Faneuil Hall Marketplace 7 North Market Boston, MA 523-6112 617-523-6112

Bowen's Wharf 61 America's Cup Ave. Newport, RI 02840 401-849-5587

When you look at a rock, what do you see? If you see more than a gray lump of inert matter, if you admire its steely flecks, its smooth or jagged form, its multicolored striations, you're a very special person. You're a rock lover and a member of a rapidly growing special-interest group. Rock lovers collect and study fine geologic specimens, such as petrified wood embedded with fossilized plants and animals, and magnificently colored and curiously shaped gemstone crystals.

They appreciate not only their beauty but also the clues to the creation of the universe that are locked within them.
If you're a rock lover (or think you might become one with a little encouragement), where can you find intriguing geologic displays? In Boston you could go to the mineralogical collection at Harvard's Peabody Museum. Or you could go to Geoclassics, a store where you not only see but also can touch and buy a piece of the rock. Arranged with the precision of a museum exhibit, the treasures at Geoclassics are captivating. You'll marvel at the lacy amethyst stalactites, the silica-encrusted geodes, and the clusters of Brazilian quartz crystals that look like jagged fingers of ice. The one-of-a-kind jewelry - necklaces, bracelets, and pins of hematite, malachite, lapis, onyx, tourmaline, and more - will mesmerize you.
Dedicated to educating the public about geologic specimens, owner Claudio Kraus, a former professor of economics, provides detailed written descriptions of every item in the shop. Simple objects priced as low as $5 make ideal starter gifts for children's collections. Custom-designed pieces - from desktop mineral displays to jewelry - are also available.
Geoclassics, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA 617-523-6112.
-Kate Broughton, Boston Magazine