing E30 Deluxe Rock Pick

$39.50 Gem and Lapidary Materials Book by Jane Zeitner

$35.25 Visual Elements Periodic Table Wall Chart

$32.95 Blazer Hotshot Utility Torch

$32.00 Optical Crystallography Book by F.Donald Bloss

$29.95 Basic Gemstone Setting DVD Video by Robert Wooding

$29.95 Gem Cutting A Lapidary's Manual Book by John Sinkankas

$21.95 Indian Jewelry Making Book by Oscar Branson

$20.00 Fluorescent Mineral Society Membership

$19.95 US-MAGNUM-1000XR g/oz/gn/dwt/ozt/ct Pocket Scale

$19.95 The Photo Atlas of Minerals DVD

$18.95 Rock&Gem Magazine Subscription

$18.25 10X Hastings 20.5mm Triplet Loupe Gold & Black Finish

$18.00 United States Faceters Guild Membership

$17.50 Correlated History of the Earth Wall Chart

$16.05 NWA Meteorite

$15.00 Gems, Minerals and Jewelry Stamp Unit Membership

$14.95 Bismuth Cultured Crystal

$12.00 International Sand Collectors Soceity Membership

$11.99 One Pound Large Polished Gemstones

$9.99 6" (150mm) Carbon Fiber Digital Calipers

$5.95 Sectioned & Polished Ammonite Pair

$4.95 Grow Your Own Crystals Book by Ronald Wielgus

$3.95 40mm Glass Gemstone

$3.60 Estwing Safety Goggles

And Some Over $100 Christmas Gift Ideas for Rockhounds...

$185.00 Dino-Lite AM311S USB Digital Microscope

$229.00 Foredom Flexible Shaft Machine

$259.00 Omano OM13L 10x-30x Portable Stereo Microscope with Case

$299.00 GemologyPro/Harald Schneider 10X Achromatic/Aplanatic Loupe

$300.00 GemOro Elite 1030 PM Binocular Microscope

$359.00 Omano OM4413T 10x-30x Trinocular Stereo Microscope

$370.75 Chain Making Package

$659.00 Graves CabMate Cabbing Machine All Diamond Package

$806.00 Covington Model 1510 10" Saw Complete with Motor, Hood and Power Drive

$817.00 Covington Model 594 8" x 4 Variable Speed Expanding Drum Machine

$799.95 White's Goldmaster GMT Metal Detector

$991.38 Two Night Mule Ride to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon for Two

$359.00 Omano OM13L Dual Power Portable Stereo Microscope with Case

$1230.00 Graves Mark IV Faceting Machine Package

$1825.00 Diamond Pacific Genie Cabbing Machine

$2139.00 Covington Model 383 Three Headed Sphere Machine

$2383.00 OMNI 8" Faceting Machine

$2395.00 GemOro DS-PRO 1067 Binocular Microsocpe

$3070.00 Diamond Pacific Titan Cabbing Machine

$3380.00 Ultratec V2 Faceting Machine

$4250.00 Fac-Ette Gem Master II Faceting Machine

$7465.00 Proline 6" Gold Dredge with Twin 9hp Honda Engines and Pumps

$8980.00 Covington Model 199HDS 36" Six Speed Power Drive Slab Saw

$16,680.00 16 Day, 225 River Mile, Ore Float Trip through the Grand Canyon for 4

$49,315.00 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 Turbo Diesel Laramie Mega Cab 4X4 Pickup Truck

$64,025.00 2009 Hummer H2 SUT with Adventure Trim

Call Us... Caterpillar 385C L Hydraulic Excavator with Optional Air Suspension Seat

US Club List: An Extensive Listing with Contact Info for Over 900 Mineralogical, Lapidary, Fossil and Just About Anything to Do with Rocks Clubs in the United States.

References for Rockhounds

Need More Input? Check Out the Shop's Extensive Catalog of Books for Rockhounds!

Bead Work
Buyer's Guides
Casting
Chain Making
Collecting Guides Designs & Patterns
Faceting
Gemstones
Geology & Earth Science
Gold & Mining Jewelry Making
Lapidary
Rocks & Minerals
Rockpups
Smithing Stone Setting
Videos
Wire Work

Hey Rockhounds - Check Out This Outstanding Value:

The Photo-Atlas of Minerals DVD V2.0
New Low Low Price - Now Only $19.95 !!!
Order The Photo-Atlas of Minerals DVD

Version 2.0 DVD-ROM for Windows
Sample Photo-Atlas DVD Screens:

Mineral Index
Compound Search
Vanadinite Main Page
Vanadinite Photo Gallery Index
Vanadinite Image
Vanadinite Image
Vanadinite Image

Vanadinite Image
Vanadinite Atomic Structure
Vanadinite Crystal Form
Instructions
Glossary
Identification Game

Formerly sold at $59.95, the Photo-Atlas of Minerals DVD is simply the most comprehensive mineral reference available. It principle features include:

- Nearly 16,000 high-resolution mineral specimen images
- Mineralogical data for all known mineral species (over 4,100)
- Mineral specimen images from over 3,500 localities
- Users can add their own images
- Comprehensive descriptive mineralogical and crystallographic data
- Audio mineral name pronunciations
- Origins of mineral names
- Mineral name synonyms and varieties

- Searchable by properties, locality, chemistry, etc.
- User controlled crystal form drawings
- User controlled atomic structure drawings
- Includes both Dana & Strunz mineral classifications
- Glossary of mineral terms
- Users can print the mineral images and data
- Generates random and user defined slide shows
- Includes a mineral identification game

Greetings from Tucson: Our Shows, Museums, Clubs, Rock Shops, and Other Attractors

Ultralaps & Lap Containers Dopping Supplies Faceting Accessories & Displays Loupes & Optivisors Polishes Saw Blades & Coolants Cobbing Kit Dichroscopes Faceting Books, CDs & Videos Check Out Our Closeouts & Specials

Alone No More: Martian Meteorite ALH84001 Harbinger of Extraterrestrial Life; Check out Bob's Martian Touchdown - A Rockhound's Cosmic Encounter with Three Extraterrestrials

Phoenix Mars Lander Touchdown!
The Mars Phoenix spacecraft has successfully landed on Mars farther north than any previous mission at 68 degrees north latitude, equivalent to that of northern Alaska, where water is believed to exist in the form of ice just below the Martian surface.
Phoenix is equipped with some of the most sophisticated and advanced technology ever sent to Mars. The complement of the Phoenix spacecraft and its scientific instruments are ideally suited to uncover clues to the geologic history and biological potential of the Martian arctic.
During the course of its three-month mission, a robust robotic arm will dig through the soil to the water ice layer underneath and deliver soil and ice samples to the mission's experiments. On the deck, miniature ovens and a mass spectrometer will provide chemical analysis of trace matter. A chemistry lab-in-a-box will characterize the soil and ice chemistry.
Sophisticated maging systems will provide an unprecedented view of Mars spanning 12 powers of 10 in scale. A meteorological station will record the daily weather of the Martian northern plains using temperature and pressure sensors and will play an important role by providing information on the current state of the polar atmosphere and how water is cycled between the solid and gas phases in the Martian arctic.
Phoenix touchdown on Mars at 7:53 p.m. Eastern Time, May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis

The Mars Phoenix Mission
The Robotic Arm
The Robotic Arm Camera
The Mars Descent Imager
The Meteorological Station
The Surface Stereo Imager
The Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer
The "Lab-in-a-Box" Mars 101
Phoenix Science Objectives
Martian Arctic's Habitability Potential
Water on Mars
Mars Map of Water Features
The Phoenix Classroom
The Phoenix Mars Lander Screen Saver
The Planetary Society Phoenix DVD

Jan 02, 2009: A Change of Seasons on Mars

Dec 05, 2008: Phoenix Site on Mars May be in Dry Climate Cycle Phase

Dec 01, 2008: NASA Finishes Listening for Phoenix Mars Lander

Nov 10, 2008: Mars Phoenix Lander Finishes Successful Work on Red Planet

Nov 03, 2008: NASA Hearing Daily From Weak Phoenix Mars Lander

Oct 29, 2008: Low Power Fault Trips Phoenix Lander Safe Mode

Oct 28, 2008: Phoenix Mission Faces Survival Challenges

Oct 21, 2008: Phoenix Lander Finishes Soil Delivery to Onboard Labs

Oct 17, 2008: Phoenix Gets Bonus Soil Sample

Oct 15, 2008: Phoenix Braves Dust and Winds

Oct 14, 2008: Phoenix Weathers Dust Storm

Oct 10, 2008: Phoenix Digs Mars

Oct 08, 2008: Phoenix Lander Digs and Analyzes Soil as Darkness Gathers

Sep 29, 2008: Mars Lander Sees Falling Snow, Soil Data Suggest Liquid Past

Sep 23, 2008: Rock Moved by Mars Lander Arm

Sep 22, 2008: Phoenix Lander Might Peek Under a Rock

Sep 16, 2008: More Soil Delivered to Phoenix Lab

Sep 11, 2008: Phoenix Lander Sees, Feels Martian Whirlwinds in Action

Sep 09, 2008: Next Mars Soil Scoop Slated for Last of Lander's Wet Lab Cells

Sep 08, 2008: Phoenix Monitors Frosty Clumps on its Struts

Sep 04, 2008: Spiky Probe on Mars Lander Raises Vapor Quandary

Sep 01, 2008: Analysis Begins on Deepest Soil Sample

Aug 29, 2008: Phoenix Mission Conducting Extended Activities on Mars

Aug 25, 2008: Phoenix Lander Digs Deeper As Third Month Nears End

Phoenix Mars Lander in the News: Phoenix Has Gone Silent: In search of habitable soil, the Mars lander has lost power with no real chance of recovery.; Phoenix Mars Lander Stops Communicating: After five busy months, NASA�s Phoenix Mars Lander has tasted its last morsel of Martian soil and viewed its last Martian landscape.; NASA Says Perchlorate Does Not Rule Out Life On Mars: The discovery of an unexpected chemical in Martian soil - one that is considered hazardous here on Earth - says little by itself about the possibility of life on Mars.; Surprising Signal: Martian soil shows traces of perchlorate, an unexpected chlorine compound.; NASA Quashes Rumors Of Life On Mars: The fuss started with a relatively restrained news story posted on SpaceRef.com headlined "White House Briefed On Potential For Mars Life."; Officially Ice: Oven bakes out water - Phoenix mission successes lead to longer lander life.; Tasting Ice: Phoenix Mars Lander ready to analyze ice if the oven bakes the sample without short-circuiting.; Pay Dirt: Martian Soil Fit For Earthly Life: Martian soil around the Phoenix lander is slightly alkaline and has enough different minerals that it could support Earth plants and more to the point - microbes - beneath the Martian surface; Mars OK For Life, So Far: "You could grow asparagus".; Martian Soil Hints At Water, Nutrients: The first analysis of Red Planet dirt by the Phoenix lander shows what may be some of the requirements for life.; Our Eyes On Mars: How The Phoenix Lander Sees: If you leave your camera at home on a long vacation, you can buy a disposable one. But that's not an option if you have traveled 422 million miles to another planet.; Phoenix Touches Martian Ice: NASA's "follow the water" approach to finding life - or evidence of past life - on Mars has finally hit pay dirt.; Ice On Mars : The Red Planet's white stuff is ice after all.; Phoenix Finds Ice On Mars: The Mars Phoenix Lander has found ice on the surface of the red planet, a key discovery for the spacecraft as it searches for water and signs of life.; Disappearing Bright Specks Show Mars Has Ice: Bright crumbs that were visible in one of the trenches dug by the Phoenix Mars Lander are no longer there - leaving mission scientists with only one conclusion: the material was ice that vaporized directly from the solid form in the dry, frigid Martian polar atmosphere.; Phoenix Probes Martian Soil: The first soil sample baked in the Phoenix Mars Lander shows no signs of water.; Phoenix Makes First Trench In Science Preserve: The Phoenix Mars Lander has begun digging in an area called "Wonderland", taking its first scoop of soil from a polygonal surface feature within the "national park" region that mission scientists have been preserving for science.

The Phoenix mission is intended to last 90 days. It may last a little longer, but not much. When the sun drops below the horizon during the Martian winter, there will be no way to recharge the lander's batteries. Once they drain completely, the mission is over.

Powerful new twin NASA Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have successfully landed and deployed on different regions of the Red Planet. With far greater mobility than the 1997 Pathfinder rover, these robotic explorers may trek as much as 40 meters across the surface in a day. Each rover carries a sophisticated set of instruments search for evidence about whether past environments at selected sites were wet enough to be hospitable to life. Rocks and soils will be analyzed with a set of five geology instruments on each rover, and a special tool called the rock abrasion tool, or "RAT", will be used to expose fresh rock surfaces for study.

The Mars Exploration Rovers Mission
Mars Rover Fact Sheet
Mars Rovers Take Baby Steps
The Athena Mars Rovers Science Payload
The Geological History of Mars
The Surface of Mars The Search for Extinct Life
The Search for Extant Life
Mars Landing Site Catalog
Mars High Resolution Global Mosaic
Mars Image Navigator
The Interior of Mars

Panorama of the 'Payson' outcrop on the western edge of Erebus Crater imaged by the Opportunity rover 02-26-2006

Opportunity Rover Mission Updates:

October 7, 2009: Opportunity Knocks with Another Meteorite Find

September 29, 2009: Westbound Around Risky Region

September 23, 2009: Milestone 11

September 17, 2009: Departing Block Island

September 8, 2009: Circling the Meteorite

September 2, 2009: Fires in California Affect Operations

August 26, 2009: Meteorite Examination Continues

August 19, 2009: More Targets at 'Block Island'

August 12, 2009: Examining 'Block Island'

August 6, 2009: Meeting a Meteorite

July 29, 2009: Approaching 'Block Island' Cobble

July 23, 2009: Heading Toward 'Block Island' Cobble

July 15, 2009: On the Move Again

July 8, 2009: Examining 'Absecon'

Spirit Rover Mission Updates:

October 7, 2009: Busy with Antenna Brake Testing and Underbelly Imaging

September 29, 2009: Intermittent Problem with Antenna Brake

September 22, 2009: Progress on Antenna Actuator

September 16, 2009: Diagnostics on Antenna Actuator

September 8, 2009: Examining Target 'Olive Leaf'

September 2, 2009: Sky Clearer at 'Troy,' Smoky at JPL

August 26, 2009: Regional Dust Storm

August 19, 2009: More than 2,000 sols

August 12, 2009: Deeper Look into Soil Targets

August 6, 2009: Illumination Experiment and Other Studies

July 29, 2009: Robotic Arm Diagnostics

July 23, 2009: Poking 'Cyclops Eye'

July 15, 2009: More Soil Studies and Extraction Tests

July 8, 2009: Active Days and Nights

Stack of sedimentary structures exposed at Payson Ledge on the western edge of Erebus Crater imaged by the Opportunity rover 03-03-26 Bolders of vesicular basalt along the edge of a lava flow at Lorre Ridge imaged by the Spirit rover 01-23-06 Coarse-grained layers of possible explosive origin from the edge of the Home Plate plateau inside Gusev Crater imaged by the Spirit rover 02-10-06 Volcanic rock fragments littering the slope of Low Ridge imaged by the Spirit rover 04-13-06

Rocks in the News
Detailed Silver Price Historical Chart Detailed Gold Price Historical Chart: Banded Rocks Reveal Early Earth Conditions: Called banded iron formations or BIFs, these ancient rocks formed between 3.8 and 1.7 billion years ago at what was then the bottom of the ocean. The stripes represent alternating layers of silica-rich chert and iron-rich minerals like hematite and magnetite.; Asteroid Is Actually A Protoplanet: "Arizona Sized" Pallas is in the gray area between a large asteroid and a small planet.; Moon Impact: NASA Plays Down Lack Of Fireworks: Observers don't see debris plume, but LCROSS scientists press onward.; Moon Crash Delivers No Obvious Plume: The one-two punch of crashing a booster rocket and its mother craft near the moon's south pole didn�t kick up dramatic and visible plumes as hoped, but scientists report that the mission had gathered enough data to tell whether the crater contains frozen water.; Archaeopteryx Was Not Very Bird-Like: The raptor-like Archaeopteryx has long been viewed as the archetypal first bird, but new research reveals that it was actually a lot less "bird-like" than scientists had believed.; Riverbed Model Works Like The Real Thing: Researchers construct a laboratory version of a meandering stream.; Tiny Moon Feeds Saturn's Big Ring: The largest ring identified so far in the Solar System, the ring begins about six million kilometres from Saturn and extends outwardly by another 12 million kilometres, within the orbit of Phoebe.; Before Lucy Walked Ardi: Lucy, the 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis fossil, has long been the poster child for early human evolution. But now she�ll have to share the spotlight with 4.4-million-year-old Ardipithecus ramidus.; Mars Ice Is Pure, Not Dirty: Scientists from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter team announce new data that suggest a subsurface layer of pure ice, just a meter or two below the surface, might extend over as much as half of the Red Planet, from the poles to the mid-latitudes.; Arkansas: A Geologic Diamond In The Rough: If the budget belt is a little tighter this year, consider packing your diamond-digging trowel, bathing suit and camping gear and heading to a little-known geologic hot spot in the middle of the United States.; Deciphering Mass Extinctions: The rock record has revealed some "rules" that mass extinction events seem to follow - rules that also speak to Earth's future.; New Map Reveals Geology Of Jupiter's Moon Ganymede: The map is the product of a seven-year effort and is only the third global geological map ever compiled for a moon in the solar system, after Earth's moon and Jupiter's cratered satellite Callisto.; Saturn Home To The Perfect Storm: A tempest that erupted on Saturn in January has become the Solar System's longest continuously observed lightning storm.; Microbe-ferrying Russian Probe Won't Head for Mars Orbit Until 2011: Russia's Phobos-Grunt probe, which had been slated to head off this year on a sample-return mission to Phobos, the larger of Mars's two moons, will not launch until at least 2011.; Dwarf Planet "Haumea" Has a Mystery Spot: Haumea, the mini planet whose detection set off an international and as yet unresolved war of words between the two teams claiming its discovery, is back on the astronomy scene with more intrigue.; New Planet-Finder Shows Its Power: The first results are in from the Kepler orbiting observatory, the world's most powerful planet-searching telescope.; More Rocks in the News

Letters to the Editor: Say NO to Akaka Governed Public Land: A bitter legislative battle is raging over collecting fossils on public lands.

Click Here to Order your copy of Starr Gems' FREE 33 page Metals and Gemstones Catalog featuring casting alloys and sheet, wire, tubing, bezel and other shapes in silver, gold, goldfilled, yellow brass, red brass, copper, nickel, solders, and precious and semiprecious cabochons and faceted stones.

Chambers Fit For A Queen - A Quest For English Ammonites: Rock&Gem Feature Article; More Rock&Gem Online Features:; A Day in the Life of a Gemologist; Into the Caves - "California's Underground" at the Oakland, California Museum; Bingham Canyon Copper - Finding Chalcopyrite at "The Richest Hole on Earth"; Rockhound in Greece - A Great Destination for Geology... and Humanity; Honoring Mr. Jones - Our Senior Editor Gets What He Deserves; Faceting Fascinates - With an Experienced Guide, You, Too, Can Bring Gemstones to Life!; Tonopah and Goldfield - They Were the Hub of Nevada's Gold Rush; Agates from the Land of Pumas and Craters; Mexico's Mystery Stone; A Lesson in Channel Work; New England Pegmatites: They Have Been Mined Since America's Earliest Days; Turquoise: Blue Sky...Blue Stone; Faceting by Hand: Jack Lahr's Lap-Lap Relies on Primitive Power

Rock&Gem Magazine Article Search: Search Back Issues for Articles with Topics of Interest; Rock&Gem Writer's Guidelines

Rock&Gem Magazine Show Calendar

An Extensive List of Upcoming Gem and Mineral Shows

Submit Your Own Club's Show for Publication in Rock&Gem Magazine

Rock&Gem Craftsman of the Month Contest: Got a Pet Project Your're Proud of and Want to Show Off?; Win and Rock&Gem Magazine will Feature Your Work and Throw in a Dremel Tool to Boot; Entry Details - Browse the Current and Prior Contest Winners

Subscribe to Rock&Gem Magazine: Enjoy and Learn from Rock&Gem Magazine for less than $1.00 per Issue!; Need to Change Your Address for a Rock&Gem Magazine Subscription?

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Much More!

Software for Rockhounds: Mineral Database and Identification Software: Photo Atlas of Minerals - Lithos - MinSearch - MDI Mineral Database - Geolib - Topaz - Minrls - Digital Rockhound's Companion; Freeware Screen Savers for Rockhounds: Tucson Show V2001 - Grand Hikes - Minerals V1.0; Freeware Faceters Companion CD!: Featuring Over 250 Faceting Patterns; GemCad: Gemstone Design Software; Ososoft Mineral Label: Freeware Specimen Labeling Software for Rock Collectors!; RockWare Freeware: Erupt - GeoTrig - Mineral Mastery - Seismic - Magnetic; Freeware Mars Map: High Resolution Orbiter Camera Global Mosaic

Rock Identification Key: A Beginner's Guide and Key to Help You Identify and Put a Name on That Rock!; Learn to ID and Distinguish Basalt, Diabase, Diorite, Gabbro, Granite, Obsidian, Pumice, Rhyolite, Scoria, Gneiss, Marble, Quartzite, Schist, Serpentinite, Slate, Breccia, Conglomerate, Limestone, Sandstone, Shale...

Mineral Identification Key: An Online Guide and Key to Aid in the Identification of Field Collected Mineral Specimens; Covering Several Hundred of the Most Commonly Occurring and Collected Species

Crystallography and Mineral Crystal Systems: An Illustrated, Nine-Part Primer on Crystallography and Mineral Crystal Systems

Mineral Nomenclature: Naming New Minerals: So You've Discovered a New Mineral and Want to Name It "Spottite" After Your Dog...

Changes In Mineralogical Nomenclature: Varieties: Why Rock Scientists Won't Understand the Question When You Ask "What mineral is amethyst a variety of"?

Grand Hikes: A Virtual Tour and Rockhound's Hiking Guide for the Grand Canyon; Stromatolite Fossils in the Hakatai Shale - A Day Hike from Phantom Ranch; Comanche Point Vicinity - An Overnight Hike to Spectacular Grand Canyon Supergroup Views; Genesis V2.0 - God's Grand Work Week - A Grand Canyon Geology Primer; The 1869 Expedition - An Account of the First Grand Canyon Float Trip; Grand Hikes Screen Saver V1.0 - A Complimentary Grand Canyon Screen Saver; Bob's Grand Canyon Backcountry Equipment Checklist - Don't Leave Home Without It!

Alcyone: A Faceted Gemstone Design for CZ Inspired by the Pleiadians - Designed by Bob Keller

Perfect Transfer: Interested in Faceting? Check Out this Feature for Faceters!; Currently Featured Cut: Soda Bar 19 - An Exhibition Opposed Bar Designed for Glass; Gateway to Gemstone Designs on the Internet - Download Over 300 Faceting Diagrams with Cutting Instructions!; Browse and Download the Freeware Faceters Companion CD; Currently Featured Article: A Graphical Presentation of Brightness in the Standard Round Brilliant; Index of Online Faceting Articles - Faceting How-to and Tips from Many Facetors and Gemstone Designers!; Online Tangent Ratio and Gem Weight Calculators; Content and Information for Faceters

Snapshots from the Tucson 2007 Gem and Mineral Show

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show Reports: Browse the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show with Bob!

How to Wirewrap: A Step-by-Step Pendant Design for Faceted Stones that Does Away With Claws

Sworn to Fun: A Club President's Perspective on the Decline of Rockhounding

Featured Articles by John Betts Advice for Beginners Anthony's Nose, New York A Field Guide to Mineral Collectors Mineral Prices: Why so High? Dealing with Dealers Mineral Cleaning Largest Mineral Crystals on Record Display Lighting of Minerals

The Great Fresnoite Discovery of 1998: Scott's Big Score in California's San Benito Mountains


Berg's Rock Shop Bob, Jan and Helen Berg Specializing in Personalized Service and Help for Rockhounds
Rock Tumblers Grit & Polish for Tumbling Rough Rocks for Tumbling Tumbled (Polished) Stones Wire for Wrapping Stones	Home Books About Rocks and Minerals Books About Working with Rocks Books About Finding Rocks Educational Materials	Diamond Blades for Rock Saws Estwing Rock Hammers Rock Chisels & Loupes Gifts for Rockhounds

Rockhounding Graves Mountain: Collecting Rutile and Other Minerals at this Famous Georgia Locality

Collecting at the Bunker Hill Mine: Ron and Rose-Marie's Most Excellent Bunker Hill Mine Adventure

Gypsum Rosettes: Collecting at the Red River Floodway in Winnipeg, Canada

Micromounter's Mecca: A Visit to the Micromounter's Swap Room at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show; Check Out Tim Jokela's The Top Ten Reasons to Get Into Micromounting

Anatomy of a Three-Headed Sphere Machine: Interested in Rolling Your Own?

Cabochon Making 101: Cabbing with Tucson's Old Pueblo Lapidary Club

Feldspar: An Introduction to the Feldspar Minerals by Anita D. Westlake

Purple Passion Prospect: Wulfenite Collecting near Wickenburg, Arizona

Rock and Fossil Stamps of the United States: A Preview Page of the Shop's Topical Stamp Catalog for Rockhounds

Mineralogical Meanderings: The Hardness of Minerals and Rocks; Streaking Minerals - Streak Testing; Collecting Micrometeorites; Identifying True Amber; Some Surefire Signs You're a Rockhound; Collecting Rock Stamps; Gem and Mineral Phonecards; The Mysterious Power of Gemstones and Crystals

Bob's Rock Shop 1st WWW Specimen Image Contest Results!: Do You Take Pictures of Rocks? If So, You'll Appreciate These - Check Out the Winning Entries!; Winners competed for custom specimen mounting, mineral specimens, rockhound magazine and newsletter subscriptions, specimen labeling and mineral database software and more... These and other outstanding entries will also be featured in a new version of the Shop's ever popular freeware specimen image screen saver!

Gemstone Beads Galleries:   Agate Beads   Amethyst Beads   Apatite Beads   Aventurine Beads   Azurite/Malachite Beads   Blue Chalcedony Beads   Blue Lace Agate Beads   Bone Beads   Botswana Agate Beads   Bronzite Beads   Charoite Beads   Chrysoprase Beads   Copper Beads   Crazy Lace Agate Beads   Fiery Agate Beads   Fluorite Beads   Fossilized Coral Beads   Garnet Beads   Green Chalcedony Beads   Hypersthene Beads   Jasper Beads   Lapis Beads   Magnesite Beads   Malachite Beads   Mookaite Beads   Moonstone Beads   Multi-Stone Beads   Opal Beads   Pearl Beads   Petrified Wood Beads   Quartz Beads   Rhodochrosite Beads   Rose Quartz Beads   Ruby Beads   Rutilated Quartz Beads   Sagenite Agate Beads   Sapphire Beads   Seraphinite Beads   Shell Beads   Spiderweb Rhyolite Beads   Sunstone Beads   Tiger Eye Beads
Turquoise Beads Galleries:   Graduated Discs 1   Graduated Discs 2   High Grade & Rare Turquoise   Nuggets 1   Nuggets 2   Persian Turquoise   Rondelles   Rounds   Sleeping Beauty Turquoise   Spiderweb Turquoise
Pendants Galleries:   Pendants

Product Reviews: The Photo-Atlas of Minerals CD; OsoSoft MineralLabel 5.0 - Now Freeware!; Belomo 10x Loupe: An Inexpensive Russian Triplet; GemOro Stereo Microscope; Meiji Techno Binocular and Trinocular Stereo Microscopes; Raynox Video MicroExplorer; $8 BIRI Russian Radiation Detector

Book and CD Reports: Dana's New Mineralogy, Eighth Edition; Encyclopedia of Mineral Names, Special Publication 1 of The Canadian Mineralogist

Gallery of Mineral Specimen Images: George Campbell; Ken Colosky; Martin Friedlander; Bob Keller; David Michaels; D.E. Russell; Tim Schmanski; Stuart Wilensky; Wayne State University; Ron Zeilstra