A Healthy Check-up at The Rock Doc

In the shadow of famous Mt. Antero, nestled in the heart of one of the richest mineral collecting locales in the nation, and planted just a few miles south of Nathrop, Colorado is a business that bills itself as the "Largest Mineral and Rock Shop in the Rockies"---The Rock Doc.

The long building (which sits unassumingly along the western shoulder of Highway 285) certainly isn't short on interest for the diehard rockhound or the casual collector. Open 7 days a week, and filled with everything from gold prospecting gear to gems and beyond, The Rock Doc was the carefully chosen first stop on a two-day collecting tour that I embarked on with my son, Chase, on August 5th and 6th, 2015.

We arrived fairly soon after the doors opened, and already there were several patrons from teens to middle-aged couples meandering about the displays. I immediately caught the attention of Donna, and she was a wealth of stories, information, and rock-wisdom.

From anecdotal memories about many of the (now) nationally-recognized rockhounds from the hit TV show Prospectors, to the best places to hunt for our buried treasure, she was helpful and affable as she bounced around between the interested patrons.

I should've had a rag to wipe the drool as Chase and I hunched over along the expansive glass case that runs nearly the entire length of the long and low business. Each section was packed with everything from Amazonite clusters to Aquamarine crystals, from dark, pointed Smokeys to a variety of fossils and more. Behind the register at the north end of the main room, part of the owner's personal mineral and fossil collection is on display against the back wall (sorry, not for sale!).

We purchased a handful of Amazonite crystals, raw turquoise, a gold pan, glass bottle, sniffer, and a mineral collecting guide. Donna gave us information regarding some abandoned mines near Mount Taylor (in the Monarch area along Highway 50 West out on County Road 228) and the famous blue barite in Hartsel, Colorado (Bayou Salado Trading Post).

I highly recommend any casual or serious rockhounds to swing just south of Nathrop, Colorado. You may leave with a lighter wallet, but your heart and mind will be heavy with treasures and enthusiasm.

Here is direct link to a Google Maps locator for The Rock Doc:
CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

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