Rockhound surfs the Internet for fun and profit

By Gary Raham
Science Writer

Too few people make a living following their passion. Kevin Boulter does. He took a life-long interest in rocks and minerals and, in 2005, decided to see if he couldn't make his hobby pay for itself.

"I wanted to give it a try," he said, "and was immediately successful earning Power Seller status (on eBay) in nine weeks."

His Internet sales now provide his total income. Not only that, the work he does in researching, photographing and answering bidder questions about specimens gives him a deeper understanding and appreciation of the rocks and minerals he loves to discover, buy and trade.

Boulter said the rockhounding bug bit him at age 7, when visiting some friends of his family and admiring their rock and mineral collection.

"The lady disappeared and came back with some alphabet aragonite crystals from Cherokee Park that spelled out Kevin. I was hooked," said Boulter.

His interest simmered for many years and was just a hobby while he worked and helped raise a family. When his son, Jared, turned 3, he began looking for something that would get the family outside and active. Rockhounding fit the bill. For a couple of years he explored on his own, but hooked up with the Fort Collins Rockhound Club in 1993. This active group of local rock, gem, mineral and fossil enthusiasts first organized in the 1950s.

About 10 years ago, Boulter helped fellow club member Fred Hart--a fluorescent mineral fanatic--organize club field trips. Both Boulter and Hart also belong to an active Cheyenne, Wyo., club. Members from both organizations enjoy trips to quarries, mines, BLM sites and other locations in search of that elusive buried treasure that can be polished, cut or air-scribed to perfection for display.

Boulter sells many of the specimens he buys or trades on eBay under the name kevinsantiquerocks. That special gemstone or fossilized log discovered in the field, however, often ends up in his private collection.

"All of my self-collected rocks bring back memories of the trips when they were found," he said.

Like many other club members, he displays some of his best finds, swaps stories and makes new friends at various gem and mineral shows.

The Fort Collins Rockhound Club puts on one of the best - and oldest. It celebrates its 47th show at the Lincoln Center March 28, 29 and 30.

Boulter will have some cases in this show and will also help sell specimens at the silent auction that always attracts people looking for great prices on Earth treasures.

The Internet provides satisfaction and income, but nothing beats hearing the tales of the "ones that got away" directly from the rockhounds - those guys and gals with dust on their jeans and the twinkle of a hunter's passion in their eyes. Sometimes, as in Boulter's case, that twinkle becomes contagious and ignites into a flame burning from one generation to the next.