The Definition of “Old Stock” – Mexican Crazy Lace Edition
I have a problem. I’m getting on in years. I know that somebody – no idea who – will own my dad’s really great rocks in less than twenty...
top of page
Dan Mabbutt
Dec 25, 20234 min read
See the World’s Largest Laccolith !!!!
Volcanoes in Southwest Utah When you think, “Volcano” – southwest Utah is probably not the first location that comes to mind. But there...
31 views0 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Dec 20, 20232 min read
Phunny Bone or Phoney Bone ?
A few days ago, I posted microscopic pictures of a rock that I sent to Angelo. Angelo provided 200X pictures of different parts of the...
48 views3 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Dec 16, 20236 min read
Meditations On Lithophysae
… Or, As Rockhounds Say It … “Thundereggs” (See Note at the end) The name always sounded to me like it was a slogan made up by some ad...
35 views0 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Dec 10, 20233 min read
What Is It???? (I have a theory.)
I discovered this rock in my dad’s rock pile and I had no idea what it was … except that it was a chunk of agate. (I use the term “agate”...
78 views4 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Dec 1, 20235 min read
Conodonts, Lagerstätte, and Algae-On-A-Stick
I’m reading a remarkable book about a fossil that I knew nothing about before: Conodonts. Since nearly all of my experience with fossils...
45 views4 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Nov 12, 20234 min read
On the Coatings of Rocks
What’s Inside is What Counts ! Lots of Rocks have a coating that makes it difficult to see what's inside them. Thundereggs look like...
51 views0 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Oct 30, 20232 min read
Groundhog Day (Yellowcat Style)
I'm having second thoughts about whether my "Yellowcat Bark" is really "Yellowcat Wood" One of the most valuable rocks found in Utah is...
75 views2 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Oct 24, 20235 min read
How to Price Rocks
“I’m not a great rockhound. That was my dad.” This is a phrase I use when writing to friends and customers of KinesavaROCKS. It’s a...
100 views10 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Oct 15, 20233 min read
Rabbitbrush – Utah State Flower!
… or – at least it should be! A carpet of California Poppy flowers in the spring is magnificent! No wonder it’s the California state...
29 views2 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Oct 5, 20232 min read
Tabula Rasa
This blog is supposed to be about rocks. This time, it is! The literal translation of Tabula Rasa from Latin is “clean slate”. In more...
41 views4 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Oct 4, 20231 min read
New Arrival !!!
Roxy and I have decided to celebrate the start of a new year at the beginning of October. Other cultures start a new year at other times...
51 views6 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Oct 1, 20233 min read
When You Say “Silicon” …
When you say “silicon”, he thinks you’re talking about “silicone” Whatever that is The man ain’t got no rockology As I was thinking about...
32 views0 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Sep 22, 20235 min read
Garnets! - A Star in the East
Star Garnets! – Miley found one! And she lives in the East! I ask my customers -- “Tell me what you’re doing with my dad’s rocks! Send...
84 views5 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Sep 10, 20235 min read
The Nigerian Prince in the Age of AI
The third “Chinese Curse” is, “May you live in interesting times.” See the Wikipedia’s article about the Chinese curses. It’s not...
29 views3 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Sep 9, 20233 min read
Those ‘60’s Years
Growing up in the south east Utah desert was like seeing the world through a soda straw. I knew the world was there. I just didn’t know...
25 views0 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Sep 5, 20232 min read
Zion Canyon Agate - A Really Rare Rock
If you ask people around Zion National Park about rockhounding, they might mention the junk wood that is found on some of the mesas....
82 views2 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Aug 29, 20232 min read
Hell - n - ite
Caveat Emptor When my weekly news magazine arrived today, an ad on the inside cover for jewelry made from Helenite caught my eye. The...
29 views2 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Aug 23, 20234 min read
Topaz – A Precious Gem For The Rest Of Us
Topaz found at Topaz Mountain Dan Mabbutt - Own Work When I was a kid, one of the places that my dad dragged me to was Utah’s...
37 views2 comments
Dan Mabbutt
Aug 21, 20234 min read
ESF – You Saw It Here First
Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash I take keyboard in hand this morning to simply scratch an itch I have for thinking about interesting...
58 views1 comment
bottom of page