Few people know Arkansas quartz better than Jimmy and Ron Coleman—two men whose names are spoken with reverence in mineral circles around the world. Born into the business, the brothers are part of an amazing five-generation family business. Quartz in Their Veins blends science, history, and deeply personal storytelling as it traces the origins of the mountains, the rise of quartz as a metaphysical and scientific treasure, and the generations of diggers whose lives were forged in crystal and clay. At its heart is the remarkable Coleman family, a once-impoverished clan whose perseverance transformed them into the dominant force in modern quartz mining. Drawing on extensive interviews with family members, employees, and lifelong friends, the book opens the gate to decades of untold stories, triumphs, and hard-won lessons from the dig. Along the way, readers will learn how to recognize quartz varieties, understand what makes a specimen valuable, and uncover practical tips for finding and cleaning their own crystals in Arkansas’ famous mines. Part biography, part geology, part love letter to the land, Quartz in Their Veins is the definitive story of America’s quartz capital—and the people who brought its hidden brilliance to light.
