About the Owners

 Eric first began learning the art of jeweling at 10 years of age from his grandfather Joseph Cifani and continues working on the same classic hand tools in the Cifani family for 70 years. Eric inherited his grandfather's tools in middle school and took jewelry courses throughout all years of High School and college.  His work as an ethnobotanical field collector on two dozen professional multidisciplinary expeditions, working closely with indigenous groups from the Upper Amazon Basin, across Mexico and the Southwestern United States cultivated his deep passion for exploring the beauty and mystery of our natural world in the wildernesses of their native environments and his unwavering commitment to conservation. 

Eric’s artistic philosophy is that nature is the creator. It is his role to seek, find, see, reveal, and arrange each piece in the spirit of mother earth’s unique creations. Manifesting one-of-a-kind, 100% natural, artist-mined, and handcrafted heirloom jewelry. 

Over his lifetime Eric’s work has earned several awards, been internationally published and also exhibited in several museums including the Smithsonian American Art Museum | Renwick Gallery, American Museum of Natural History | Halls of Gems & Minerals, Burning Man, Bellevue Arts Museum, Petaluma Arts Center, Sierra Arts Foundation.

Eric is the proprietor of Cifani Gem, a small family jeweler who offers their work and also teaches classes on jeweling from mine to finished jewelry. His creative process is well documented on social media in an effort to help and inspire other artists. Eric is a volunteer supervisor for the Southern Nevada Gem & Mineral Society.

 Heather is a 4th generation Southern Nevadan, and has lived in the Las Vegas area since 1989. Heather has always wanted to create and began doing so at the age of 2. As soon as she could hold a pencil or a brush, she was painting and drawing. Her father was a biochemist that worked with the forest service and taught Heather a deep love and appreciation of nature. Free time as a child was spent camping, hiking, taking day trips to national/state parks and monuments, learning about ancient cultures, and observing/identifying wildlife. In one of the many small mountain towns she lived in while growing up, Heather would frequently be caught with pretty rocks in her pockets. You could usually find her near a stream, sculpting objects out of the clay found there, or climbing a tree so she could observe the goings on, or reading a book and remaining hidden. 

Heather likes quiet places and meditative time more than most, as she is not neurotypical.  As an adult, Heather has pursued many different interests and careers throughout her adulthood. She is a big proponent of education and critical thinking. Heather is a graduate of CSN in 1997 and 2009 (A.A. and EMS) and UNLV 2005 (Magna Cum Laude, B.S. Education with an Arts emphasis). Some of her previous endeavors included: drawing and painting caricatures of tourists on the Las Vegas Strip, teaching art in the Clark County School District and Medical Assistants in the Las Vegas Valley, and practicing EMS and cardiac medicine.  

The inner artist could not be stilled anymore and Heather is now building a career creating art and mining; making beautiful objects from things found in nature. There is a pureness and authenticity to this work that she has never felt in any other undertaking. The land in the mining claim belongs to mother Gaea. We are just here to enhance what she has made. It is an honor to be able to work with the land and ensure that it remains a place for all creatures to inhabit, and for humans to learn about, appreciate, respect, and conserve. 

   Nicholas, a talented acrobatic rigger, has left an indelible mark on the world of performance arts and gemology. Born in San Antonio, Texas, and raised in the vibrant city of Oakland, California, Nicholas discovered his passion for both rigging and geology at an early age.

After completing his education, Nicholas joined the renowned Cirque du Soleil as an acrobatic rigger. His exceptional skills and dedication quickly caught the attention of the circus industry, leading him to work on prestigious productions such as "Michael Jackson One" and the thrilling "Mad Apple Show." Nicholas's expertise in rigging intricate aerial apparatus and his innate sense of timing and precision was not unnoticed.

While Nicholas's talents were prominently showcased in the world of circus arts, he also embraced his love for geology. An autodidact in the field, he immersed himself in the study of rocks, minerals, and gemstones, amassing a wealth of knowledge that rivaled that of professional geologists. Nicholas's unique blend of acrobatic prowess and geological expertise led him to become the resident geologist for The Columbia 23 mine, where he combined his passion for exploration and his in-depth understanding of minerals.

In 2016, Nicholas's life took a delightful turn when he married the love of his life at the electrifying EDC Las Vegas. This joyous event marked a new chapter in his life, and in 2021 he decided to settle in Las Vegas to be closer to the heart of the entertainment industry. To further share his passion for gemology and connect with fellow enthusiasts, Nicholas established his own business, Migrating Minerals. Through this venture, he curated a stunning collection of mineral specimens, cut stones, and rough minerals sourced from all corners of the globe. His expertise and discerning eye for quality quickly made Migrating Minerals a favorite among collectors and connoisseurs worldwide.