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Show 30 years of rockhounding yields many rewards ? : . - :;-:: . r J " ' ' - A . , - , -i-"' . ;,"-'" i ' ' ' ' ' ' Vfc '- ' " "- ' ' ' ' - - V- , 'r',!lviv r - i i .,, I ', " " . - " " r:- - 4r u.. ... .v : v 3 t i . -r 1 i - c- v f5- ... , 't 4- ' - I ( By GARY LEONARD Don and Joyce Crump, of Pleasant Grove, have spent the last years together accumulating a lar8e collection of rocks, minerals antt precious gems. The hobby has ?ven them many years of en-Joyment en-Joyment and has provided a com-P100 com-P100 bond which has held their tamily together. Don says that he started collec-""S collec-""S as a kid and will probably wntinue forever. He taught geology Pleasant Grove High School and the basketball coach for several years. , In his class he tried to make "J"ng enjoyable and often took 'd trips to find rocks. ,., . e nad quite an assortment of Ments," he says. "Any kid that J u pass chemistry or physics take my geology class." , ny of his students developed a eonr rock col'ecting which has nnued through the years and one s a successful commercial claim Watmg on Topaz Mountain. "on s wife, Joyce, has shared his hohh Sm and they have made the activities6 C6nter f theil" family goti!C(t Says that as tne children StK-nrf teenS they didn'1 Want t0 now m much time on hunts but 'arnii Uley're grown and have 8oing1wtlleirown they sti11 enjy fewH " tne Parents to spend a in the desert. ffomT lnterests have broadened Das'c rock collecting and they now collect old bottles, various cactus and other plants, Indian artifacts and anything else that they think might be interesting. Don has a portable library that he takes along on each trip. In it are books that identify different rocks and minerals, Indian artifacts, animals, insects and history of different areas. He even has a guide book to help him identify the different dif-ferent constellations that are visible at night. Although their interests in collecting are varied, the Crump's still have their favorite collectable, and that is dinosaur bones and petrified wood. They both consider their most unique find to be a hunge dinosaur bone, that when cut produced brilliant colors and patterns. pat-terns. They gave a piece of it to Bruce R McConkie, who also had a love of rock hounding, and he proudly displayed it on his mantle. Almost all of their hunting is done in Utah and they say that they have covered only about half of the state, but as soon as Joyce retires they plan to increase their activity and travel to some new areas. Rockhounds are like the old prospectors: they all have their own private spot where the best gems are found and the Crumps are no exception. Though they hesitate to share specific information about heir secret spot they are willing to take friends to these spots with them. Why all the secrecy? Don says that sometimes word will get out about a specific area and large numbers of collectors will clean the place out or commercial hunters will take large amounts of gems leaving nothing behind. Don stresses that they are in it only for the love of the hobby and very rarely, if ever, sell a gem. Even if nothing is found on a hunt they still enjoy the trip. Joyce says, "We've always enjoyed en-joyed just getting out. The camping is always fun and we are able to learn things about Utah even if we don't find anything." The Crumps also display their collection and give lectures to scout groups and offer these tips for beginning collectors. Go to a bookstore and get a book on the subject and then head out to an area and start collecting. Don suggests Topaz Mountain as a good place to start because the finds are numerous and fairly easy to get. He says that having early success is a good confidence builder and can keep a person interested in the hobby. Right now Don and joyce are busy building a workshop in their garage so they will be able to cut and polish their gems for display; and judging from the amount of rocks in their yard that could take a while. "I don't think I'll ever get caught up," Don says with a grin, "but then, we've got the rest of our lives to try." Don and Joyce Crump display a small part of their rock and gem collection which they have gathered over years of rock hounding. |