MAKER SPOTLIGHT: BECAUSE I ROCK
Ivy Welburn (L) + Jazmin Erving (R), in their happy place.
Raw Amethyst
What’s your favorite part about mining?
Every mining location is different and requires its own set of gear and training. Hallelujah Junction is on top of a mountain and requires some bravery (and a 4x4 vehicle) to get there.
What kinds of crystals are in your mines? Any favorites?
We specialize in Quartz mining: Smoky Quartz, Amethyst and Herkimer Diamonds
When did you start selling your crystals and ‘unearthing’ experiences? Do you do it full time?
We do this full time! We started 3 years ago and have never looked back. We mine most of our products, so we spend a lot of time at our happy place - on the mountain or under a lake. When we aren’t getting dirty, we are busy making our UnEarthed Kits. They are little mining adventures in a box. Including everything you need to wash your gems and instructions on how we can then have them turned into jewelry. The kits are our hottest seller and make a perfect gift for any age.
What inspires you?
Mother Earth is our daily inspiration. Being able to climb inside and see how the earth was created is a gift only few people get to witness. We feel honored to be able to see what’s inside.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve had running your business?
We have a new concept of having guests wash crystals. This is a first for most people, so having to explain what we are doing every time can be challenging. Now we have it down to a science and simply ask “Have you ever seen a crystal straight from the mines?” Gets them every time!
What are some of the greatest joys you’ve experienced running your business?
As a miner we have seen what’s it like to pull a million dollar rock. We mine as a family and we experience the joy of the hunt together. When someone hits big, we all hit big. Operating as a family allows respect to go both ways. Treat your partners with admiration and love.
What do you love about doing pop-up events and markets?
We love exposing the world of crystals. Most importantly, we are educating people about how the earth works (I always explain that the earth farted). Watching their faces light up because they learned something new is a moment that we get to enjoy at every market.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We are open for mining in Nevada this Spring! We give tours in North Lake Tahoe/Reno and are taking reservations for solo miners, groups and retreats.
To complete our “Mine to Mantle” mission, we partnered with jeweler, Robyn Rhodes. After washing your crystal, you can design your own custom piece of jewelry. The crystals will not be polished or cut. They are placed in jewelry in their natural shape. No two pieces are the same.
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See more of Because I Rock’s work or get in touch with them via her website BecauseIRock.com or follow them on Instagram @Because_I_Rock, or on TikTok @because_i_rock. We recommend ordering an Unearthed Kit!
Or- you can visit them in person at our next market on February 10th!
Because I Rock Unearthed Kits
This month we had a chance to sit down with 2 ridiculously fantastic women: Jazmin Erving and Ivy Welburn, the powerhouses behind one of a kind small business Because I Rock- where these two crystal miners have pioneered an immersive way to share their love of mining with the public. Join us learning about the journey that brought this company to life!
THE BASICS
Jazmin Erving & Ivy Welburn | She/Her
BECAUSE I ROCK, Founded in 2020
How did Because I Rock come to be?
By way of a hitchhiker we now call Deer Mark. He had an unfortunate incident with a deer in the woods of Mt. Shasta. After a 7 hour wait we mentioned that we love crystals and showed him our very beginner collection. He made us hold his beer as he showed us his collection of self-mined specimens and amazing rocks that he has collected over the years. He owned crystal mines and as a thank you, he invited us to his happy place: a mountain near Lake Tahoe where Smoky Quartz pours out of seams everywhere you look. We decided in that moment that we were miners - we have never looked back. Once we realized that this life existed, we were determined to find a way to mine as a living.
BECAUSE I ROCK was born after a long dig day. We were going to wash our crystals in the hotel bathtub (terrible idea), but after watching these muddy balls come to life, we realized this is what we can share. We bring self-mined crystals from domestic mines and let patrons wash them off. This process is soothing, fascinating and slightly addictive. You never stop at washing one rock, so we always give an extra!
What is it like to be a crystal miner?!
Being a crystal miner is a dream come true. It’s the best life we never knew existed. Imagine using chopsticks to find gemstones inside the earth. That is what we do. We go deep inside Mother Earth and find gems that have been growing for millions of years. As miners, we do prehistoric work mining what is right under our feet.
We specialize in Quartz mining. These crystals come to a point and have six sides. Our favorite mines are Hallelujah Junction in Nevada (Smoky Quartz), Jackson Crossroads in Georgia (Amethyst) of which we are part owners, and Diamond Mountain Mine in NY (Herkimer Diamonds). Every mining experience is different. All will fill your soul.
Natural Amethysts