Welcome to The Adams Collection HOMEPAGE!   On this site you will find a wide selection of fine mineral specimens from all around the world, with special emphasis on North Carolina, my home state. We have minerals from micromount size to museum size in a wide range of prices from one dollar to thousands. If you do not see what you're looking for on these pages, just send me an e-mail and express your desires. This is a very flexible business with many options for the beginner, advanced collector, or mineral dealer. Ask about bulk purchases and wholesale lots. I also offer special deals to earth science teachers on educational samples. Just ask for what you may need! All requests, criticisms, and suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. Enjoy!                                                                        

ABOUT US

     The Adams Collection began back in 1958 when a relative gave my brother Steve a piece of amethyst and he was instantly hooked.  Over the next 30 years he built a fine collection of minerals.  During those early years, I was more interested in archaeology and began assembling a large collection of Indian artifacts.  However, I always maintained an avid interest in Steve's mineral collection and I made numerous contributions to it.  In the early 1980's I sold my artifacts and began a long involvement in Speleology, exploring and discovering caves, mostly in east Tennessee and western North Carolina.  All along I kept up an interest in minerals and closely followed my brother's collecting efforts.  Eventualy I moved from the North Carolina mountains to my roots in the Piedmont area in the center of the state and joined Steve in collecting minerals.  Together, we rapidly expanded and improved the collection and soon started our own modest business-The Adams Collection.  I was offered a last minute slot at the Greensboro Club show due to a cancellation, and I opened my first booth with scrappy hand written labels and boxes cut out of carboard.  I was hooked, soon realizing that dealing was the key to being able to greatly elevate the quality of our collection.  Over the intervening years I built the business gradually into a small but respectable enterprise.  Steve, whose knowledge and expertise in mineralogy had locally become almost legendary, gradually lost interest in the business and collecting end of the hobby, and in January of 2007 I bought his interest in the business and now operate it on my own.  Steve now teaches geology at a local college, but still supports the business in many ways.  I do several Gem and Mineral shows around the state, sell a little bit on e-bay, and have now opened "Laurie's Rockshop" here at my home in Denton, North Carolina.  I'm totally new to this website thing, so I'm sure there will be many bugs to work out.  So please bear with me and hopefully you will find something that suits your fancy on these pages!  Laurie Adams.                                                                                                                  

CONTACT INFORMATION:
 

Mailing Address:  The Adams Collection     268 Cedar Springs Road,   Lexington,   NC  27292

Phone:  336-859-3471

E-mail: laurieadams@triad.rr.com

ABOUT LAURIE'S ROCKSHOP

     Anyone who is in the vicinity of central North Carolina is welcome to come visit Laurie's Rockshop, located near the small town of Denton in southern Davidson County.  (Though my mailing address says Lexington, I actually live in Denton, about 15 miles southeast of Lexington).  The shop is not yet open to the general public and there is no sign on the highway.  Right now, it is open by appointment only, but since it is here at my house, I am almost always available to open it up.  Just give me a call or send an e-mail to confirm that I will be here, or to schedule a visit.  Any day of the week is fine, including Sundays. 

Directions to shop:

   There are several ways to get here, depending on the direction you are coming from.  Denton is located about an hour east of Charlotte, 45 minutes south-southeast of Winston Salem, and 45 minutes south-southwest of Greensboro.  Most visitors will reach Denton by way of Thomasville, which is on Interstate 85 between Charlotte and Greensboro.  Take the main Thomasville exit off I-85 and go south on Highway 109.  There will be signs for Denton.  The easy way to find me is to count the railroad crossings.  It is about 12 to 15 miles from Thomasville to the shop.  You will cross 2 railroad tracks on the way.  After the second rr crossing, take the next road to the left, called Cedar Springs Road.  It is at a crossroads.  If you come to the town of Denton, you've gone too far.  After turning left on Cedar Springs, go to the third house on the right, a small wooden cabin-like home.  It is only about 2/10 mile from highway 109, and across the street from a small cemetery.  There will usually be a white van at the end of the driveway.  If you are coming from a different direction, and need more specific instructions, feel free to contact me. 

   ORDERING/POLICIES

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If paying by check or money order, you need to e-mail your order to me.  The shopping cart will not record these orders.  Also, the shopping cart does not have the flexibilty to always prorate multiple item orders.  If for any reason the shopping cart does not seem to be working to your complete satisfaction, just e-mail the order directly to me.

HOW TO ORDER :     There are several ways to order from The Adams Collection.  1)  The easiest method is to use the handy SHOPPING CART that is provided with each specimen.  Just click on "Add to shopping cart" and follow the instructions.  If paying with paypal or credit card, you must use this method.   2)  E-mail orders.  I will gladly accept orders by e-mail.  Be sure to include all necessary ordering information, such as product code #, price, brief description, ship to address, etc.  If I need additional information I will e-mail you back.  3)  Phone orders.  You can phone in an order if you want to personally discuss your situation or if you have questioned you'd like personally answered.  Call 336-859-3471 and ask for Laurie.  Call between 9:00 AM and 11:00 PM eastern standard time (US).  If there's no answer, try again later.  4)  Snail mail orders.  If you would like to mail in your order with a check or money order, this would be fine.  Again, be sure to include all needed ordering information.  Remember that checks will need to clear the bank before items are shipped, unless you are an established customer.  If you use this method, I highly recommend that you e-mail or call me first, otherwise the item(s) may be sold to someone else while your check is in the mail!                                                                  

SHIPPING METHODS :  Orders in the US are normally shipped US Postal Service First Class Mail.  International orders are normally shipped USPS International.  If you would prefer any other shipping method, just let me know and we'll make arrangements.  Also, if you happen to live close to me or will be visiting the area and would like to personally pick up your item(s) and save shipping cost, that would be fine.  Just be sure to call beforehand (336-859-3471) to make sure I'll be here. SHIPPING CHARGES:  The cost of shipping is based both on weight and the shipping destination.  For single items, weights are rounded up to the nearest pound; for instance, if you order a 1.5 lb. specimen, the shipping weight will be 2 lbs.  However, for orders of more than one specimen, the combined weight will be considered.  Thus, if you ordered two specimens at 1.5 lbs. each, the combined shipping weight would be 3 lbs., rather than 4 lbs. if they were ordered seperately.  OVERSEAS ORDERS:  If you are ordering from overseas I highly recommend that you contact me by e-mail and we can work out the best shipping method for you.  The shipping charges for overseas orders will vary greatly depending on where you live and what method is used.            

PAYMENT METHODS :     1)  Paypal.   This is the preferred payment method.  It is fast, secure and easy.  If you have a paypal account, it's a no-brainer.  If you don't have a paypal account, you can easily open one up using the prompts in the shopping cart process.  But you do not need an account to send money to me through paypal, just follow the instructions provided.  Also, if you want to pay by credit card, you will have to do so through paypal.  It's easy and you don't need a paypal account.  I do not accept credit cards at this time unless it is through paypal.  2)  Check or Money Order.  I will gladly accept payments through the postal service by check or money order.  Remember that checks will need to clear the bank before shipping, and that you should contact me beforehand to insure that the item will not be sold to someone else before your check or money order arrives.

INSURANCE/TAXES/REFUNDS :  INSURANCE:  If you would like your shipment insured, just let me know.  This service is available at a small additional cost.  The cost will depend on the value of the item(s) and the value amount you want insured.     TAXES:  Taxes are included in the sale price of the specimens.     REFUNDS:  If for any reason you are not satisfied with your specimen(s), you may return them for a full refund within 10 days of recieving the shipment, minus the shipping cost.  Item(s) should be returned in their original condition.  If you recieve an item(s) damaged during shipment, please contact me immediately and I will make arrangements to rectify the situation.

PRIVACY POLICY:  Your personal information, including your e-mail address, will not be shared with anyone, PERIOD!            

IMPORTANT NOTE:  All orders sold on a first come-first serve basis.  Once an item is sold it will be removed from the website as soon as the order is received.