Steve is a practicing surgeon from the Nashville area, where he spends his free time out of the office tracking down miners and minerals from the famous Elmwood and Cumberland mines of Tennessee. He attended his first Tucson Show in 1985 (and every consecutive Tucson Show since then) and his first Denver Show in 1986, with the strong support of his wife, Betty Lou, since the beginning. Over the years he has sold Elmwood minerals from time to time, when significant finds have yielded more specimens than he could keep for himself, although he does not consider himself a dealer. He has become known among the Elmwood miners as a mineral collector, sometimes doing exchanges for his medical services! For health reasons, Steve sold his original mineral collection in 1998. Today his “new” mineral collection is worldwide in scope, but with an emphasis on his suites of specimens from the Feeling the need to start afresh, Steve sold his original mineral collection in 1998. Today his “new” mineral collection is worldwide in scope, but with an emphasis on the Elmwood area mines which are only about 35 miles from his home. Steve currently serves on the board of directors of the Mineralogical Record.
Elmwood Mine, Tennessee – Past and Present Perspectives
Over the years, Steve has built the country’s largest fine collection of specimens from the Elmwood, Gordonsville and Cumberland mines which are only about 35 miles from his home in Tennessee. He has contributed chapters to several books including American Mineral Treasures (2008) He has firsthand knowledge of the miners, the market, and the stories to explain how we get the specimens we get from the ground, which he will share with us. Steve has perhaps the best grasp of the overall production and will share with us his thoughts on the future for specimens from these mines.
This talk will cover the most recent era of specimen production at the Elmwood area mines during the past 3 years, which recovered four great pockets.
1) Elmwood 20-78-12; old style combos
2) Horseshoe bend; Calcites on Sphalerites
3) Gordonsville 29s-#6; huge series of groups calcite
4) Gordonsville 261-1a and 229; phantom fluorites and smaller crystals with clear corners
