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PAGE 17-PLAINDEALER-FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER It- >977 This Man Knows That Collecting Rocks Can Be... STAFF PHOTOS BY WAYNE GAYLORD **'•• ' • i * V>it> ^-• '"vT *Ut lowjf • r , ;y^ ,"r • V •• rirt fir?." <»vi-al bltmw i-i* ...A 'Real Gem' Of A Hobby! For those of us who couldn't tell a piece of fool's gold from the real thing, understanding the "art" of rode collecting is about as simple as deciphering the Japanese alphabet. But make no mistake about it, rock collecting is very much of an "art". No one who has seen the collection which Fred Leffer has on display in the den of his home would say that it isn't art. In his home, Mr. Leffer has on display over 700 different types of rocks, minerals, and gems. Yes, he even has -'fool's" gold, although among some unbelievably beautiful stones, the piece of gold is rather an ordinary-looking specimen. Presently, a portion of Mr. Leffer's collection is on display at the McHenry Public library. However, the small showcase at the library does not do justice to the extravagant arrangement which adorns one complete wall in his den. Some of the specimens he has are shown elsewhere on this page. In black and white, the stones are impressive looking. In color, they are beautiful. How did Mr. Leffer get into the hobby of collecting rocks, and where do these rocks come from? "I was stationed in London, and used to take a summer vacation on the island of Sark," he explained. "On the island, there are clefts, and naturally you explore these things. I found some beautiful crystals ̂ pebbles. j "That was really the start of the hobby," he added. "Then, I forgot about it for awhile. After W.W. n I returned to this country and began chaperoning on school field trips, and began learning about the Illinois minerals and fossils. I never realized then I'd become a hard-boiled collector. "Then, about ten years later, I was preparing to retire (he was a corporate lawyer), and I thought I'd prepare for it. I took night courses at Maine East high school, studying geology and mineralogy, and that's when I got the bug. That's when it became a hobby. I started reading books on the subject, and started participating in Rock club field trips." Once Mr. Leffer became interested in rocks and minerals, the next step was to begin collecting them. He said that the first way to start a collection is by going on field trips. "In Illinois, you start with the gravel pits, coal mines, and quarries," he said. His field trips have taken him to South Carolina, where he hunted for diamonds and j*l*o to Arkansas where he hunted for rough gems and stones. He has also hunted throughout Europe. What it boils down to is studying nature," he said. Unfortunately, like many other hobbies, there comes a point in rock collecting when it becomes practically impossible to find new specimens on a field trip. At that point, the collection is expanded in one of three ways: gifts, trading, or buying. "I still receive gifts to this day," he said. "But you do come to the stage where you have to buy them. The hunting places are fewer. Ecology and other elements have cut down the opportunity of rock hunting. It's becoming extremely difficult to hunt in Illinois." He then cited the Braidwood Pit No. 1, "a classic of unique fossils which is now being closed up and leveled." Still a lack of hunting areas doesn't stop Mr. Leffer from getting out and looking. He is a member of the Gem and Mineral society, and attempts to schedule a field trip at least every other month during the summer, and slightly less often during the winter. How does one identify rocks and minerals which are found on a field trip? Mr. Leffer listed several methods for identifying a rock. •>*4 - .<?- ztt , v\ First, there is the hardness. Other telltale characteristics include appearance, crystal structure, color, shine, and gravity balance. 7 Once the spedmen is identified, it does not then immediately efaWinto the collection. Rather,v ' there is an extensive cleaning and preserving process which the collector performs ̂ The preserving process is very important because some minerals will dissolve when exposed to air. Mr. Leffer keeps those specimens in special containers. Mr. Leffer is a member of the American Federation of Mineralogical socity (AFMS). Thee group exists by a stern code of ethics, which all rock collectors follow. For example, should Mr. Leffer come across a very rare stone, he will take only what he needs, and not take an excessive amount in hopes of being able to sell some of the stones for profit later on. "The code of ethics is very important to us," he said. "Never, under any circumstances, would we take truckloads of rocks. I abhor rock collecting for profit. You take home only what you can . reasonably use. "I would never commercialize my hobby," he added. "I do it for the purpose of enjoying nature and helping others to enjoy it" On this particular day, Fred Leffer helped two novices enioy the art of collecting rocks. Why, he even explained the difference between fool's gold and the real thing.