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Individual Minerals in Western Europe Exhibits at the TGMS Show: Part 1

March 6, 2015 Hershel Friedman (0)

In addition to taking pictures of all the exhibit showcases, I took some individual shots of those that I found particularly interesting. There were so many great minerals that I could have spent all my time on this, but I had to pick a limited number so that I wouldn't get overwhelmed. If I saw a mineral in case that had interesting aesthetics, was unique to a locality, and had something else about it that piqued my interest, I took a photo of it. I did take more photos, though these are the ones that came out well.


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.)

Elbaite Tourmaline from Elba, Italy
Elongated Elbaite Tourmaline from Elba, Italy (type locality for Elbaite
American Museum of Natural History


Epidote Knappenwand, Untersulzbachtal, Austria
Elegant Epidote from Knappenwand, Untersulzbachtal, Austria
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County


Dolomite Penetration Twins, Astuerra Quarry, Eugui, Navarre, Spain
Dolomite Penetration Twins, Astuerra Quarry, Eugui, Navarre, Spain
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County


Smithsonite cadmium-rich talagtite Masua, Sardinia, Italy
Polished Smithsonite (Cadmium-Rich) Stalactite, Masua, Sardinia, Italy
Royal Ontario Museum


Sulfur crystals, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Very large Sulfur Crystal Cluster, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Denver Museum of Nature & Science


Pyromorphite plate, Les Farges Mine, Ussel, Limousin, France
Huge Pyromorphite Plate, Les Farges Mine, Ussel, Limousin, France
Rice NW Museum of Rocks & Minerals


Phosgenite Crystal, Monteponi Mine, Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy
Very large Phosgenite Crystal, Monteponi Mine, Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy
Rice NW Museum of Rocks & Minerals


Banded Fluorite Variety Blue John, Derbyshire, England
Banded Fluorite Variety Blue John, Derbyshire, England
Carnegie Museum of Natural History


Quartz scepter Praseme Arresalos, Seriphos, Greece
Amethystine Quartz scepter on Praseme, Arresalos, Seriphos, Greece
Greek Rocks


Blue Smithsonite pseudomorph Calcite Adamite Hilarion Mine, Lavrion, Greece
Blue Smithsonite pseudomorph after Calcite with Adamite, Hilarion Mine, Lavrion, Greece
Greek Rocks


Rhodochrosite Madem Lakkos Mine, Chalkidiki, Greece
Rhodochrosite with Pyrite, Madem Lakkos Mine, Chalkidiki, Greece
Greek Rocks


Smoky Quartz Granite, Rufiback Pocket, Ziggenstock, Grimsel, Switzerland
Exceptional Smoky Quartz Cluster on Granite, Rufiback Pocket, Vorge Ziggenstock, Grimsel, Borne, Switzerland
Siber+Siber


Smoky Quartz gwindel, Juchlistock, Bern, Switzerland
Smoky Quartz gwindel, Juchlistock, Bern, Switzerland
Siber+Siber


Stellerite Balls, Malmberget Mine, Lappaland, Sweden
Yellow and White Stellerite Balls, Malmberget Mine, Lappaland, Sweden
Unlabeled Swedish Case


dendritic Chalcopyrite Freiberg, Erzgebirge, Germany
Rare dendritic Chalcopyrite in matrix, Freiberg, Erzgebirge, Germany
Mineral Museum of Bonn, Germany, Poppelsdorfer Schloss


Green radiating Strontianite Whitesmith Mine, Strontian, Argyll, Scotland
Green radiating Strontianite from the type locality of the Whitesmith Mine, Strontian, Argyll, Scotland
National Museum of Scotland


Western Europe Exhibits at the TGMS Show: Part 2

March 4, 2015 Hershel Friedman (0)

This is our second post on the special exhibits of "Minerals of Western Europe." Altogether, I counted 36 cases that fit within the show theme. However, there were other exhibits not counted here related to theme, such as "Minerals of New Spain" (i.e. Mexico), and "Minerals of Russia." These will be included in our post on the non-themed exhibit pages. I also took plenty of photos of individual minerals within the showcases, and these will have a separate news article.

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.)

smoky quartz gwindels switzerland marcus budil
Smoky Quartz and gwindels from Switzerland
Marcus Budil


University of Technology Bergakademie Freiberg Mining Academy
Minerals from the "Mineralogical Collection of Germany"
University of Technology Bergakademie Freiberg (Mining Academy)


Smithsonian Institution - National Museum of Natural History
Minerals of Western Europe - Highlights from the National Gem & Mineral Collection
Smithsonian Institution - National Museum of Natural History


Minerals of Western Europe TGMS Show 2015
Best of Species - Minerals of Western Europe
[Unlabeled Collection]


Minerals of Switzerland
Minerals of Switzerland
[Unlabeled Collection]


Arizona Historical Society Natural History
Minerals of Europe
Arizona Historical Society Natural History Collection


Quartz Specimens from Germany and the Alps
Quartz Specimens from Germany and the Alps
Collection of William H. Wray


Minerals from the North of England
Minerals from the North of England
Collection of Lindsay and Patricia Greenbank


Rogerly Mine Fluorite
Rogerly Mine Fluorite
UK Mining Ventures Collection


West Cumbrian Iron Orefield
West Cumbrian Iron Orefield
[Unlabeled Collection]


A Selection of English Minerals
A Selection of English Minerals
Collection of William Severance


Minerals from the Erzberg, Steirmark, Styria, Austria
Minerals from the Erzberg, Steirmark (Styria), Austria
[Unlabeled Collection]


Minerals of Romania Phil Richardson
Minerals of Romania (technically Eastern Europe, but still included here)
Phil Richardson Collection


European Sphalerite Les Presmyk
European Sphalerite
Les Presmyk Collection


Gail and Jim Spann Collection Western European Fine Minerals
Western European Fine Minerals
Gail and Jim Spann Collection


in Memoriam of William
Minerals of Europe (especially Calcite)
Case Dedicated in Memoriam of William "Bill" Lawrence


Included Quartz from Switzerland's Alpine Clefts
Alpine Antiques - Included Quartz from Switzerland's Alpine Clefts, Collected at least 75 Years Ago
Jeff Glover Collection


Included Quartz from Switzerland's Alpine Clefts
Classic Minerals from Europe, Especially Germany
Wendel Minerals Collection


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

The 2015 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show®

March 1, 2015 Hershel Friedman (0)
The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show® is the most important show in Tucson. Also known as the "Main Show" or the "Convention Center Show," this is the show that made Tuscon the mineral mecca that it is today. The show is organized by the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society. Many of the large and important mineral dealers set up a booth at the show.

The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show® also has public exhibit showcases, put together by various collectors, museums, and mineral societies. These exhibits present the largest public exhibit of any show. Many of the exhibits feature a theme. This years' show theme was "Minerals of Western Europe." This brought forth exhibits of fascinating classic minerals, including many historical pieces and those from long exhausted localities.

Due to the large amount of footage I had taken at the show, I will divide the show reports for the Main Show into several sections:


To view additional news posts from the other shows in Tucson, click the links below:

Setting up the day prior to the show opening