Minerals.net

This posting features some interesting sample minerals I noticed at the show that caught my attention. I could have spent all day taking such pictures, but only focused on a few that stuck out. in order not to overwhelm myself.

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

Lavender Jade Slab from Burma.
One rarely encounters these.
Merk's Jade Specimen, Roger & Hana Merk

Amazing Sapphire Crystal in Mica Matrix from Afghanistan.
Mountain Minerals International, Dudley Blauwet

Pink Sapphire in marble matrix from Luc Yen, Vietnam.
Mountain Minerals International, Dudley Blauwet

Two-Toned Beryl with part Aquamarine and part Morganite, from Gilgit, Pakistan.
Combinations Like This Are Highly Unusual.
Mountain Minerals International, Dudley Blauwet

Incredible, Alternating Yellow and Blue Sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Mountain Minerals International, Dudley Blauwet

Gemmy, Bright Yellow Sapphire Crystal from Sri Lanka
Mountain Minerals International, Dudley Blauwet

Outstanding, Pastel Green Aragonite Crystal with Sulfur from Sicily, Italy.
Edward Rozensweig, Edwards Minerals LLC
www.edwardsminerals.com

Huge Pink Manganoan Calcite from the Huanggang Mine in Inner Mongolia, China
The Collectors Edge
www.collectorsedge.com

Large Kunzite with a Deep, Amethyst-Purple Color from Afghanistan and Unusual Crystal Pattern.
The Collectors Edge
www.collectorsedge.com

Huge Aquamarine Crystal Plate in Mica from Pakistan.
Note the comparison of the person to the left for size.
The Collectors Edge
www.collectorsedge.com

The Largest, Single Aquamarine Crystal I have Ever Seen, from Tamil Nadu, India.
It's Probably Over 2 Feet in Height!
The Collectors Edge
www.collectorsedge.com

Odd Purple Wormlike Apatite Crystal Growth on Quartz from Gilgit, Pakistan
Dave Bunk Minerals
www.davebunkminerals.com

Very Large Cluster of Tiny Gold Crystals from the Olinghouse Mine in Nevada
C. Scott Werschky, Miner's Lunchbox

An Absolutely Enormous gemmy Green Beryl from the Jequitinhonha Valley in Brazil.
Note the Price Tag of $450,000!
Rob Lavinsky, The Arkenstone
www.irocks.com

New Find of Deep Green Demantoid Garnet from Iran.
Rob Lavinsky, The Arkenstone
www.irocks.com

New Find of Iridescent Chalcocite and Djurleite from the Tongshan Mine in China
Rob Lavinsky, The Arkenstone
www.irocks.com

Deep Blue Radiating Shattuckite from Shaba, Congo
Brian Kosnar, Mineral Classics
www.minclassics.com

Massive Alexandrite Crystal Plate from Zimbabwe
Throwin' Stones (Rusty James)

Oddly shaped, Prismatic, Elongated Fluorite with Blue and Purple Tones
Saga Minerals (Jared Freiberg)

I have a tremendous amount of footage from the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show ^TM, which is also known as the "Main Show" and the "Convention Center Show." This is the largest and most important show in Tucson, and was the original show that started all the buzz in Tucson. Aside from having almost all the import dealers set up at this show, it is also famous for world-class public displays and exhibits. I will be dividing the show reports for the Main Show into several sections in order to have it better organized:

• General Show Scenes
• Individual Dealers Minerals
• Mineral Dealer Displays
• Public Exhibits Individual Minerals
• Public Exhibits Case Displays

Our show reports are unique in that we were able to get footage of most of the public displays, and present them as hi-resolution photos for incredible viewing detail. This year's show theme was "60 Years of Diamond, Gems, Silver and Gold" in honor of the 60th anniversary of the show. Our first report of this show brings you general scenes around the show. Stay tuned for additional reports on the show in the coming days!

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

Dealers Setting Up the Day Before the Show

At the Very Beginning of the Show, Looking Down from the Main Floor

Our Ad in the Information Table in the Official Show Guide

Lounge Area with new Benches, as the Volume of People Picks Up

Rocks and Minerals Magazine Both with Marie Huizing
Page in the Jan-Feb Edition Showing Our Ad

Bruce Wood of Bruce Wood Minerals Showing Off his Display

Jeff Scovil Presenting a Workshop on Mineral Photography

TV Crew Interviewing Margi Jenks of the Crater of Diamonds State Park
in Arkansas, in Front of the Exhibit of Arkansas Diamonds

Busy Show Scene

I have a tremendous amount of footage from the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show ^TM, which is also known as the "Main Show" and the "Convention Center Show." This is the largest and most important show in Tucson, and was the original show that started all the buzz in Tucson. Aside from having almost all the import dealers set up at this show, it is also famous for world-class public displays and exhibits. I will be dividing the show reports for the Main Show into several sections in order to have it better organized:

• General Show Scenes
• Individual Dealers Minerals
• Mineral Dealer Displays
• Public Exhibits Individual Minerals
• Public Exhibits Case Displays

Our show reports are unique in that we were able to get footage of most of the public displays, and present them as hi-resolution photos for incredible viewing detail. This year's show theme was "60 Years of Diamond, Gems, Silver and Gold" in honor of the 60th anniversary of the show. Our first report of this show brings you general scenes around the show. Stay tuned for additional reports on the show in the coming days!

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

Dealers Setting Up the Day Before the Show

At the Very Beginning of the Show, Looking Down from the Main Floor

Our Ad in the Information Table in the Official Show Guide

Lounge Area with new Benches, as the Volume of People Picks Up

Rocks and Minerals Magazine Both with Marie Huizing
Page in the Jan-Feb Edition Showing Our Ad

Bruce Wood of Bruce Wood Minerals Showing Off his Display

Jeff Scovil Presenting a Workshop on Mineral Photography

TV Crew Interviewing Margi Jenks of the Crater of Diamonds State Park
in Arkansas, in Front of the Exhibit of Arkansas Diamonds

Busy Show Scene

I had decided to return to the InnSuites show the following day to visit a few more dealers that I missed the first day. I also went to the outside tents surrounding the hotel, as well as the two satellite shows, the Granada Ave. Mineral Show and the Fine Minerals International Show. The Granada Ave. Mineral Show is a large tent adjacent to the InnSuites with many fairly priced minerals, especially for bulk items. Some of the best deals on Indian Zeolites can be picked up here. The Fine Minerals International Show is a house next to the Hotel Tucson property that becomes a showcase of some of the most high-end minerals. Run by Daniel Trinchillo of Fine Minerals International (www.finemineral.com), this finely decorated house contains some of the most expensive minerals to be found in Tucson. There are few if any labels under $1,000, with several in the six-figure range. It is an absolute must when visiting Tucson for the shows to visit this house and see the amazing minerals and colors contained within.

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

Beautiful Display Case at Green Mountain Minerals (Nick & Dylan Stolowitz)
(www.greenmountainminerals.com)

Group of Very Large and Beautiful Topaz Crystals on Albite from Gilgit, Pakistan
Green Mountain Minerals Specimen (This Topaz is on the Top Left in the Above Picture)

Very Large Mass of Prehnite with Babingtonite from the Lane Quarry in Mass
Adjacent to a Huge Cluster of Fluorite from the Elmwood Mine in Tennessee
Green Mountain Minerals Specimen

A Close-Up of the Dinos Roaming the InnSuites

Large Slabs and Lamps of Onyx in One of the Large Tents Outside the Hotel.
I Found the Colors of this Photo Incredible.

Entrance to the Granada Ave. Mineral Show Tent

Fine Minerals International House Back Door Entrance.
Note the Large Smoky Quartz with a Custom Base.

Case of Exquisite Minerals in the Fine Minerals International House.
The Dark Red Rubellite Tourmaline on the left in the center row
is Featured on their Website About Page

Another Case of Exquisite Minerals in the Fine Minerals International House.

And Another Case of Exquisite Minerals in the Fine Minerals International House.

The cluster of motels along the Interstate 10 Corridor stretching from downtown southward are abuzz and full of excitement from the end of January through mid-February. There are literally thousands of dealers from all over the world that take up hotel rooms, tent booths, and outdoor exhibits all over the area. This activity is mainly on the western side of the highway and includes the Days Inn, the Riverpark Inn, the Traveloge, the Howard Johnson, and the La Quinta. These shows have mostly foreign dealers and many also many beads and gemstone rough, but can they can still be really fun to walk through. Some of the most amazing sights at these shows are the giant Brazilian crystals, especially Quartz and Amethyst that can be seen at numerous locations.

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

Giant Quartz crystal clusters with backlighting at the entrance to the Riverpark Inn
(The Pueblo Show)

Courtyard of the Riverpark Inn with many Advertisements on the Grounds

Shannon and Sons Mineral Crew in the Riverside Inn.
These guys are staples at this show, with an exceptional inventory of rare minerals.
www.shannonsminerals.com

Giant Quartz's Inside and Outside ot Steven Bookbinder's Booth.
The Amethyst Geode Next to the Tent Must be the Largest I Have Ever Seen!

Gypsum Desert Roses at a Tent near the Riverpark Inn

The Dense Courtyard at the Howard Johnson

More Brazilian Crystal Giants, in a Tent Near the Howard Johnson

And Yet Some More Giant Crystals at the Howard Johnson

And Some Amazing South American Amethyst and Milky Quartzs

Parking Lot Between the Howard Johnson and La Quinta.
Note Sentinel Peak in the Background with its Iconic "A".

Tents Outside the La Qunita, with Mostly Brazilian Dealers.
The Same Mountain Stands Behind.

Herkimer Diamond Tent with Some Large Herkimer Singles
From the Ace of Diamonds Mine in New York
(Ted Smith)