All Things Natural

Wherever I was last Wednesday with Quartz in Their Veins, I'm still exactly at the same place five days later. That's because my boy is more important to me than this book and I've been focused on his recovery since we learned of the wreck he was in Thursday morning. You'll hear from me again.

Finishing up the fifth generation of Coleman quartz miners for Quartz in Their Veins: A History of Quartz in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers is getting closer and closer to completion. More than 60,000 words written so far.

Guess who I've been writing about this week? Quartz in Their Veins has been slowly moving forward between work, running, appointments, and life.

Entire section written on the families that paved the way for quartz crystal in Arkansas' Ouachita Mountains, and I'm in the middle of the chapter on the impact of metaphysical beliefs on the sales of quartz through the years. 53,000 words and counting on Quartz in Their Veins.

I'm still looking for a place to include this quote. Any business owner knows.

Quartz in their veins is now 51,594 in. Completed the section on those who paved the way, though I'm not sure I'm ready to let it go quite yet.

Crossed over this major milestone yesterday while writing about Don Burrow from Mount Ida. So excited to be at this point!

Today has been spent getting some extra research in rather than writing. Shout out to the University of Arkansas Museum as they have been researching the quartz crystals in their collection for me and sending me spreadsheets of information. Shout out to Garland County Library for answering calls and helping me know the easiest ways to access what I need. And HUGE shoutout to CALS Main Library for the nonresident library card. Found the archives I was looking for PLUS INFORMATION NONE OF US HAVE HAD GOING ON THREE GENERATIONS! I am so excited!!

Quartz in Their Veins: History of Quartz in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers is going to be a book for everyone interested in the history of this area. It includes science, history, anecdotes, successes, and failures.

Finished writing the chapter on Ocus Stanley today, which includes a paragraph about this Smithsonian 3-piece cluster from the Garfield Lewis Claim.

The holiday weekend kept me mostly busy at the store this weekend, but Quartz in their Veins continues to shape up!

This cracks me up. I promise that I am writing in very conversational lingo, but I've definitely been researching at great depth and now they think maybe I'm somebody I'm not. Lol. Quartz in their Veins is the book for people opposed to four-syllable words in science (though there is one 8 syllable word just because there's no way around that one)

Watch out world!! Quartz in Their Veins is about half way complete (the first draft, that is)!! I hope you are as excited as I am. Gearing up to write about Ocus Stanley next, because no book on the history of Arkansas quartz is complete without including the ones who got us where we are today!

Does this make sense to you? It's diagram of the piezoelectric effect in quartz crystal. I've spent the ENTIRE day writing 1,000 words in such a way that you (hopefully) understand what this is and how it has affected demand for quartz crystal.

Basically, putting pressure on quartz can produce an electric current. This became a big deal specifically during World War II, and it made the need for crystal clear quartz skyrocket! You'll learn about this -- without science jargon -- in Quartz in Their Veins; A History of Quartz in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers!

I purposefully move back and forth while writing between the chapters that are fun for me and those that I struggle with to write in an easy-to-understand way. This week will be slow, so that your comprehension will be fast!

More than 45,000 words in!!

Our story is not always easy and our path has not always been straight, but I love my family and I love our story.

Pictured here are my Ma'Ma Judy and Pa'Pa Frank as they examine a crystal found at the Old Coleman Mine in 1988. Last night, I finished the chapter focusing on his part of the Coleman legacy.

A few days ago, the chapter on his father, Charley, was completed. The history of the Ouachita Mountains and the quartz found within them is written. The entire section on Ron Coleman, comprised of five chapters, has been penned. Chapters on finding and cleaning your own quartz are done.

So much more to come. Quartz in Their Veins truly is turning into a book!

The last few days have been spent focusing on the early, early days within the Coleman family. Pictured below are Charley Coleman, left, with another miner at the Old Coleman Mine in Jessieville. The year is 1954. Charley was 70 and his grandsons Jimmy and Ron (not pictured) were 10 and 7, respectively.

Quartz in The Veins: A History of Quartz in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy of the Coleman Brothers is taking shape! Nearly 37,000 words complete!

Not to brag but -- I mean, I'm totally bragging -- I just completed the second section of Quartz Runs Through the Veins: A History of Quartz in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers. Woo Hoo!! More than 36,000 words so far, which is about 112 pages. I need to get back to work, but also needed to stop to recognize the work done so far.

Research and interviews began in May 2023. Writing began mid-June 2024. Nothing about this has been for the faint of heart, and it TOTALLY takes a team to make this happen. Betty Coleman has given me hundreds, if not thousands of photographs. Alex Coleman gave me access to the Ron Coleman Mining photos. Kevin and Kathy showed me all the deeds. Michael Carey has been to the courthouse for me. Ben Carey has recorded interviews. Josh Coleman took drone photos. Darla Thurber and Ben have been editing. Judy Coleman, Mike Howard, Ron Coleman, Pat Smith, Jeff Burrow, Shane Manley, Henry Rogers, Kevin Coleman, Kathy Coleman, Josh Coleman, Gary Coleman, and Pam McCaskill all have been interviewed.

I'm so excited!

Photo my mom took in 1984 of Uncle Jimmy getting a foot massage from Barbara Crumpton in Tucson. No rest for the weary!

Much of today was spent at Ron Coleman Mining in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. Dad and I reviewed the current chapter to ensure Quartz Runs Through Their Veins contains accurate descriptions of quartz crystals at the different mines in Arkansas.

Can you can tell which mine different pieces of quartz come from? If not, you'll be able to after reading the book!

(I love this old picture preparing for a photo shoot with the mountains in the background. Photo courtesy of Betty Coleman.)

Grandpop Charley was digging crystals "and of course I wasn't helping but he told me I was," says Ron Coleman. "And as I was asking him what he was going to pay me and he said, 'What do you want?' And I told him I wanted the chew of his Beech Nut. He just loved that old Beech Nut chew and had it all the time. Had some in his mouth. And lo and behold, he gave me some after the end of the day. I ain’t never had any more. I got very, very sick. Cause I swallowed it. I didn’t spit it out."

Another memorable item that doesn't fit in Quartz Runs Through Their Veins: A History of the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers.

If some of this is NOT included, just imagine what is!

Sometimes GREAT information just doesn't fit in the upcoming book Quartz Runs Through Their Veins: A History of Quartz inn the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers. Such is the case with this, so let's share it here.

According to a 2020 article in the Sentinel Record, "in the 1930s, Hot Springs was at its high point for gambling and a popular hangout for infamous mobsters like Al Capone and Frank Costello. To put things in perspective, in 1931, Hot Springs was home to 25,500 people and had 14-15 major hotels in operation, while Las Vegas had a population of 5,000 and not one single hotel. During this time, Al Capone would make deals with bootleggers in Hot Springs to stock his clubs in Chicago with alcohol. He would then ship the illegal liquor in tanker railroad cars donning the words “Mountain Valley Water” as a cover."

Did you know that real dinosaur fossils are displayed directly across from Ron Coleman Mining at the fossil and mineral co-op in Tucson? Did you know that dinosaurs are part of the story for Quartz Runs through Their Veins: A History of Quartz in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers?!

Entire section on Ron Coleman, which consists of five chapters, has been drafted. Marketing proposal is complete and is being edited. Quartz Runs Through Their Veins: A History of the Ouachita Mountain and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers is coming together, and I am so excited.

Moving over now to work one one of the early chapters in the book, the Ouachita Mountains themselves.

Let your voice be heard!

If the Book Quartz Runs Through Their Veins is approved for one photo per chapter, which one of these would you most like to see in the chapter about Jimmy and Ron Coleman when they were young boys? (Captions list Choice A B and C)

Let me know why YOU are interested in the book Quartz Runs Through Their Veins: The History of Quartz in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers. And, if so inclined, please feel free to share this information so that others can join us in the excitement.

The book will cover:
1. the history of how the Ouachita Mountains formed
2. how quartz crystal came to be in the Ouachita Mountains
3. what quartz crystal is and why it is important
4. the metaphysical aspects of quartz
5. The Arkansas Quartz forefathers Ocus Stanley, Don Burrow, and Charley Coleman
6. Jimmy Coleman the miner, his mines, and the person
7. Ron Coleman the salesman, his mine, and the person
8. Notable specimens
9. Next generations, including Kevin and Joshua Coleman
10. Where the crystal mines are and how to safely dig them and clean them

Each chapter currently has one photograph, and the notable specimens chapter will include several pictures.

Photo below is Frank Coleman smoking a cigarette while cleaning quartz in 1975. Photo courtesy of Ron Coleman Mining.

Millions of people each year see the Coleman quartz cluster on display near the Hope diamond and the Berns quartz, also from the Old Coleman Mine, at the entrance to Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. But did you know there is another Coleman crystal also housed there? This tiny Arkimer is in the Secure Storage area of the Smithsonian, where it has been safely maintained since its donation in 1952. For size reference, the information card is 2.25x3.00 inches. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

Quartz Runs Through Their Veins: A History of Quartz Crystal in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers will detail little-know facts you never knew you needed to know but are so glad to learn!

When interviewing for the upcoming book Quartz Runs Through Their Veins, Aunt Pam commented, "You can be the glue but you can't say you're the glue." We were talking about some of the women historically within the Coleman family, and I loved loved loved the quote, but it just doesn't fit within the context of the book.

Until now.

Those who are observant will find that thought featured front and center, so keep an eye out.

Pictured are siblings Jimmy, Ron, Pam, and Garyalan in the 1980s.

Just broke 20,000 words in the book quartz Runs Through Their Veins! Currently writing about Ron Coleman, the person when he's not digging for crystals.

Four chapters down.

Quartz Runs through their Veins: A History of Quartz Crystal in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers includes both the successes and failures of the Coleman Brothers.

Sneak Peek:

Quartz Runs through their Veins: A History of Quartz Crystal in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers provides an all-access insight into the once-impoverished family that now dominates the world of quartz. The book is part metaphysical, part science, part biogrpahy …and all heart.
• It traces the origins of the Ouachita Mountains as well as the discovery of quartz hidden within them.
• It covers the history of the three most well-known families that led to the modern-day quartz industry and focuses in on the Coleman family.
• Written by Ron Coleman’s daughter, Lisa Coleman Carey, it showcases interviews and memories from each one of the people involved in making the Coleman name the world standard for quartz crystal.