INTRODUCTION

hen British writer and anthropologist Victoria Finlay received her unique engagement ring, a collection of three thirteenth-century mosaic stones from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, she was inspired to begin a journey to seek out not only the sources of the most revered stones in the world, but their stories as well. Her book Jewels: A Secret History details her own travels into unfamiliar worlds to discover why we as a people, regardless of time and place, have been captivated by these little objects. Finlay traveled from the seas of the Baltic to the hidden mines in Egypt once belonging to Cleopatra and from the shores of Japan to the heat of Sri Lanka—all in the name of jewels. I have reflected often about her journey and, more importantly, on what she found in each corner of the Earth. Her story has caused me to ask what my own attraction to gems and minerals has been over the years. Is it simply their beauty that draws me in, or is there something more?

Two distinct moments in my life solidified my love for rocks and gems. The first was a long and dusty road trip across the Southwest as a child. We pulled over onto the side of the road—my little brother no longer able to contain the Orange Crush he had consumed—and I clearly remember entertaining myself with the stones on the side of a small hill. There, among the sand and gravel, I found a stone that was the shape of an elongated pyramid with its point lopped off. The stone’s coloring awed me—clearly defined bands of earth tones, so perfect it looked as if they must have been painted on. I remember sliding the rock into my pocket, my hand still clenched around it, fearful it would find its way out, and climbing back into the car. I thought of that rock for some time as a good luck charm. Whether it manifested this assignment, I cannot say. However, I do know that it was that particular rock that first sparked my interest in rocks and stones. A rock tumbler, books, and boxed collections quickly followed, and my love of minerals was set. A few years later, pining for the affections of a hockey player in high school, I entered a mineral shop and began to understand yet another facet of the attraction of gems. Looking at a tray of rings—a kaleidoscope of colors—I was immediately drawn to a purple stone cut into a triangle and set in silver. As I picked it up, the sales clerk whispered almost reverently, “Sugilite … that, my dear, will bring you love.” Does a sixteen-year-old need to hear anything more? And though the hockey player eluded me, I like to think that the stone indeed brought great love and friendship into my life.

The idea for this book began as a fine art photography project. Having recently photographed a selection of specimens from the zoology collection at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, I was eager to begin a new project in a similar vein. Throughout history, people have honored minerals and gems for what they believed to be a power unseen. An object that can manifest itself through the practice of wearing or simply carrying it is a powerful idea and one that is nearly as ancient as humanity. Regardless of cultural or religious boundaries, minerals are one of the elements that unite our interests—nearly every culture in the world and nearly every religion in the world have attributed to gemstones an importance that has transcended time. Holding a piece of jet or amber in the palm of your hand can be a spiritual experience—how often do we have the opportunity to physically connect to something so ancient and so revered? As I began to photograph specimens from my own collection, I loved the idea of creating images that would result in a more intimate experience for the viewer. I wanted to get closer; I wanted to swim deeper; I wanted the visual experience to match the emotion of holding something created by the ever-evolving Earth. The resulting images appear almost as abstract art—yet the canvas is a creation of our world and in some cases, like moldavite, is caused by collisions with something not of this world at all.

The specimens in this book are but a small sampling of the hundreds of species of minerals known. I chose them based on their visual interest, folklore, and mythology as well as their importance in the practice of gem therapy. You may not recognize some of your favorites—the majority of the minerals have been photographed in their raw state rather than having been cut and polished by a gem-cutter. However, I find their raw beauty mesmerizing and hope that you do as well. I took two photos of each stone—one pulled back to show its structure, and one extremely close-up to show the wonders of its surface. The text that accompanies each stone discusses its properties, folklore, and metaphysical attributes. Two charts in the back of the book, illustrated by the amazing Heather Smith Jones, explain the zodialogical and birth-month associations certain stones have traditionally held. My hope is that you find not only beauty in these natural forms, but inspiration; whether you begin your own mineral collection, create your first gem essence, or seek out the museums, shops, and artists featured in the Resources section—somehow you will be moved to bring the beauty of minerals and gems into your life and create your own stories.