Exploring and Mining Gems & Gold in the West

by Fred Rynerson

An old time prospector and gem cutter relates his fifty-two years of adventure with verve and humor, tells about how things were done, the mines he worked, packing burros, and odd characters among men... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0911010602
• ISBN13: 9780911010602
• Release Date: January 1977
• Publisher: Naturegraph Publishers
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 2.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

An excellent look back at tourmaline mining in San Diego County

This book is the personal history of the adventures of Fred Rynerson, one of the early tourmaline miners of San Diego County. Although he did not have a lot of formal education, he was a very intelligent man who had a keen eye for geology and for people. This is one of my all-time favorite books--if you have any interest at all in pegmatites or what conditions were like in early twentieth century southern California, I highly recommend this book.

Fred J. Rynerson ? Gemstone Mining & Lapidary Pioneer

There are certain books that seem to bring words to life, inspiring visions of the way things were, and the way things ought to be. Exploring and Mining Gems and Gold in the West - documents the personal history of Frederick James Rynerson, and his experiences during the boom years of San Diego's colored gemstone trade in the early 20th Century (ca 1900-1914). This book includes important photographs of the mines and people who helped make San Diego a global epicenter for Tourmaline. One of my all-time favorites!

An excellent look back at tourmaline mining in San Diego

This book is the personal history of the adventures of Fred Rynerson, one of the early tourmaline miners of San Diego County. Although he did not have a lot of formal education, he was a very intelligent man who had a keen eye for geology and for people. This is one of my all-time favorite books--if you have any interest at all in pegmatites or what conditions were like in early twentieth century southern California, I highly recommend this book.