By Debra Smith
Downtown Lewisburg has welcomed a unique new addition with the opening of Rootelated Gems and Minerals, a specialty shop owned and operated by Sydney and Chris Stevens. The couple has turned their shared passion for rockhounding and natural treasures into a welcoming destination for collectors, nature lovers, and anyone curious about the beauty hidden beneath the earth’s surface.
Sydney and Chris have spent years exploring and digging for gems and minerals across the country. Their adventures have taken them to well-known rockhounding destinations including Arizona, New Mexico, Arkansas and the area surrounding the Broken Bow Lake in Oklahoma.
Those experiences helped inspire the creation of Rootelated – a place where they can share the fascinating and beautiful world of gems, minerals and fossils with the community.
Inside the shop, customers will find a wide variety of specimens from across the United States and around the world. The selection includes tumbled stones, rough stones, Quartz, fossils, and Jaspers, as well as an extensive collection of Native American arrowheads, which are available for trade only.
Rootelated also specializes in rare and unique pieces that collectors will appreciate. Among the specimens on display are Sugilite from South Africa, Ethiopian Opals, Spencer Opals from Spencer, Idaho, Jade from Wyoming, and Fire Agate from Arizona. Other notable pieces include Pigeon Blood Ruby, Tanzanite, and Quartz, along with many other remarkable finds.
In addition to international treasures, the shop proudly features natural pieces that highlight West Virginia’s geological heritage. Visitors will discover plant fossils from the coal fields, shell fossils from Kanawha County, and Agates from Greenbrier County, offering a glimpse into the natural history found right here in the Mountain State.
Beyond loose specimens, Rootelated also offers a wide variety of handcrafted jewelry made from many of the stones found in the shop. The counter displays an abundance of earrings, necklaces, and rings, each with its own natural beauty.
Chris is a master craftsman at wire-wrapping stones, creating intricate one-of-a-kind pieces, while Sydney specializes in setting stones in sterling silver, turning raw materials into wearable works of art.
For Sydney and Chris, the shop is about more than selling minerals – it’s about sharing their passion with others.
“We want our customers to feel welcome and excited to see different specimens and unique pieces,” Sydney said. “We hope to inspire youth to experience and feel our passion for digging and to pass on this tradition for generations to come. To get in touch with nature – to have a real, tangible experience.”
Rootelated Gems and Minerals is located at 848 N. Court Street in Lewisburg. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 5 p.m., and is closed on Tuesdays.
For more information, visit rootelated.com.
