For Mike, rocks aren’t just a hobby—they’re part of who he is. His passion started young, sparked by a fascination with the natural world and those little treasure bags of stones from roadside stops. In a gravel bar in Ohio, his grandfather showed him how to search for agates and that’s where he found his first rock, an agate.

But it was a college geology field course to the Mojave Desert in the late 1960s that truly set things in motion. That trip ignited a lifelong love for exploring the land, uncovering hidden treasures, and understanding the rocks beneath our feet. It opened his eyes to the beauty of the landscape and the stories etched into every stone.

Since then, Mike has spent decades rockhounding across the western United States, from Montana to Arizona and everywhere in between. For him, rockhounding is as much about the journey as it is about the treasures he uncovers. He’s attended special events in the desert alongside other passionate collectors, sharing stories and discoveries. Some of his best finds, though, come from simply walking across the land—his attention caught equally by a distant hawk in the sky and the glint of quartz underfoot.

Over the years, he’s unearthed rubies in Idaho, scouted for agates in Montana, and gathered petrified wood in Arizona. He’s explored ancient riverbeds in Wyoming, searched for fossils in Utah’s red rock country, and even ventured into abandoned mines, always on the lookout for something unique. His collection reflects the diversity of his travels: smoky quartz, shimmering amethyst, petrified wood, and agates in every color. Whether it’s gemstones, volcanic rock, or a perfectly imperfect piece of jasper, Mike has a way of turning every find into something special.