If you like
rocks, scenery,
prehistory,
gemstones,
geology, & stars
in the sky,
to our
FREE EMAIL
NEWSLETTER.
About GemLand (R)
GemLand was formed by Richard Allen in 1995 as a
way of
connecting
people with
ROCKS -- all
kinds of
rocks.
Our gemstone
business
(since 1985)
has been the
core of
GemLand.
We offer you the some of the best of
American
gemstones,
including
Arizona
Peridot,
Four
Peaks
Amethyst,
Turquoise,
Arizona
Garnets,
and also
diamonds,
rubies,
sapphires,
emeralds,
and more!
We offer you a most interesting way of touring or staying among the
exotic rock
formations
of the
Phoenix
/
Scottsdale
metropolitan
area!
And we offer you entertaining evening viewing of the stars and
planets of
Arizona's
glittering
night skies
-- with a
high-powered
telescope,
star charts,
and legends!
to
our
FREE
monthly
newsletter
about
all kinds of
rocks.
ABOUT OUR LOGO
The four vivid gemstones that make up our logo are Turquoise (blue), Peridot (green), Amethyst (purple), and Garnet (red).
Arizona is America's leading gem producing state, and these stones are the reason.
Turquoise is produced now as a by-product of copper mining.
Amethyst comes from a mine high on Four Peaks, visible from the Phoenix area.
Peridot comes from the San Carlos Apache Reservation, where one of the largest deposits in the world is located.
And Arizona Garnet comes from Monument Valley, one of the most iconic places on Earth.
GemLand has many other precious stones as well, but these come from home!
Richard Allen is a
Certified Professional Geologist*
(AIPG) and an
Accredited Gemologist**
(AIGS). And as you can
tell by now, Richard
loves ROCKS, and knows
them well.
His career includes
gold mine evaluation
studies and extensive
mapping projects in
remote areas of Alaska,
and archaeological
investigations of
Fremont sites and
Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi)
ruins in the Southwest.
He received gemological certification in 1985 at the Asian
Institute of Gemological
Sciences in
Bangkok, Thailand -- the
gemstone capital of the
world.
Richard became an importer of fine gemstones into the United States
after traveling
extensively in Thailand,
Burma, India, and
Brazil.
These activities have provided a wide and unusual variety of
experience in the
jewelry industry.
Richard taught Gemology to retail jewelers and student goldsmiths
for five years at the
Seattle area's
Highline College.
Its Jewelry and
Goldsmithing Technology Department
was the
Northwest's only such
accredited degree
program. He is a
skilled
jewelry
designer.
He has written more than 50 articles, including those for the
Puget Sound Business
Journal,
Gemological Digest,
and Northwest Valley
Lifestyles magazine.
Richard also wrote the "Geology" chapter for the 1997 book Ruby
& Sapphire, the
world's most definitive
treatment of the
subject.
And besides the above, he is an avid astronomer!
Richard has given numerous presentations to trade groups,
professional societies,
social and service
clubs, and has led a
local hiking group for
many years.
He has conducted
astronomy and geology
programs
in Carefree since 1996,
and also has taught
workshops at the
Desert Botanical Garden
in Phoenix.
The JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, the Four Seasons
Resort - Scottsdale,
Marriott's Camelback Inn,
and Sanctuary on
Camelback Mountain
are also among his
clients.
Richard lives in
Phoenix, where he is
very close to some of
the most spectacular
rocks in the world, and
under its starriest
skies!
* The
American Institute of
Professional Geologists,
recognized world-wide,
confers this title to
those meeting its strict
educational requirements
and ethical standards,
and it is unrelated to
registration by the
State of Arizona. He has
been a member since
1984.
** This title is conferred by the Asian Institute of
Gemological Sciences,
in Bangkok, Thailand --
one of the world's
foremost schools for the
study of gemstones.
Richard graduated in
1985.
The four vivid gemstones that make up our logo are Turquoise (blue), Peridot (green), Amethyst (purple), and Garnet (red).
