DakotaMatrix.com
Title
Dakota Matrix Minerals - Internet's Premier Source for Collector Quality Mineral Specimens.
Description
Tom Loomis, founder of Dakota Matrix graduated from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City as a geological engineer in 1982. After graduation, Tom entered the work environment in Gillette, Wyoming as an environmental engineer and a coal geologist. It was in Gillette that Tom met Vicki Klar. Soon the couple moved to Deadwood, South Dakota. A short time later the couple were married in Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills on September 23, 1989. Tom worked as a mine geologist at Wharf Resources’ Annie Creek and Foley Ridge gold mine near Deadwood, while Vicki worked as an X-ray technologist in Deadwood. While at Wharf, Tom became the reserve engineer and eventually the Chief Engineer at Wharf’s Golden Reward mine. It was at Golden Reward that Tom re-discovered the rare vanadium phosphate, sincosite, not seen by mineral community since the 1890’s. As if blessed by the mineral gods, the sincosite deposit was discovered within Tom’s last few months at Wharf before taking a job in Mexico in 1996. While in Mexico, Tom worked at Campbell Resources’, Santa Gertrudis gold mine, near Magdalena in Sonora as their technical superintendent. Tom collected at many localities while in Mexico including the San Francisco mine known for its splendid wulfenite. In 1998, Tom and Vicki relocated once more to Fallon, Nevada after receiving an offer he couldn’t refuse from the Coeur Rochester silver mine near Lovelock, Nevada. His positions there included Chief Engineer responsible for reserve engineering, long and short term mine planning and project engineering. Although Nevada was enticing for its huge mineral potential, the one and half hour one-way trip to work and corporate politics prompted their return back home to their beloved Black Hills in the year 2000. Both Tom and Vicki enjoy the outdoors, bike riding and especially like dogs. A few photos are included below.
Matrix Minerals, the predecessor of Dakota Matrix Minerals, was founded in 1996. That year marked the re-discovery of the aforementioned mineral, sincosite (see Mineralogical Record May-June, 1999 issue, Vol. 30), and propelled Tom into mineral sales. In 1998, Matrix Minerals formerly changed its name to Dakota Matrix Minerals to emphasize its specialty in minerals from South Dakota. Dakota Matrix has had a presence on the Internet since 1998. The Dakota Matrix Minerals website was in its infancy and only a part time venture in 1998, while Tom and Vicki were in Nevada. In 2000, after relocating to the Black Hills, the website became a full time occupation for Tom. In 2001, the Dakota Matrix website took on a new look after a complete and thorough redesign. In 2003, the website once again went through major changes to improve navigation and to incorporate a user-friendly database search function. A secure online order form and a shopping cart were also added.
An easy to use, fast-loading website with good, clear photos has always been a priority for Dakota Matrix Minerals. Although the Dakota Matrix website is a major component to bringing minerals to its customers, the mineral stock and customer satisfaction are forefront to the overall mission of Dakota Matrix. Dakota Matrix’s acquisition policy includes finding minerals, which are unique, rare, and uncommon on the market. Dakota Matrix also strives to find the undamaged and the best quality minerals. Ubiquitous, easy-to-find minerals are generally not found on the Dakota Matrix website. Customer satisfaction is not lip service at Dakota Matrix. Our policy includes a satisfaction guarantee – if you don’t like, return it. Our packaging is extraordinary and sometimes overkill. We try to answer all emails in a timely fashion and our pricing is not out of this universe. We do not believe in getting the highest return possible and selling only to the few people with loads of money, but believe in giving all of our customers a competitive chance. You may find a Mission Statement and more about our policies on the Ordering, Security, Shipping and Return page.
Additional Information
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