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The New Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum at University of Arizona - Part 1

The University of Arizona Mineral Museum recently moved to its new home in the historic Pima County Courthouse. This was major news for the mineral community, with the opening of a new, world-class gem and mineral museum in downtown Tucson.


The museum was previously housed on the campus of the University of Arizona, in the lower level of the Flandrau Planetarium Science Center. I had been to this museum several times in the past while visiting Tucson for the mineral shows, and have made museum reports here on the site regarding their mineral collection.


In August 2021, the museum officially opened in its new location in the Pima County Courthouse in the center of the city. It is a brand new facility with state-of-the-art exhibits. The minerals on display are plentiful, and the displays are clean, modern, and have excellent lighting and signage.


The official name of the new museum is the Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum. The museum celebrated its grand opening in February 2022 to coincide with the Tucson shows. I wasn't in Tucson yet for the opening ceremony, but was still able to visit the museum on my trip in Tucson shortly after its opening.


I was impressed by the quality of the collection and the fantastic displays. I took hundreds of pictures and selected my favorite photos for this post. I will make two blog posts for my museum visit - this first for the worldwide exhibits, and the second focused on minerals of Arizona. Here is the first:


Approaching the Pima County Courthouse and Museum Building in Downtown Tucson
Approaching the Pima County Courthouse and Museum Building in Downtown Tucson

Courtyard of the Inner Part of the Spanish-Styled Building
Courtyard of the Inner Part of the Spanish-Styled Building

Apollo 15 Lunar Basalt from the Moon Collected by Astronaut James Irwin
Apollo 15 Lunar Basalt from the Moon, Collected by Astronaut James Irwin

Calcite with Oriented Pyrite from Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China
Calcite with Oriented Pyrite from Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China

Variscite Polished Nodule from Fairfield, Utah
Variscite Polished Nodule from Fairfield, Utah

Chalcopyrite on Quartz from the Boldut Mine, Cavnic, Maramures, Romania
Chalcopyrite on Quartz from the Boldut Mine, Cavnic, Maramures, Romania

Prehnite with Thomsonite from Paterson, New Jersey
Prehnite with Thomsonite from Paterson, New Jersey

Giant Stibnite Cluster from the Xikuangshan Antimony Deposit, Lengshuijian, Hunan Province, China
Giant Stibnite Cluster from the Xikuangshan Sb Deposit, Lengshuijian, Hunan Prov., China

Complex Calcite Crystal from Tsumeb, Namibia
Complex Calcite Crystal from Tsumeb, Namibia

Large Elbaite Tourmaline Crystal from Kunar Province, Afghanistan
Large Elbaite Tourmaline Crystal from Kunar Province, Afghanistan

Fantastic Emerald Crystal from Swat, Khyber Province, Pakistan
Fantastic Emerald Crystal from Swat, Khyber Province, Pakistan

Amethyst Peace Sign from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Fantastic Amethyst "Peace Sign" from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Radiating Elbaite Tourmaline Crystal Cluster from the Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Radiating Elbaite Tourmaline Crystal Cluster from the Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Sulfur Crystals in Drill Core from Big Hill, Texas
Sulfur Crystals in Drill Core from Big Hill, Texas

Radiating Clinochlore from Zheleznogorsk, Russia
Radiating Clinochlore from Zheleznogorsk, Russia

Calcite with Amethyst from Artigas, Uruguay
Calcite with Amethyst from Artigas, Uruguay

Dioptase Crystals from Altyn-Tyub, Kazakhstan
Dioptase Crystals from Altyn-Tyub, Kazakhstan

Calcite with Dioptase Inclusions from Tsumeb, Namibia
Calcite with Dioptase Inclusions from Tsumeb, Namibia

Yellow Beryl (Heliodor) on Muscovite from Tajikistan
Yellow Beryl (Heliodor) on Muscovite from Tajikistan

Silver on Calcite from Superior, Pinal Co., Arizona
Silver on Calcite from Superior, Pinal Co., Arizona

Gold from the Crystalline-Alabama Clain, Tuolumne Co., California
Gold from the Crystalline-Alabama Clain, Tuolumne Co., California

Giant Silver Boulders Recently Found in Globe, Gila County, Arizona
Giant Silver Boulders Recently Found in Globe, Gila County, Arizona

The New Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum at University of Arizona - Part 2

This post is the second one about the New Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum at the University of Arizona. Our first post on the museum focused on their worldwide collection of minerals. This next post features the minerals of Arizona in the museum collection.


Arizona is one of the most prominent states regarding mineral collection and history. There are numerous classic localities with an abundance of fantastic mineral specimens coming from these locations. I therefore included a special post on the Arizona minerals in Arizona's most significant permanent display of minerals.



Petrified Wood from Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Petrified Wood from Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Glauberite Crystal from Camp Verde Salt Mine, Yavapai, Arizona
Glauberite Crystal from Camp Verde Salt Mine, Yavapai, Arizona

Dioptase from Ray, Pinal Co., Arizona
Dioptase from Ray, Pinal Co., Arizona

Arizona Copper Case
Arizona Copper Case

Gold Crystal Nugget near Bagdad, Yavapai, Arizona
Gold Crystal Nugget near Bagdad, Yavapai, Arizona

Exceptional Cuprite var. Chalcotrichite from Bisbee, Arizona
Exceptional Cuprite var. Chalcotrichite from Bisbee, Arizona

Display Case of Fine Azurites from Bisbee, Arizona
Display Case of Fine Azurites from Bisbee, Arizona

Display Case of Fine Malachites from Bisbee, Arizona
Display Case of Fine Malachites from Bisbee, Arizona

Azurite and Malachite Stalagmites in Cave Replica of Bisbee, Arizona
Azurite and Malachite Stalagmites in Cave Replica of Bisbee, Arizona

Wulfenite from the Glove Mine, Amado, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona
Wulfenite from the Glove Mine, Amado, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona

Vanadinite from the Old Yuma Mine, Tucson Mountains, Pima Co., Arizona
Vanadinite from the Old Yuma Mine, Tucson Mountains, Pima Co., Arizona

Wulfenite from the Red Cloud Mine, La Paz Co., Arizona
Wulfenite from the Red Cloud Mine, La Paz Co., Arizona

Case of Exceptional Wulfenite from Arizona
Case of Exceptional Wulfenite from Arizona

Stalagmitic Calcite from the Holbrook Mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona
Stalagmitic Calcite from the Holbrook Mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona

Wulfenite from the Defiance Mine, Gleeson, Cochise Co., Arizona
Wulfenite from the Defiance Mine, Gleeson, Cochise Co., Arizona

Polished Concentric Azurite with Malachite from Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona
Polished Concentric Azurite with Malachite from Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona

Silver Wires on Calcite from Superior, Pinal Co., Arizona
Silver Wires on Calcite from Superior, Pinal Co., Arizona

Malachite Pseudomorph after Azurite from the Czar Mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona
Malachite Pseudomorph after Azurite from the Czar Mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona

The Tucson 2022 La Fuente Mineral Show

During the past several years, the center of mineral activity in Tucson has shifted north to the Mineral City area. Various satellite shows and tents surround the area, with perhaps the biggest being the La Fuente Show. The full name is the La Fuente de Piedras Mineral Show, and it is located in the vicinity of a well-known Mexican restaurant of the same name across the street from Mineral City. The restaurant is no longer operating, but its iconic pink building is very recognizable and has become the home of Jewel Tunnel Imports, a large dealership founded by the late mineral icon Rock Currier (yes, that was his real name.)


Adjacent to the former La Fuente restaurant is a large tent with several additional prominent dealers, including the Arkenstone, John Cornish Minerals, and Mineral Classics. I arrived here later in the day, and didn't make it to the actual La Fuente building due to a lack of time. I only was able to attend the large tent adjacent to the former restaurant. However, I still was able capture some great mineral photos from the tent to document for this report.



La Fuente Mineral Show and Adjacent Tent
La Fuente Mineral Show and Adjacent Tent

Incredible Balancing Aquamarine on Matrix from the Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Incredible Balancing Aquamarine on Matrix from the Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
The Arkenstone

Quartz Included by Fuchsite, Ihorvitra Mine, Ambatofinandrahana, Madagascar
Quartz Included by Fuchsite, Ihorvitra Mine, Ambatofinandrahana, Madagascar
The Arkenstone

Pink Cobaltian Calcite from the Mupine Mine, Kolwezi, Katanga, D.R. Congo
Pink Cobaltian Calcite from the Mupine Mine, Kolwezi, Katanga, D.R. Congo
The Arkenstone

Rhodonite from Conselheiro, Lafaiete, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Pink Rhodonite from Conselheiro, Lafaiete, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The Arkenstone

New Find of Green Cuprian Aragonite from Wenshan Co., Yunnan, China
New Find of Green Cuprian Aragonite from Wenshan Co., Yunnan, China
The Arkenstone

New Find of Blue Cuprian Aragonite from Wenshan Co., Yunnan, China
New Find of Blue Cuprian Aragonite from Wenshan Co., Yunnan, China
The Arkenstone

New Find of Blue Cuprian Aragonite from Wenshan Co., Yunnan, China
New Find of Blue Cuprian Aragonite from Wenshan Co., Yunnan, China
The Arkenstone

Fluorite Cube with Calcite from the Yangangxian Mine, Chenzhou, Hunan Prov, China
Fluorite Cube with Calcite from the Yangangxian Mine, Chenzhou, Hunan Prov, China
The Arkenstone

Yellow Quartz on Hematite from Jiniong Hill, Longchuan, Guangdong Prov, China
Yellow Quartz on Hematite from Jiniong Hill, Longchuan, Guangdong Prov, China
The Arkenstone

Purple Fluorite on Quartz from Dean, Wushan, Jiangxi, China
Purple Fluorite on Quartz from De'an, Wushan, Jiangxi, China
The Arkenstone

Iridescent Goethite on Malachite from the Sepon Mine, Savannakhet Province, Laos, John Cornish Minerals
Iridescent Goethite on Malachite from the Sepon Mine, Savannakhet Province, Laos
John Cornish Minerals

Cadmium Smithsonite from Weinan, near Wenshan, Yunnan Province, China, John Cornish Minerals
Cadmium Smithsonite from Weinan, near Wenshan, Yunnan Province, China
John Cornish Minerals

Heulandite on Mordenite in Vug from the Rat's Nest Claim, Custer Co., Idaho, John Cornish Minerals
Heulandite on Mordenite in Vug from the Rat's Nest Claim, Custer Co., Idaho
John Cornish Minerals

Giant Calcite Crystals from the Sweetwater Mine, Ellington, Missouri, John Cornish Minerals
Giant Calcite Crystals from the Sweetwater Mine, Ellington, Missouri
John Cornish Minerals

Large Gemmy Diopside Crystals from Jungaluk, Sar-e-Sang, Koksha Valley, Afghanistan, Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics
Large Gemmy Diopside Crystals from Jungaluk, Sar-e-Sang, Koksha Valley, Afghanistan
Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Large Gemmy Diopside Crystals from Jungaluk, Sar-e-Sang, Koksha Valley, Afghanistan, Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics
Large Gemmy Diopside Crystals from Jungaluk, Sar-e-Sang, Koksha Valley, Afghanistan
(This piece has been photographed in Minrec "What's New in Minerals" 2022)
Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Ruby Crystal in Marble on Blue Calcite, from Mogok, Burma, Specimen exhibited on the Mineralogical Record Cover, Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics
Large Gemmy Ruby Crystal in Marble (Blue Calcite) from Mogok, Burma
Specimen exhibited on the Mineralogical Record Cover
Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Ruby Crystal in Marble from Mogok, Burma, Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics
Large Ruby Crystal in Marble from Mogok, Burma
Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Large Fluorapatite Crystal from a new find in Fulford, Eagle Co., Colorado, Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics
Large Fluorapatite Crystal from a new find in Fulford, Eagle Co., Colorado
Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Another view of Large Fluorapatite from a new find in Fulford, Eagle Co., Colorado, Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics
Another view of Fluorapatite from a new find in Fulford, Eagle Co., Colorado
Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics

Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery 2022 - Highlights

One of the most significant changes at the Tucson mineral scene in 2022 was the addition of the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery. This new venue is a building adjacent to the Hotel Tucson, where the large InnSuites show was held up until recently. It housed some fine exhibit minerals from the Gail and Jim Spann collection, as well as some of the finest wire Silver and Silver crystals from the Spann Meieran collections. On display as well was a set of giant Amethyst geodes in the main entrance hallway.


The concept of this new venue is to provide a year-round location for several prominent dealers to maintain and display their inventory, and have a solid home for the yearly show. The dealers present at this facility include Crystal Classics, Collector's Edge, Graeber & Himes, Nicholas Stolowitz Fine Minerals, and The Focal Crystal. Also present are Dreher Carvings from Idar-Oberstein in Germany, MCP (Mineralogical Collection Professionals), and BlueCap Productions. The building also features an outdoor courtyard with a relaxed setting.


Below are some highlight pictures of the event. Stay tuned for additional pictures from individual dealer minerals at the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery!


Outside of the Fine Mineral Gallery in the Late Afternoon
Outside of the Fine Mineral Gallery in the Late Afternoon

Main Display Hallway in the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery
Main Display Hallway in the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery

Minerals from the Spann Collection on Display at the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery
Minerals from the Spann Collection on Display at the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery

Giant Aquamarine from Nagar, Hunza Valley, Gilgit, Pakistan, on Display
Giant Aquamarine from Nagar, Hunza Valley, Gilgit, Pakistan, on Display
Collectors Edge

Single Large Aquamarine Crystal with Quartz from Shigar, Skardu, Pakistan, on Display
Single Large Aquamarine Crystal with Quartz from Shigar, Skardu, Pakistan, on Display
Fine Art Minerals

Silver Wires & Crystals from the Meieran and Spann Collection, on Display
Silver Wires & Crystals from the Meieran and Spann Collection, on Display

Silver with Calcite Crystal from Kongsberg, Norway
Silver Wires with Calcite Crystal from Kongsberg, Norway

Silver Wires from Kongsberg, Norway
Silver Wires from Kongsberg, Norway

Silver Cubic Crystals from Kongsberg, Norway
Silver Cubic Crystals from Kongsberg, Norway

Crystal Classics Large Specimen Display
Crystal Classics Large Specimen Display

Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery 2022 - Dealer Minerals

Our next post on the 2022 mineral events in Tucson features minerals and scenes at the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery. This post features some of the prominent dealers who have space at this new venue. This post includes my visits to the rooms of the following dealers: Crystal Classics, Nick Stolowitz, Graber & Himes, and Focal Crystal. (Collector's Edge has a dedicated post that will be posted shortly.) I particularly enjoyed the smiley-faced agates seen at The Focal Crystal, and below are my favorites:

Smiley Faced Agate #1, Focal Crystal
Smiley Faced Agate #1
The Focal Crystal

Smiley Faced Agate #2, Focal Crystal
Smiley Faced Agate #2
The Focal Crystal

Smiley Faced Agate #3, Focal Crystal
Smiley Faced Agate #3
The Focal Crystal

Smiley Faced Agate #4, Focal Crystal
Smiley Faced Agate #4
The Focal Crystal

Fluorite Octahedron in Milky Quartz from the Huanggang Mine, Inner Mongolia, China, the Focal Crystal
Fluorite Octahedron in Milky Quartz from the Huanggang Mine, Inner Mongolia, China
The Focal Crystal

Yellow Botryoidal Calcite from Ait El Abbas, Midelt Province, Morocco, the Focal Crystal
Yellow Botryoidal Calcite from Ait El Abbas, Midelt Province, Morocco
The Focal Crystal

Auricalcite on Calcite from the Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico, the Focal Crystal
Aurichalcite on Calcite from the Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
The Focal Crystal

Blue Fluorite from Puy St. Guilmiere, Puy-De-Dome, France, the Focal Crystal
Blue Fluorite from Puy St. Guilmiere, Puy-De-Dome, France
The Focal Crystal

Fantastic Azurite Crystals from the Tsumeb, Namibia, the Focal Crystal
Fantastic Azurite Crystals from the Tsumeb, Namibia
The Focal Crystal

Beautiful Display of Large Minerals from Nicholas Stolowitz Fine Minerals
Beautiful Display of Large Minerals from Nicholas Stolowitz Fine Minerals

Large Spessartine Garnet Crystal from Loliondo, Arusha, Tanzania, Nicholas Stolowitz Fine Minerals
Large Spessartine Garnet Crystal from Loliondo, Arusha, Tanzania
Nicholas Stolowitz Fine Minerals

Star Destroyer Aquamarine with Schorl and Feldspar, Nicholas Stolowitz Fine Minerals
"Star Destroyer" Aquamarine with Schorl and Feldspar
Nicholas Stolowitz Fine Minerals

Chrysoberyl var. Alexandrite Sixlings from Novello Claims, Masvingo, Zimbabwe, Graeber & Himes Fine Minerals
Chrysoberyl var. Alexandrite Sixling from Novello Claims, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
Graeber & Himes Fine Minerals

Silver Wires on Calcite from Cobalt Lake Mine, Cobalt, Ontario, Canada, Graeber & Himes Fine Minerals
Silver Wires on Calcite from Cobalt Lake Mine, Cobalt, Ontario, Canada
Graeber & Himes Fine Minerals

Crystal Classics Room with Bar and Lounge
Crystal Classics Room with Bar and Lounge

Crystal Classics Fine Mineral Display
Crystal Classics Fine Mineral Display

Display Cases and Myriads of Mineral-Filled Drawers at the Crystal Classics Room
Display Cases and Myriads of Mineral-Filled Drawers at the Crystal Classics Room

Crystal Classics Exceptional Gemstone Display
Crystal Classics Exceptional Gemstone Display