MANSFIELD — One Mansfield man has taken rock collecting to the next level.
James Pennington, 48, began collecting rocks — mostly small, shiny ones — as a boy, but has since accumulated more than seven tons of rock at his Mansfield business, Ace Computers & Graphics, located at 371 Marion Ave. near Glessner Avenue.
“My pockets were always full of rocks as a kid, and I think, basically, I grew up,” Pennington said. “Now, I’m a big kid, whose wallet is a bit bigger, so now the rocks he can shove in his pockets cost a little more and are bigger in size.”
Pennington’s initial interest in rocks spurred partly from his lack of interest in fishing. He would frequently accompany his father on camping trips, but would easily become bored when fishing.
“If that fish didn’t nibble on that hook in three seconds, it was ‘I’m bored. Dad, you have fun, and I’m trying to do something else,’” Pennington said. “I would go around and pick up rocks instead.”
He’d pile the rocks into his pockets until the elastic was stretched thin and then empty them later to admire his loot.
Decades later, his love of rocks grew, as did his collection.
“It came to the point where I couldn’t buy one more rock, I had no place to put it,” Pennington said.
He had already rearranged his computer repair shop to better accommodate the rocks. Every shelf had rocks on display. Some were nestled in corners, and some were sandwiched between other rocks.
“So I decided, maybe I should do what I’ve always wanted to do and resell them,” Pennington said.
Pennington started his own website, called starstuff.rocks, in late 2016, and has since opened his store to the public on occasion, too.
“I see grown men come in here, and I literally watch the years wash off their faces while they turn into little boys looking at pretty rocks,” Pennington said, admitting he reacts the same way when browsing through the collection.
During an interview, a small rock pendant bounced off his chest as he dashed around the room, pointing out his favorites from the collection.
“My favorite kind is lapis lazuli, L-A-P-I-S, L-A-Z-U-L-I,” he said. “Lapis is typically found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There’s some that was found in South America in the early 80’s, but that find, from what I know, has dried up.”
While still talking, he walked over to a nearby box and returned with five polished pieces of the dark blue rock. He sat four carefully on the table and kept the fifth, a sphere, in his hand.
“I really like the color, and I like that it has the golden pyrite inclusions, which is what those gold streaks are that you see. I just think that it’s really neat,” Pennington said.
Without pause, he went on to describe another favorite rock.
“My second favorite is probably malachite and azurite,” Pennington said. “They are what are called copper-based minerals, meaning that they all grow out of a vein of copper.”
This rock was already nearby, but Pennington picked it up and moved it closer to examine it.
“The green is malachite. Blue is azurite,” he said, pointing to each color in the rock. “And you wind up with this, this blue, sparkly, jewelsy kind of stuff.”
Pennington also pointed out his amethyst cathedral geodes, likely the largest rocks in his collection. He explained how the towering rocks are cut in half, polished and set on a cement base so they can be stood up.
His customers often liken purchasing one of these rocks to buying a piece of art.
“They are one-of-a-kind, no two are alike. They are nature’s art, if you will,” he said.
Pennington purchases about one ton of rocks per month. He has contacts in China, Brazil, Africa and elsewhere who either personally pick the rocks from the mines or who get the rocks from a miner themselves.
He considers this important, as he can ensure the rocks’ authenticity and keep prices low for his customers. With the large geodes, Pennington has one rule.
“I better love them. So if they don’t sell, I don’t care,” he said.
Pennington still has to fix computers to pay the bills, but his rock sales are growing.
His rocks can be purchased on Amazon, Etsy, Ebay and at his website, starstuff.rocks.
To see the rocks in-person, people are encouraged to stop by the store at 371 Marion Ave. from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays or by appointment throughout the week. Call 419-522-1933 to set up a time.
“In the future, I’d like to think it at least pays for itself, but I won’t find out unless I try,” he said.
