Minerals.net

The first post on the InnSuites Show featured general scenes around the show. This next post features the minerals at the show. Some of the photos I took are of individual minerals, others are groups, and I also took of entire cases.

Click any picture for a larger pop-up, and use the zoom key to enlarge:

Outstanding Cubic Pyrite Crystal Cluster from Piritas De Navajun, Spain.
(I Wish I Would Have Added a Different Color Background!)

Large Golden Elmwood, Tennesee Calcites Associated with Sphalerite from Rock Decor (Joe Blaylock)

Another Beautiful Elmood Mineral Cabinet from Rock Decor (Joe Blaylock)

Rare Orange Kyanite Twin from Arusha, Tanzania, from Alfredo Petrov

Beatiful, Deep Blue Aquamarine from Nghe An Province in Vietnam, from Crystal Gem Minerals (He Xin Jian)
These New Aquamarines Were at Several Places at the Show, and this is the First Time I Have Ever Seen it Before.

Amazing Suite of African Gem Minerals in the Room of Patrick Mayer (Room 333)

Case of Fragile Crocoite Crystals from the Adelaide Mine in Dundas, Tasmania (Adam Wright).
These were collected this past year. It is amazing how these get transported without breaking!

Gigantic Crocoite Crystal Cluster in the Bottom of Adam Wright's Shelf

Another Large and Detailed Crocoite Crystal from Adam Wright

Natural Blue Topaz from the Taryall Mountains in Colorado (Jeff Self - Self-A-Ware Minerals)
Topaz has experienced a recent bonanza in the Colorado Mountains.

Deeply Colored Polished Azurite Nodules from the Famous Rubitsovskiy Mine in Siberia, Russia.
Russian Minerals Co. (Mikhail Anosov)
I was suprised by the amount of Russian dealers in Tucson this year.
There were many more then in previous years.

Calcite Growing in Shells from Florida.
(Whitney's Rocks to Gems - John & Debbie Whitney)

Coralized Chalcedony and Agates from Whitney's Rocks to Gems
(John & Debbie Whitney)

Iridescent Pyrite Nodules in Clay Concretion from the Volga River in Russia
From Rainbow Pyrite Drusy - Room 185

Shelf of Amazing Deep Blue Halites from the Intrepid Mine in New Mexico.
These Beautiful Minerals Have Become Very Popular Recently.
(Pinnacle 5 Minerals - Joe Dorris)

Another Shelf of the Same Deep Blue Halite Material

And a Two Superb Halite Cubes on Matrix with Sylvite

And One Last Amazing Photo of Blue Halite on Sylvite Matrix

New Find of Sherry Topaz from Colorado.
There has been much good Topaz coming out of Colorado lately
These are from the Tribute Pocket, Agnus Dei Claim, El Paso Co., Colorado
(Pinnacle 5 Minerals - Joe Dorris)

Some Excellent Amazonite and Smoky Quartz's from the newly discovered Lucky Monday Pocket,
Smoky Hawk Claim, Florissant, Teller Co., Colorado
(Pinnacle 5 Minerals - Joe Dorris)

Cabinet of Exquisite Gem Crystals from Majestic Minerals (Scott M. Wallace)

Another Colorful Cabinet from Majestic Minerals (Scott M. Wallace)

Giant Amethyst Geode from Uruguay at the Entrance of the Hotel
(Specimen "From Uruguay")

The InnSuites show is my favorite show in Tucson. This sprawling hotel complex has all its rooms filled with great mineral dealers and outstanding minerals. The show is extremely laid-back with a vacation-like atmosphere, and the exceptionally comfortable weather made this indoor-outdoor show quite pleasant. Almost all the big-name mineral dealers are present at this show, and they are generally very approachable. One of the things I personally like about this show is that it is almost exclusively minerals, and there are only few gemstone and jewelry dealers. The show also offers free parking, which is a nice bonus. Below are some general scenes from the show.

Click any picture for a larger pop-up, and use the zoom key to enlarge:

Main Entrance to the InnSuites Show
Note the Giant Uruguay Amethyst Geode

Hotel Scene at the Back of the InnSuites

Dinosaur Models Roaming on Hotel Volleyball Court

Typical Laid-Back Scene in the Main Courtyard of the Hotel

Giant Mineral Art and Carvings Near the Hotel Pool

Alfredo Petrov was Giving out These Beautiful Calendars in His Room

Jeff Scovil, Renowned Mineral Photographer, had a room in the InnSuites with the Above Setup.

Beautiful Fishtank of Fluorescent Minerals in the Room of Bill Gardner - Way Too Cool.
Regular Light Illumination

The Same Fishtank Under UV Illumination

This is the Room of Jaroslav Hyrsl from the Czech Republic, with Jarsolav Posing.
I was Delighted to Meet Jaroslav. His Last Name is the same as my First Name!
(Though its Spelled Differently).

Giant Ammolite Fossils in Matrix

Scene in the Indoor Ballrom of the InnSuites

More Scenes in the Inner Ballroom

Polished Petrified Wood Logs Near the Entrance of the Hotel

Nice Sunset Picture in the front of the InnSuites, with Additional Tents

Hershel Friedman is finally back from his extended trip out west, which started with the Tucson shows and ended in California. He has many pictures and postings to share from all the Tucson shows. Due to the large amount of pictures, these will be posted as several different posts in chronological order. Keep checking back here for updates as they will be quite frequent!

We have emailed our February 2014 Tucson edition of the Minerals.net online newsletter. Please click the image below for the larger version.

By Robert Beard

I recently purchased "Rockhounding Pennsylvania and New Jersey," By Robert Beard. This book describes many of the localities in these two states with the status and ability to collect there. Overall this is a great book, and is highly recommended. Although I am familiar with a lot of the locations described in the book, there were some that were new to me, and it also provided details on some of the localities that I was not aware of.

This book is an essential resource for any field collector in the area. I like the fact that the book lists a lot of localities, including non-collectible but import geological features to observe. There are good details on every locality, with very specific instructions on finding the locations. The book is well-organized in a very neat and clean format, and also provides good pictures of the localities described. It also says which locations are kid friendly, which I think is an extra step of usefulness.

The book describes both mineral and fossil localities. Though I am strictly a mineral collector, and the fossil localities are not as interesting to me, it is still nice to see these localities listed in the book for those who are interested in fossils. I don’t know why the author chose to describe New Jersey and Pennsylvania in one book. Granted these states are geographically next to each other, but they are quite different in many ways, including geologically and culturally. I would have separated this book into two books, one for each state, and provide a more extensive background on the geology and history of mining in each state.

I think that this book is a great resource for both expert collectors and novices alike. The experts can gain some additional localities and information that they would otherwise not have found, and the novices can gain a list of collectible localities which can be a learning experience for them. For the novices, more collecting information such as collecting behavior should have been included. Also, all the local clubs in each state should have been mentioned with contact information so that someone interested in this hobby can join a club for an additional level of enrichment in this hobby.

One of my biggest criticisms of the book is that it should not have provided the details on some of the classic locations that are meant only for the expert collectors. For example, I have heard that a classic locality mentioned in the book, which was well-known to local collectors, has now experienced an explosion of new visitors there, including out-of-area collectors. While the collecting status at this locality is definitely questionable and not publicly sanctioned, the owner has been tolerating an occasional collector here and there. But now with the location “discovered” and becoming quite busy, especially on weekends, it is doubtful that this status quo will remain. The last thing any serious collector wants is to have a classic locality closed down due to an excessive number of collectors or irresponsible rockhounds. One last criticism I have for the book is the cover photo, showing a nice kyanite from the Wissahickon formation in Pennsylvania. The picture itself is a good picture, but the outlines are clearly outlined and poorly shadowed with a Photoshop job.

Despite the above criticism, overall the author has done a great job, and I really enjoyed learning new things from this book. The author is planning on launching a book titled "Rockhounding in New York" this coming year as well, and I look forward to the new book when it comes out!

Click here to buy the book on Amazon.