Collector Spotlight: Ella Masciulli
1. How many years have you been collecting and what started your passion?
I’ve been casually collecting for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved rocks, and I have many fond memories of rockhounding in creeks with my mom. Whenever we’d go to any sort of park or attraction, I loved the “fill a bag” little rock kiosks in gift shops. Looking back, they were mainly full of little dyed agates and whatnot, but I loved them as a kid. I even have a little bismuth that I got from a gift shop in Tennessee, complete with a box decorated by 6 year old me. I started seriously getting into “formal” mineral collecting right before the start of the pandemic. It actually ended up being very convenient timing since rockhounding is an excellent solo activity.
2. What's the focus of your collection and has that changed through time? Why?
I’d say that the focus of my collection is mainly quartz, specifically those with neat inclusions or qualities, but I tend to just buy whatever catches my eye. I also love old perky box specimens. I don’t limit myself too much as far as a narrow set of criteria for specimens, But my standards have gotten higher the longer I collect and the more specimens I see.
3. What do you like to do outside of mineral collecting? (hobbies, job, music taste, etc).
I’m currently working as a barista, but I also work for a mineral dealer in the US at the occasional show. I also love classical music and play the french horn, but I haven’t had a chance to play anywhere since the pandemic started. I’m also a university student! I’ve spent the last two years studying journalism, but I’ll be switching to gemology this fall.
4. What's your favorite species? Why?
Definitely quartz. Though it’s common, it forms in such an impressive array of variations. I particularly love any sort of included quartz.
5. Are you a stay-at-home collector or do you collect on the field too?
I’m a rockhound at heart! Field collecting is so rewarding, and I recommend every collector tries it. I’d say that about a third of my total collection is self-collected. I’ve collected in Pennsylvania (where I went to high school) and Ontario (where I’m going to university). There’s just something about uncovering a beautiful crystal from the dirt that creates a feeling that can’t be replicated. Being the first human to ever see a specimen come out from the Earth is also pretty amazing.
6. If you could give any advice to someone new to the hobby, what would it be?
Optimize your display! Use risers, take advantage of vertical space, make labels, etc. Some simple improvements in display can take your collection to a whole new level. And you don’t need a ton of money to have a nice display either! My cabinet was $100 on facebook marketplace, and I got all of my risers and lights from amazon. You don’t need fancy expensive specimens to have a good-looking collection; a nice display can make it look like your own personal museum!
7. If you could change anything regarding this hobby, what would that be?
If I could change one thing, I would try to stop the trend towards elitism in mineral collecting. Prices have been rising rapidly, and this is in part due to an increase in buyers (likely because of how the internet has boosted the popularity of metaphysical communities), but it’s also indicative of a shift in focus to a more “high-end” consumer. I do find myself concerned for the future of newbies in the hobby, especially those who don’t have a lot to shell out on specimens. I’ve never spent more than $67 on a specimen, and the vast majority of my pieces were less than $30. I know that it’s still possible to find good deals here and there, but it’s getting increasingly harder. I want having a nice collection to be accessible for anyone who wants it, regardless of income or status, but I’m seeing this hobby creep further and further away from that goal. (Not saying you need to spend a lot on specimens to have a nice collection though, that’s absolutely false.) Don’t get me wrong, my perspective comes from my experience working for industry professionals and immersion in this community as a whole, so I consider myself to have a pretty good grasp on the situation. My hope for the future is that the hobby will make widespread efforts to be accessible and inclusive to everyone passionate about minerals.