Chapter 9
Readers Comments
Collecting Crystals
The Guide to Quartz in Arkansas
by Darcy and Mike Howard
Having purchased one of the first copies of your new book "Collecting Crystals" hot off the press in January, we commend you for having provided this very timely and useful handbook. We are co-chair for Field Trips for the (Holland, Michigan) Tulip City Gem and Mineral Club. Since Bob had not been on an Arkansas field trip since 1975 (using Dodson's 1974 reference) your publication was just what we needed.
Bob and Julia Sherwood jblakesl@accn.org
Review from Mineral News, Feb 2000, Vol. 16 No. 2
www.mineralnews.com
If you want to know just about everything about quartz and quartz localities in Arkansas, then Collecting Crystals is the book you have been waiting for. The husband and wife team of authors are Darcy, a scientific illustrator and freelance artist who's experience shows on their Arkansas Rockhounding website and this book, and Mike, a geologist with the Arkansas Geological Commission and a long time mineral collector. Collecting Crystals has the information anyone who is interested in collecting Arkansas quartz needs, be it at a beginner level or experienced level. Most importantly, it contains a complete listing and description of every quartz locality, including all the fee dig mines and the two public sites maintained by the Forest Service. The listings have information on fees, equipment, contacts, and collecting conditions and access.
For those who need more information, there are chapters on how to collect, how to clean and trim specimens, and tools and equipment. These are full chapters, not just a few pages on each. The cleaning and trimming chapter describes various methods using oxalic acid, pressure sprayers, and ultrasonic cleaners. The tools chapter describes the many tools often used to collect in these mines including individual suggestions for different types of collecting-dumps, veins, etc.
There is a chapter on the various "types" of quartz crystals, including descriptions of inclusions, phantoms, coatings, etc. Doubly terminated crystals, Japan law twins, fadens, and coated crystals. are all described too.
A chapter on the mineralogy of quartz will be welcomed by the beginner as well as the experienced collector. It delves into many of the technical aspects of quartz in a manner that even beginners can understand. One chapter covers the geology of the quartz region and descriptions of the types of quartz deposits. Another chapter has a complete listing of the mines with addresses, campgrounds, and lodging. Emphasis is on the two main quartz areas around Mt. Ida and Jessieville. There also is a chapter on quartz in other areas of Arkansas.
I could find no significant faults with Collecting Crystals. My complaints are all minor, such things as their use of the term "rehealed" for quartz that was broken, then healed by continued growth. This is common with collectors, and I never understand why, when what is meant is "healed." Another is the use of Japanese twin instead of Japan law twin. One error is in the inclusions section: chamosite is called a variety of chlorite when it is a mineral in the chlorite group; cookeite is not treated as such. One other point is "feldspar" is called the most common mineral in the earth's crust. Quartz is the most common mineral in the earth's crust. Feldspar is a group of minerals that together are more common than quartz.
These small complaints aside, if you are interested in a good book on where and how to collect quartz in Arkansas, then Collecting Crystals is what you need.
Lanny lanny@mineralnews.com
"The books sold like hotcakes at our club meeting!"
Dr. John Moose, Northwest AR Gem & Mineral Society
Jan. 31, 2000
I just recieved my crystal book, WOW, this is truly a great book for a dozen reasons. Maps, how to and where to and who to. Price is very cheap for what is in the book. For a black and white photo book, not much is missed by not spending a whole bunch of money for color.
Book contains a LOT of good reading, and shows that you have done agreat deal of homework...must love crystals too!
Thanks for the most excellent book, I need to make a Wyoming jade book like this, and hopefully in the next year or two.
David Freeman Rock Springs, Wy. Millennium Jade of Wyoming
Jan. 31, 2000 dfreeman@fascination.com
"This book will be a great resource not only for anyone interested in collecting quartz in Arkansas, but also the collector, where ever he may be, who wants to learn more about the nature of quartz, how to collect it, clean it, and preserve it."
Don Owens, mineralogy professor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
"Arkansas has long needed such a book. The idea and concept... should make a nice book for anyone collecting Arkansas quartz."
Art Smith, geologist and author of "Collecting Arkansas Minerals"
Ch 9
Rockhounding Arkansas revised February 2000
©Rockhounding Arkansas 1998 http://rockhoundingAR.com