Wolfgang Mueller, Geologist

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather
Wolfgang Mueller, Geologist and Lapidary Artist

Wolfgang Mueller, Geologist and Lapidary Artist

  Wolfgang Mueller has been collecting minerals since the mid-1960s. He has been a geologist over 40 years and involved in lapidary work for over 20 years. 

  He and his wife Diana manage DiWolf Fine Stone Emporium which sells gem stones which are cut, polished, designed and fabricated by Diana and Wolfgang. The name of their company is derived from Di for Diana and Wolf for Wolfgang. They produce stone eggs, spheres, marbles and cabochons. Diana also uses the gem stones in making finished jewelry including some items made using intricate bead work. 

  Diana has been making jewelry since the 1980s when she worked at a jewelry factory in upstate New York. DiWolf specializes in rare, unusual, classic, obscure and hard-to-work-with stones. 

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller's lapidary work.

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller’s lapidary work.

  DiWolf is involved in the February gem shows in Tucson. They also appear at the Pasadena Bead and Design Show in Pasadena, California and the Denver Gem and Mineral Show in Colorado. 

Diana and Wolfgang Mueller

Diana and Wolfgang Mueller

  Wolfgang was born in Yugoslavia and came to the United States when he was nine and a half years old. His family settled in Southern California near the Los Angeles area. After high school he attended a junior college. He flunked out of physics, which turned out to be a blessing as it led him into the field of geology. He said when it came to calculus, his “mind went totally blank.” Wolfgang received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Riverside.  He then became a member of the United States Army. He served as an officer with the Army Corps of Engineers and spent one year in South Vietnam. While in Vietnam he was in charge of a rock quarry. 

Diana's jewelry work.

Diana’s jewelry work.

  Upon his return to the states, he worked as a mineral dealer and worked for the American Cement Corporation. He went back to school on the G.I. Bill and got his Masters in geology. He arrived in San Manuel. Arizona in 1974. Wolfgang said that on the day he arrived there was a wildcat strike. He worked in quality control for Magma for two years. He then transferred to Magma’s parent company Newmont in Danbury, Connecticut where he worked in their lab as a mineralogist for 10 years. 

  Wolfgang and Diana still get out and hunt minerals when they can. Wolfgang says it is a little tougher for rock hounds due to mines closing and preventing people from entering their property due to liability issues. They are members of two mineral groups in Tucson and the Gila County Gem & Mineral Society in Globe. Some of Wolfgang’s mineral specimens have been displayed in the Smithsonian reference collection, Cincinnati Museum, National Museum of Canada, San Bernardino County Museum, Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum and Bullion Plaza in Miami, Arizona.  He is well known and respected in the lapidary/mineral world. He has published an article “Arizona Gemstones” in Rocks & Minerals magazine and has over 100 photos published in gem and mineral magazines. 

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller's lapidary work.

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller’s lapidary work.

  He is the Curator of Minerals at the Bullion Plaza Cultural Center and Museum in Miami, Arizona. He works closely with volunteers to make sure that all the mineral specimens are labeled correctly and are displayed properly in the permanent Minerals & Geology exhibit at the museum. He has also given lectures on the local mineralogy of the Miami-Globe area at Bullion Plaza. He also gives lectures to clubs and civic groups in southern Arizona. Most recently, he gave a lecture on minerals at Oracle State Park.  

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller's lapidary work.

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller’s lapidary work.

  If you would like to learn more about DiWolf Fine Stone Emporium or contact Wolfgang, visit www.diwolf.com, e-mail: dwm@diwolf.com or call (520) 896-3197.

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller's lapidary work.

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller’s lapidary work.

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller's lapidary work.

A sample of Wolfgang Mueller’s lapidary work.

John Hernandez (785 Posts)

John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.


Facebooktwitterby feather
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Comments are closed.

  • Additional Stories

    Annual San Manuel Copper Classic motorcycle race returns March 9

    February 4th, 2024
    by

        Well, they will be at it again. The Trail Riders of Southern Arizona (TRS) will be hosting the […]


    Strong Start to Superior’s 2024

    February 4th, 2024
    by

    Our great town has entered 2024 at hypersonic speed, and we are excited about the many major milestones we have […]


    Winkelman Preparatory Academy plans expansion

    February 4th, 2024
    by

    By Mila Besich   When the school year first started in August of 2023, 16 young girls began attending the […]


    New welding facility open for regional learning in Superior

    February 4th, 2024
    by

      By Nathaniel A. Lopez   It’s official.   On Jan. 23, members of Superior Town Council, Rebuild Superior, Resolution […]


  • Additional Stories

    Queen Creek Bridge replacement project begins on US60; full closures will be required between Superior, Miami for blasting

    February 4th, 2024
    by

      SUPERIOR – The Arizona Department of Transportation is replacing two bridges on US 60 east of Superior with spans […]


    Pinal County hosts vaccine clinics in Kearny, Mammoth

    February 4th, 2024
    by

        On Jan. 14, the Pinal County Animal Care and Control offered low-cost vaccines to local pet owners in […]


    OWN Oracle to disband; Oracle Visitors Center to close

    February 4th, 2024
    by

      By Nathaniel A. Lopez   After many years of service in the Oracle, and surrounding communities, OWN-Oracle Women’s Network, […]


    Ray, Kearny PD receive grant for SRO

    February 1st, 2024
    by

      Ray Unified School District and the Kearny Police Department worked on a grant over the summer that funded a […]


  • Copperarea

  • Southeast Valley Ledger