Casey Jones:  

I'm originally from Monrovia, CA, my early mentor was George Burnham (BURMINCO) on Encinitas Ave., who first brought such minerals as dioptase and hopeite out of Africa, starting my quest for new mineral localities before I was a teen. Stories of some of George's "lost localities" and his world trip still ring in my head. My family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona half way through 8th grade at Clifton. I finished 8th grade with teacher Bob Jones (no relation) who became another lifelong mentor, getting me involved in display competitions and helping me refine my sense of what was and was not "the best." I also began avidly collecting at well-known mines such as the Red Cloud and the Apache, sharing that time frame with other field collectors such as Bill Larson, Dick Jones and Wayne Thompson, and have never lost my passion for Arizona minerals. Tom Garret, my best friend all through Wildrose and Clifton, came to Arizona for a visit. I introduced him to the world of underground crystal ...Expand for more