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Western Europe Exhibits at the TGMS Show: Part 1

March 3, 2015 Hershel Friedman (0)

The central theme of this year's show, "Minerals of Western Europe," brought forth a dazzling array of rare and classic minerals. Though there are still new mineral finds in Europe, some of the oldest collectible minerals come from this historical region. Western Europe also presents the birthplace of the study of mineralogy, and produced some of the earliest mineral collectors.


The showcase exhibits at the Tucson show this year were indeed fascinating. Kudos to the organizers and exhibitors for putting together a fascinating and memorable display. The order of these pictures (as well as our other show posts) is not specific, and is the order of the photo taken. This was based on the exhibit availability to photograph without visitors or other photographers blocking my view. I had to come back to some cases several times to get it cleared for a photo.

Click on the images below for larger pictures. The pop-up pictures can also be downloaded in a higher resolution by right clicking them to save them locally.)

American Museum of Natural History
Minerals of Western Europe
American Museum of Natural History


Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University
Minerals of Western Europe
Mineralogical & Geological Museum at Harvard University


Carbonate Classics Europe Natural History Museum Los Angeles
Carbonate Classics of Western Europe
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County


Royal Ontario Museum
Minerals of Western Europe
Royal Ontario Museum


Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Crystalline Postcards from Europe
Denver Museum of Nature & Science


Colorado School of Mines
Western European Specimens
Colorado School of Mines


Colorado School of Mines
Minerals from England
Cincinnati Museum Center


Carnegie Museum of Natural History
European Classics from the William W. Jefferis Collection
Carnegie Museum of Natural History


Carnegie Museum of Natural History
European Classics from the J.T. Reeder Collection
A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Michigan Tech University


Minerals from Greece Greek Rocks
Minerals from Greece
Greek Rocks


Panasqueira Mines Beira Baixa Portugal Luis Burillo Minerales
Minerals from the Panasqueira Mines, Beira Baixa, Portugal, and Spain
Luis Burillo Minerales


Panasqueira Mines Beira Baixa Portugal Luis Burillo Minerales
Minerals from the Swiss Alps
Siber+Siber Ltd., Switzerland


Panasqueira Mines Beira Baixa Portugal Luis Burillo Minerales
"Sucres" - Uninque "Gwindel" Quartz
[Unlabeled Case]


Minerals from Sweden
Minerals from Sweden
[Unlabeled Case]


Mineral Museum of Bonn, Germany
Mineral Classics of Germany
Mineral Museum of Bonn, Germany


Strontian and its Minerals, Natural Museum of Scotland
Strontian and its Minerals
Natural Museum of Scotland


London Natural History Museum
Frederick Noel Ashcroft Swiss Collection & Classic Alpine
London Natural History Museum


Strontian and its Minerals, Natural Museum of Scotland
Western Europe Minerals
Canadian Museum of Natutre


The 2015 TGMS Show: Dealer Minerals

March 3, 2015 Hershel Friedman (0)
As in previous years, my intention was to photograph interesting or new finds that dealers had to show me. I had arrived at the show early to get a press pass and spend the full day at the show, but I noticed with horror that my camera lens had snapped off its ring. I have a Nikon DSLR which I have used for the past four years to photograph the show, and my lens was cracked where it attaches to the camera mount, rendering it unusable. I don't recall banging it or anything, but the camera has gotten extensive usage over the years between all my various photography hobbies. The timing was awful, though.

I quickly left the show before even going in to find a BestBuy. I found one nearby, but they did not have the lens I needed, nor did they have any in stock in the entire Tucson area. Anyways, I had been thinking about getting a mirrorless camera with an interchangeable lens one of these days, and here was my opportunity. So I purchased their floor model for a very good price, but I had to learn how to use this new camera and the stock lens it came with very quickly. In the end, all worked out, thankfully, and virtually all of my photos with this new camera came out great.

This post features interesting dealer minerals from the show floor:
Click on the images below for larger pictures.

gold palladium uriman mine bolivar Venezuela
New find of natural alloy of Gold and Palladium, crystallized, from the Uriman Mine, Venezuela.
The Jungle Buyer (Alejandro Stern)
www.junglebuyergoldcrystals.com


the brick Fluorite chalcopyrite denton mine Illinois
Huge Fluorite with Chalcopyrite known affectionately as "The Brick."
From the Denton Mine, Hardin Co., Illinois.
Saga Minerals (Jared T. Freiburg)
www.sagaminerals.com



Fibrous, rare Halotrichite from Baiut, Maramures Co., Romania
Sprifer Minerals (Tomasz Praszkier)
www.spiriferminerals.com



Rare English Amethyst scepter.
From the Copper Hill Mine, Belstone, Devon, England
Edwards Minerals (Edward Rosenzweig)
www.edwardsminerals.com



Bright Orange Quartz Crystal Structure on Hematite.
From the JinalongFe Deposit, HeCon, Ma'anshan Prefecture, China
Green Mountain Minerals (Dylan and Nick Stolowitz)
www.greenmountainminerals.com



Lot of Deep Blue Azurite from the Nchanga Mine, Chingola, Zambia
Weinrich Minerals (Dan & Diana Weinrich)
www.weinrichmineralsinc.com



Individual Azurite from the above lot. Note the rich blue color!
Weinrich Minerals (Dan & Diana Weinrich)
www.weinrichmineralsinc.com



Bright blue Tanzanite in a beautifully contrasting white Quartz matrix.
These are rarely found in matrix, let alone with such an aesthetic one!
Unique Minerals (Evan Jones & Marc Miterman)
www.uniqueminerals.com



Hemispherical Malachite with excellent color from the Millpillas Mine in Mexico.
This mine has produced some of the best Azurite and Brochantite, but this Malachite is new to me.
Unique Minerals (Evan Jones & Marc Miterman)
www.uniqueminerals.com



Shattuckite pseudomorph of Malachite after Azurite from the Luputo Mine, Katango Zaire.
While excellent Shattuckites have been coming out of Zaire, this pseudomorph style is unique.
Mineral Classics (Brian Kosnar)
www.minclassics.com



Polished Shattuckite slab from the Tantara Mine, Katango Zaire.
Brian said they started polishing these specimens brought forth last year, and they look great!
Mineral Classics (Brian Kosnar)
www.minclassics.com



Old Classic Cerussite snowflake from Tsumeb
Mineral Classics (Brian Kosnar)
www.minclassics.com



Shattuckite that has been and Polished for Gemstone use
The Kosnars Discovered How to Stabilize and Polish these new Stones to the Market
Kosnar Gem Co (Brett Kosnar)
(Brett and Brian are brothers - Brett runs the mineral business, & Brian the gemstones.) www.kosnargemco.com



Rare Trapiche Emerald Among Other Emeralds from Colombia
These are Really Rare to Come Across!
Well Arranged Molecules (Kevin Downey)
www.wellarrangedmolecules.com



Greenockite from Summit, New Jersey
These are Rarely Available in Collections Today
The Mineral Cabinet (Bill Butkowski)
www.mineralcabinet.com



Amazonite from Konso, Ethiopia
It's Amazing How Similar These Look to the Colorado Crystals
Golden State Gem & Mineral (Richard Vogl)
www.goldenstategemmineral.com



Giant Fluorite with Calcite and Barite from the Denton Mine in Illinois.
The Sheet Size of this Fluorite Crystal is Astounding!
The Collector's Edge (Bryan Lees)
www.collectorsedge.com



Enormous plate of Amethyst from the Las Vigas Mine in Veracruz, Mexico
This is the Largest Specimen from this Mine I have Ever Seen!
The Collector's Edge (Bryan Lees)
www.collectorsedge.com



Two Exceptionally Large Crystals from Spodumene from Mawi, Afghanistan
Collector's Edge Always Impresses with the Sheer Size of their Specimens!
The Collector's Edge (Bryan Lees)
www.collectorsedge.com