Qualifications

Bob Griffis has 28 years of experience as a dealer in mineral specimens in both the wholesale and resale marketplace, and has been collecting minerals for over 40 years.  He has a Bachelor's of Science degree and a Master's of Science degree, Summa Cum Laude, both in Geology.  He is a Member of the Mineralogical Society of Southern California, and served on the Board of Directors from 2002-2005.

Bob Griffis Minerals has the experience and expertise to professionally evaluate your mineral collection, perform research at the level required to pass IRS scrutiny, and compile and prepare a comprehensive, defensible certified appraisal.  We strive to produce accurate appraisals that are reasonable in light of the evidence of value.  We seek to report a degree of plausibility in valuations that is defensible, and that is the best possible and supportable estimate of value.

We have enough experience to recognize that appraisals are not an exercise in the application of scientific method to yield an absolute result.  Appraisers deal with estimates, which by their nature are relative, and not absolutely precise measures of value.  Valuations are based on judgments, not measurements, and we base our judgments on good and substantial data, properly analyze it, and use it to achieve the maximum possible degree of accuracy.  Unlike appraisals of other types of collectibles (such as pottery, coins and stamps), valuations of minerals are more subjective as each mineral specimen is unique.  The research of valuation for some mineral specimens is also more difficult as many appraised specimens have no counterpart in the current marketplace.  This is where our extensive experience in pricing minerals from old collections for sale is an invaluable resource.