J. Theo Kloprogge MSc Geology, PhD Geology/Chemistry, is currently an Honorary Senior Fellow at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia, and Adjunct Professor at the Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Philippines. He has been teaching analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and mineralogy/crystallography for many years. During the past 30+ years Dr. Kloprogge has been working as a mineralogist and spectroscopist. The results of his research have been published in nearly 300 papers, numerous book chapters, 5 books and 1 patent. He has been collecting minerals for more than 40 years and has built an extensive collection both for research and private use.
Robert Lavinsky, PhD Biochemistry (UCSD), was a crystal collector from the age of 12. He first started participating in mineral shows at the age of 14. He initially planned a career in molecular genetics but his passion for minerals led to a career change, founding www.iRocks.com in 1996. Since then, he has been a full-time mineral dealer and educator (particularly in China and online) and recently had the new mineral, Lavinskyite, named after him.
Based in Austin, Texas, Stretch works in the semiconductor industry as a mask design manager, previously in the oil and gas industry as a mud logger. He's also a member of the Mineral Association of Dallas (MAD) and the Austin Gem and Mineral Society (AGMS) where he has held seats on the Board of Directors, Dealer Chairman, Scholarship Chairman, and was chosen as 2013's Rockhound of the Year. Stretch has won several awards exhibiting Pseudomorphs including the national trophy for the American Federation of Mineral Societies, the Friends of Mineralogy award for best educational display and the Desautels award from the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society for best case at the main show in Tucson in 2009. Many of his Pseudomorphs have been published in prominent mineral magazines and books including an article on Pseudomorphs in Extra Lapis #43.
