the minerals field was just a “ few minor geology courses ,” he says , but he was a single parent , and working there allowed him to put in a family-friendly 10 a . m . to 4 p . m . shift .
“ I was fascinated with everything there ,” Danielson says . “ This was definitely not the field I thought I would go into , but I ’ ve enjoyed every bit of it .”
In 1952 , Bay Area entrepreneur Jerry Blair opened the location on Quinn Road as a military surplus store and a place to display , but not sell , his growing rock collection . Blair converted it to a rock business in the late 1970s , Danielson says , and when Blair died in 1987 , Blair ’ s nephew , Greg Johnson , took over until he sold the store last fall .
Aydin Sahm , a San Francisco retailer , became owner in November , and changes have come quickly , Danielson says , including adding more inventory displayed in renovated themed rooms featuring music that “ sets more of a mood .”
Besides an array of small rocks and fossils , including moldavites formed by a meteorite impact some 15 million years ago , Danielson says , the store features many museum-quality items , such as amethyst , the world ’ s most popular purple gemstone , according to Geology . com . “ We probably have 3 tons of amethyst out there right now , with well over a ton of ( non-amethyst ) quartz out ,” he says . “ Our tumbled stones ( small , brightly polished pieces of rock ) collection is extremely large .”
Items from the store are pursued by collectors , used for interior decorating and applied for healing or metaphysical purposes , Danielson says . “ I like to say we have stones and minerals for everyone ’ s wants , needs and income ,” Danielson says . “ Each rock is unique , and there are millions here .” Danielson says business has boomed the past year , even though the shop closed in March for six weeks due to the pandemic . Danielson says he plans to add two more employees to the four already there . “ We ’ re at this point now where we ’ re actually breaking sales records ,” he says , crediting the shop ’ s size that allows for social distancing and the renovations since Sahm purchased the shop .
While the shop doesn ’ t sell online , it reaches customers through a Facebook page and a robust mailing list ,
Danielson says . “ We promote coming in , touching and comparing . It ’ s all hands-on here .”
Steve Martarano was at the Sacramento Union for 10 years before working in public affairs for both state and federal agencies in Sacramento . He is currently a freelance writer and photographer for Comstock ’ s and other publications . On Twitter @ MartArchives .
“ I like to say we have stones and minerals for everyone ’ s wants , needs and income . Each rock is unique , and there are millions here .”
Dennis Danielson , manager , Consolidated Rock & Mineral Shop
Customers check out polished stones at Consolidated Rock & Mineral Shop in Vacaville .
May 2021 | comstocksmag . com 21