Bryan Davis Minerals

I got my start in mineral collecting when I was very young.  I was told that I used to pick up rocks off of the ground wherever I went.  After a visit to the Franklin Mineral Museum and a fossil collecting locality in New York with my cub scout troop, I was hooked for life.  For the next few years I bought a few specimens and had a shelf in my bedroom where I displayed them.  My grandmother fueled my addiction by taking me to buy minerals at a woman's house that used to live right off of Route 23 in Franklin, and sold minerals out of her basement.  They are mediocre specimens, but I keep them around for sentimental reasons.  My first NJ prehnite came from her (I'm pretty sure).  However, I didn't know anyone else who collected minerals, so my interest waned during high school and college. 

After college I was determined to get back into the hobby and also start actively field collecting.  I started joining mineral societies and clubs hoping that I could meet some people who field collected.  I found, to my disappointment, that many clubs that I joined did not actively field collect (with very few exceptions).  It’s not really their fault of course; it is difficult in our litigious society to gain permission to take a group of people into a potentially hazardous quarry. 

Then, by sheer luck, I met up with some people who still managed to do some field collecting.  Since then my collection has been improving by leaps and bounds with only moderate damage to my wallet (and my body).  Serious field collecting is hard work, but if you are persistent and don't let a few cuts, bruises, stitches, ripped clothing, and broken chisels stop you, you will be rewarded.

I collect mostly New Jersey minerals.  It’s where I live, so they are the most accessible (sort of).  When I first got into the hobby I always remember thinking, “why can’t any of these awesome rocks be from around here?”  Little did I know they were, and I was living 10 miles from one of the greatest traprock mineral areas on the globe!  I was shocked to see the size and quality of minerals that were being found right in my area.  How could you pass up on that?  Check out my photo galley under “New Jersey Minerals” for examples.

New Jersey also boasts the “fluorescent mineral capitol of the world” in Franklin, NJ.  The area zinc deposits contain more than 350 identified mineral species.  Most of them are unremarkable and cannot be identified by sight.  However, a portion of them fluoresce under ultraviolet light.  Using a UV lamp opens up a new world of vibrant colors, which cannot be seen in daylight.  It is truly spectacular.  Check out my photo gallery under “Fluorescent Minerals” for examples.  If you view it with the slide show option you can easily switch back and forth from the daylight to the UV photos to see the stunning comparisons.

In addition to all that…  New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are home to fantastic fossil collecting localities.  In fact dinosaur tracks can be found right in Passaic County!  It’s almost hard to believe how rich in mineralogical and geological history New Jersey is.  I also have a fossil gallery to show some pieces from the area.

I can’t help also being interested in minerals that aren’t found in New Jersey.  Minerals from around the world exhibit properties that cannot be found in those of the garden state.  I frequent mineral shows and will buy interesting worldwide minerals, particularly fluorite which I am a big fan of.

The majority of the minerals in my galleries were collected by me, unless noted otherwise.  Also check out some of the minerals I have for sale, I am trying to cut down my collection to make room for new stuff.

Why do I collect minerals?  I am not a collector.  I don’t collect bottles, musical instruments, coins, stamps, or any of the thousands of other things people collect.  My interest is only in minerals.  There are many reasons why collecting minerals is appealing to me.  You can spend time outdoors.  As far as hobbies go, it is relatively cheap, and it’s exciting being able to FIND your own minerals (usually for free).  Like collecting original artwork, no two mineral specimens are the same… ever.  So every piece in my collection is one of a kind, a complete original.  Crystals come in every color, shape, and size.  They were created by Mother Nature, and buried under the earth for millions of years, and see the light of day for the first time when you pull them out of a pocket.  With some sweat and hard work you can be rewarded with a pocket full of incredible crystals, and even if you don’t find something you still got to enjoy a day outside with your friends having a laugh and a great time.