Rockhounds and Legends: A Youthful Encounter with Richard M. Pearl

 By Steven Wade Veatch

 

        The year was 1966, and I was 12 years old. I was a relatively new member of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society (CSMS) and learned that Richard M. Pearl (1913-1980), a respected member of the society, would present a program at one of its monthly meetings. This was an opportunity I did not want to forgo.
        I had been reading several books written by Pearl, a professor of geology at Colorado College. The first Pearl book I owned was a gift from a family friend, Hermine Weber, who was Mrs. Julie Penrose’s private and personal maid. She purchased a copy of How to Know the Minerals and Rocks for me at the gift store in the Denver Museum of Natural History after we spent the day looking at the museum’s rock and mineral displays.

Figure 1. Richard M. Pearl was a professor of geology at Colorado College. He started teaching at Colorado College in 1946. He went from “Professor” to “Professor Emeritus” in 1978. Photo courtesy of Colorado College Special Collections, Tutt Library. From Pearl’s papers.

        Pearl wrote at least 40 popular geology books. My favorite was Colorado Gem Trails and Mineral Guide. In those long-ago days I was constantly trying to get my parents to take me on rock-collecting trips based on this book. I also read Colorado Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils several times. I referred to Successful Mineral Collecting and Prospecting regularly. These and other books written by Pearl deepened my lifelong interest in Earth science and maintaining a rock, mineral, and fossil collection. I still have these books today on my bookshelf. And, I still collect rocks, minerals, and fossils.

Figure 2. Colorado Gem Trails and Mineral Guide. Several editions of this quintessential guide to Colorado gem trails fueled many rockhounding expeditions by those who read it. 

With anticipation, I counted the days for the night to arrive when Pearl would speak. My parents drove me down to the meeting. We parked and walked inside the IBEW building on Spruce Street, where the CSMS held their meetings back then. Inside, the room buzzed with anticipation as members of the CSMS took their seats, their chatter punctuated by the occasional clink of rock samples on tabletops. It was an evening we had all been looking forward to—Richard M. Pearl, the renowned mineralogist and author, was our speaker.
        Pearl, a balding man wearing a well-pressed white shirt and a tie, arrived with the quiet confidence of someone who had spent a lifetime among rocks and minerals. His eyes twinkled behind his glasses as he took in the eager crowd. I remember how he carried himself—not with the air of an untouchable academic, but with the warmth of a teacher who genuinely loved sharing his knowledge.
That night, Pearl discussed Colorado's mineral resources, mentioning gold, silver, and gemstones. He recounted his explorations across the state, his voice filled with the reverence one reserves for old friends. And, of course, he had stories—about prospectors who stumbled upon mineral deposits, about the science behind some of those deposits, and the wonder they inspired.
When he finished, the room erupted in applause. Questions came eagerly, and he answered each with patience, his enthusiasm never waning. Someone asked about his book, Colorado Gem Trails and Mineral Guide, and he chuckled, admitting that even after years of research, there were always new discoveries waiting.
        Afterward, as members gathered around to show him their latest finds, he examined each specimen with genuine interest. He treated every piece—whether an exquisite amazonite or a simple smoky quartz crystal—with the same respect, making each person feel their curiosity was as valuable as the specimens themselves. In my memory, this night with Pearl sparkled like an open geode.
        That night, Pearl left me with more than knowledge. He inspired me with a renewed sense of wonder, confirming that the study of the Earth’s riches can fuel a life-long pursuit of knowledge and curiosity. As he shook my hand before departing, I couldn’t help but feel that I had not just met an expert—I had met a kindred spirit, one who understood why I searched for beauty revealed in rocks and minerals.