Thanks to his expeditions and discoveries in places like remote Tanzania, Jonathan Bartky is a minor celebrity within gem and mineral circles. He is regarded as the discoverer of new types of green and red quartz, called Tanzurine.
In pursuit of his passion, Bartky has traveled the world. In 2016, he formed Ariel Treasures, and the results of his various global explorations are now showcased in his wholesale/retail warehouse in The Acreage. On display and for sale are thousands of items, ranging from small, rough specimens sold for a few dollars per gram, to an artistically mounted $10,000 massive butterfly amethyst.
A self-described “rockhound,” Bartky has been totally absorbed by gems, rocks and minerals for as long as he can remember. The first to discover Tanzurine, he was featured in Rock & Gem Magazine for this awesome find, as well as in other trade publications. This new variety of quartz is unusual with its deep reds and vibrant greens. Tanzurine quartz is, he noted, totally natural, as opposed to some cherry quartz, which may be treated with dye.
“We came across Tanzanite in Maasai tribal land, deep in the bush of northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border, not far from the Serengeti Wildlife Preserve,” Bartky recalled.
He described navigating rugged roads and deep bush.
“I love quartz, but had never seen natural and untreated cherry quartz,” he explained. “It was not known to exist.”
The finding has made Bartky a frequent public speaker within the gem and mineral community.
Bartky recently relocated from New Jersey to The Acreage, where every room in his home, except for the kitchen and a bedroom, is filled with a myriad of beautifully displayed products.
The showcases are museum quality, well organized and expansive. The lighting is specially designed for personalized video shopping.
While he has earned a nursing degree and worked as a healer along the way, Bartky said that rocks have always played a part in his life.
“I’ve been at this professionally since my college days at Rutgers, where you could find me in the library trying to locate mining opportunities on microfilm,” he recalled. “My first expedition was to Minas Gerais in Brazil. Like most trips, I’d describe it as both fun and dangerous.”
After forming Bartky Minerals with his parents, a great success, he decided to go out on his own, and in 2016 he formed Ariel Treasures. The company provides crystals to retailers around the country and offers high-end pieces as accessories to upscale interior designers. The showroom is only open by appointment, and many appointments are by video, where buyers can peruse, negotiate and buy in real time. In-person visits by serious prospective clients, wholesale or retail, can be scheduled.
Local clients include Pura Vida Wellness in Lake Worth. Owner Duane Denton described Bartky as “both passionate and sincere.” According to the Cape Cod Crystals web blog, “As far as being a reputable source for minerals, Bartky is the real deal. He and his team work with local mining villages and families in East Africa, specifically Tanzania, to uncover the gorgeous rarities that are native to that land.”
Bartky has led an interesting life. While he has been involved with gems and minerals since childhood, along the way he has earned certification as a registered nurse, which he worked at full time for 10 years.
Bartky has also worked as a licensed massage therapist and as a hands-on healer.
The majority of his clients are retail stores, where many of his products are sold as healing crystals. Grounded in the sciences as a nurse, he was asked about the healing power of crystals. “Millions of people feel benefits. I, personally, believe in God, who has provided us with beneficial herbs and plants. So, maybe there are beneficial minerals and crystals. Their measurable electrical, vibrational and other properties make me open-minded,” Bartky explained.
He then went on to point out the deeply satisfying feeling people often experience with the right crystal folded into the palm of their hand.
Ariel Treasures specializes in amethyst clusters, bookends, candle holders, crystal points, geodes, high-end jewelry, kyanite, quartz clusters, rose quartz, rough gemstones, slabs/coasters, smoky quartz, spheres and Tanzurine.
For more information, visit https://arieltreasures.com.
