Like so many collectors, Jack Halpern’s first significant interaction with minerals was a life-changing event. He often even goes so far as to say he was given “a new lease on life” in 1962 when he first toured the California Academy of Sciences mineral collection in San Francisco. Something about the form, geometry and color captivated him. According to legend of the story, which he told many times, he thought they were too beautiful to be real; however, after being persuaded of their authenticity he was hooked! Learn more about "Gentleman Jack", his love for minerals and crystals, and how he built a collection with thousands of fine mineral specimens in the basement of his San Francisco home. __________ A few words from Jack, himself - view his own recitation of this in video at iRocks.com/halpern “There is beauty in the bellow of the blast. There is grandeur in the growling of a gale. There is eloquent outpouring when the lion is a-roaring and the tiger is a-lashing of its tail.” Gilbert and Sullivan “The Mikado” All my life I’ve been drawn to beauty. Natural beauty, the beauty of flowers, of roses and orchids, the beauty of minerals. Their perfect symmetry continues to amaze me. The fact that every quartz crystal, no matter where it’s found, has six sides with opposing sides being parallel, seems miraculous. The architecture of great mineral specimens, what my friend Steve Smale refers to as its “horizons”, draws me in and I get lost in the wondrous details. Color is primary for me, as you might guess. Red is my favorite. The deep, profound reds of rhodochrosite and tourmaline lift my spirit as if they directly connected with my being. When I first encountered mineral specimens, at the Academy of Sciences, I thought they were man-made. I asked my friend, “Who made these wonderful objects?”. He replied, “God.” Although I am an atheist, I was hooked. From that day on my pursuit of beautiful minerals took a new, fanatical turn and it is the reason we are all here today. Flowers, especially roses, orchids, and lilies, elicited the same excited response in me as beautiful minerals. Much like beautiful minerals, flowers have a symmetry dictated by nature that creates wondrous forms. The abundance of colors in each variety elicits the same desire in me as minerals. To continue my quest for perfect shapes and beautiful colors that inspire the heart, elicit the elation that defines true beauty. _______ Learn more about Jack Halpern, and see available pieces from his collection, at https://www.irocks.com/the-jack-halpern-collection