Box of Rocks or Gems and Crystals

[Doe Be Doe]

My first partner collected rocks when he was a child and kept the collection in a ceramic bowl in our living room. He's been dead for many years and I've carried those rocks from house to house and city to city as I moved around.

Now I want to declutter but what about the rocks? I don't want to throw them away if some museum would take them. How can I tell if they are just nice looking rocks or some sort of crystal or special rock that should not be tossed out? I can't imagine any of them would be of any cash value but maybe some museum might like them.

Any suggestions on how to see if they are worth saving or ripe for tossing?

Thanks.

[keefer]

I collected rocks when I was a child; and continued to buy nicer specimens through the years.   The majority are still decorating my mom's home, with strict instructions I'm to get them back when she passes.   In my case the majority are sentimental, with only a few worth a few hundred dollars.

As an experiment I've googled "how to value rock collections" and "rock and mineral appraisal", but was underwhelmed.  Depending on where you live - your best option would be to contact local museum or university, failing that local cooperative extension (4-H) agents. 

An alternate option might be to donate them to a local elementary school in his name; I know my love of collecting was inspired by an exceptional 3rd grade teacher,  in this case your first partners collection might help inspire another generation.   

[+ azdr0710]

if you live in an area that has an annual or occasional gem/rock show with booths and vendors and all, you might see if somebody there can give you a quick evaluation of any value or importance......

the local museum/university idea just above is very good.....

 

[foxy]

This may sound silly but rocks and minerals are often valued (like so many things) by how pretty they are. Of course there are minerals that are valued by their rarity but most amateur collectors just go for eye appeal. You might find a local club or rock hound who can help you out. 

[keefer]

1 hour ago, foxy said:

This may sound silly but rocks and minerals are often valued (like so many things) by how pretty they are. Of course there are minerals that are valued by their rarity but most amateur collectors just go for eye appeal. You might find a local club or rock hound who can help you out. 

A lot of truth in this; my partner can't understand why I love a slab of fossils/shells I found in a river in upstate New York when I was 7, or the chunk of petrified wood, or the foot long drilling core (with sulfur crystals), or the rutilated quartz, or the herkimer diamonds, or the collection of geodes, or the other few hundred pounds of rocks and minerals I've purchased through the years....   and if your partner loved and treasured the rocks/minerals he collected over his lifetime - so will others.