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The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® 2018 Featured Exhibits

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® has some of the most impressive public displays. Aside from the displays of  the museums and private collectors, there are also several featured exhibits of exceptional individual pieces. This year's show featured some magnificent  items, including a giant red Elbaite Tourmaline from the Jonas Mine in Brazil, which is the largest and most significant specimen from this mine. Also featured was an iconic Aquamarine crystal with internal "helix" growths, from the Marambaia Gem District in Brazil.


Giant Red Elbaite Tourmaline (Tarugo) from the Jonas Mine in Brazil, in Display Case
Giant Red Elbaite Tourmaline ("Tarugo") from the Jonas Mine in Brazil, in Display Case

A Closer Up Profile of this Large Jonas Tourmaline
A Closer Up Profile of this Large Jonas Tourmaline

Information Plaque Explaining the Above Jonas Mine Tourmaline
Information Plaque Explaining the Above Jonas Mine Tourmaline

The Helix Aquamarine, from the Marambaia Gem Pegmatite Region, BrazilRobert C. and Fallon B. Vaughn Collection; on Display in the Perot Museum
Aquamarine ("The Helix") from the Marambaia Gem Pegmatite Region, Brazil
Robert C. and Fallon B. Vaughn Collection; on Display in the Perot Museum

Post Emerald Necklace with Colombian Emeralds Smithsonian Institution
Post Emerald Necklace with Colombian Emeralds
Smithsonian Institution

Carved Quartz Crystal Eye of the Tiger by Designer Alfred Zimmerman
Carved Quartz Crystal "Eye of the Tiger" by Designer Alfred Zimmerman

Pseudomorph of Agate after Aragonite from Rancho Coyamito Norte, Mexico Andrei Carrilllo
Pseudomorph of Agate after Aragonite from Rancho Coyamito Norte, Mexico
Andrei Carrilllo
Collected August 2017

Large Floater Calcite Crystal from Dalnegorsk, Russia
Large Floater Calcite Crystal from Dalnegorsk, Russia
Found in 1990's

Giant Turquoise Nugget (The Largest Ever Found) from the Mona Lisa Mine, Polk Co, AR
Giant Turquoise Nugget (The Largest Ever Found) from the Mona Lisa Mine, Polk Co, AR
Mined in 1892 by Jack Wrigley and cut in 2018 by Michael Beck

Giant Laguna Agate The Monarch Queen of Mexico from the Alianza Claim, Ojo Laguna, Mexico, Albert O. Ray
Giant Laguna Agate "The Monarch Queen of Mexico from the Alianza Claim, Ojo Laguna, Mexico
Albert O. Ray

Show Poster of an Amethyst Scepter with the Specimen from the Goboboseb Mountains, Namibia, Scott Rudolph Mineral Museum
Show Poster of an Amethyst Scepter with the Specimen from the Goboboseb Mountains, Namibia
Scott Rudolph Mineral Museum

Zoomed in to the Above Scepter Amethyst
Zoomed in to the Above Scepter Amethyst

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® 2018 Opening Scenes

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® is the world's most significant mineral event. It is the culmination of several weeks of gem and mineral activities taking place in Tucson, Arizona, every February, transforming this desert city into a bustling oasis of crystals and gems. This show, put together by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, is known for its participation of all important mineral people, with a dazzling array of dealers, buyers, and exhibitors.


This year's show started on Thursday, February 8, through Sunday February 11. The theme was "Crystals and Crystal Forms," with a special emphasis on crystal habits and formation. As usual, the displays were outstanding, with the finest minerals in professional and eye-catching display arrangements.


Aside from having the most significant public exhibits of any show, many dealers save their most important items for this show and wait to introduce new finds at this show. The importance of this can be stressed by the presence of almost all VIP's in the hobby, as well as local politicians and native Tucsonians. Even the governor of Arizona, Doug Ducey, was present for the opening ceremonies and given a special tour. He was accompanied by Tucson mayor Jonathan Rothschild.


This post, the first of the The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show®, covers the opening ceremony of the show, including the governor and mayor's visit.


The Line of People Waiting to get into the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® at Prior to Opening
The Line of People Waiting to get into the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® at Prior to Opening

VIP's Looking at the Impressive Aquamarine Crystal Display
VIP's Looking at the Impressive Aquamarine Crystal Display

Peter Megaw, Show Special Events Chair, Showing the Governor and Mayor a Display
Peter Megaw, Show Special Events Chair, Showing the Governor and Mayor a Display

Gloria Quigg, Show Publicity Chair, with the Governor and Mayor
Gloria Quigg, Show Publicity Chair, with the Governor and Mayor

Outside the Enormous Tent of the 22nd Street Show
Mayor Jonathan Rothschild (L), Governor Doug Ducey (C), Show Event Chair Peter Megaw (R)

>Mayor Rothschild Opening Speech
Mayor Rothschild Opening Speech

The Governor and the Mayor Cutting the Ribbon
The Governor and the Mayor Cutting the Ribbon

The Governor with a Delegation from China
The Governor and Mayor with a Delegation from China

The Giant Gem Tourmaline Crystal from Brazil as the Main Showpiece of the Exhibits
The Giant Gem Tourmaline Crystal from Brazil as the Main Showpiece of the Exhibits

I-10 Corridor Gem & Mineral Shows, 2018

Along the western side of the I-10 Freeway, directly south of downtown, lies a cluster of shows that stretch over several motels. Dealers sell their mineral and gemstone goods out of their motel rooms and in tents large and small throughout the motel properties. The motels include the Quality Inn, the Howard Johnson, and the Travelodge. Many of the dealers are foreign, with a large proportion of them being Brazilian. The density of dealers and sheer number of sellers at this location is truly staggering.


Cluster of Tents from the I-10 Freeway Corridor Shows from Across the Street
Cluster of Tents from the I-10 Freeway Corridor Shows from Across the Street

Dealer Tents on the Side of the Road
Dealer Tents on the Side of the Road

Dealers set up at the Quality Inn
Dealers set up at the Quality Inn

Tents at the Hotels with Sentinel Peak in the Background
Tents at the Hotels with Sentinel Peak in the Background

Incredibly Perfect Herkimer Diamond, Mined by Dan Sebastian from the Ace of Diamonds Mine, Middleville, Herkimer Co., NY. (Ace of Diamonds has a Tent at this Show every Year.)
Incredibly Perfect Herkimer Diamond, Mined by Dan Sebastian from the Ace of Diamonds Mine,
Middleville, Herkimer Co., NY. (Ace of Diamonds has a Tent at this Show every Year.)

A Fantastic Herkimer Diamond on Matrix mined this Past Year by Dan Sebastian at the Ace of Diamonds Mine in Middleville, Herkimer Co., NY
A Fantastic Herkimer Diamond on Matrix mined this Past Year by Dan Sebastian
at the Ace of Diamonds Mine in Middleville, Herkimer Co., NY

The Tucson 22nd Street Show, 2018

The 22nd Street Show is another important Tucson mineral and gemstone event. It takes place on the eastern side of I-10, directly south of downtown. It is entirely indoors, in a giant tent that seems to increase in size every year. In fact, a new satellite tent was added this year, called the "Showcase." This new Showcase tent caters to higher-end dealers and more exclusive customers.


The main large tent had the usual dealers of all types, including minerals, gemstones, jewelry, fossils, and decorative rocks. The new Showcase tent featured some interesting public exhibits, including large dinosaurs and rocks from the Moon, Mars, and Vesta. The Showcase also had a more upscale look and feel, with carpeted floors, solid white dividers, and good lighting. The signature dealer of the Showcase was the Arkenstone, with several impressive displays of attractive material. We were able to get some general photos of the show, as well as some from the new Showcase tent, with special focus on some of the minerals and cases in the Arkenstone booth.


Outside the Enormous Tent of the 22nd Street Show
Outside the Enormous Tent of the 22nd Street Show

Show Scene Inside the 22nd Street Show
Show Scene Inside the 22nd Street Show

More Show Scenes Inside the Large 22nd Street Show Tent
More Show Scenes Inside the Large 22nd Street Show Tent

Small Quartz Crystals Coating an Ox Skull, Quartz City Mines (Arkansas)
Small Quartz Crystals Coating an Ox Skull from Quartz City Mines (Arkansas)

New Showcase Tent with Exhibits and Higher-End Dealers
New Showcase Tent with Exhibits and Higher-End Dealers

Exceptional Dinosaur Fossil Exhibit and Rocks from the Moon, Mars, and Vesta
Exceptional Dinosaur Fossil Exhibit and Rocks from the Moon, Mars, and Vesta

Very Large Agate Display Case in the Exhibit Area
Very Large Agate Display Case in the Exhibit Area

Inside the Showcase Area, with a High-End Booth of The Arkenstone
Inside the Showcase Area, with a High-End Booth of The Arkenstone

Highly Colorful Display in the Showcase Area of The Arkenstone
Highly Colorful Display in the Showcase Area of The Arkenstone

The Arkenstone Display of Many Fine Gem Minerals in the Showcase Area
The Arkenstone Display of Many Fine Gem Minerals in the Showcase Area

And Yet Another Eye-Catching Showcase Display from The Arkenstone
And Yet Another Eye-Catching Showcase Display from The Arkenstone

Iconic Blue-Cross Aquamarine from Pakistan with Schorl, Featured on the 22nd St Show Posters, from The Arkenstone
Blue-Cross Aquamarine with Schorl from Pakistan, at The Arkenstone Booth
This Iconic Specimen has been Featured on the 22nd Street Show Posters and Ads

Chrysocolla with Malachite, from the Mashamba West Mine, DR Congo, the Arkenstone
Chrysocolla with Malachite, from the Mashamba West Mine, DR Congo, The Arkenstone

Exquisite Almandine Garnet Cluster from Otz Valley, N. Tyrol, Austria, the Arkenstone
Exquisite Almandine Garnet Cluster from Otz Valley, N. Tyrol, Austria, The Arkenstone

The Pueblo Show at Riverpark Inn, Tucson

The Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show takes place at the Riverpark Inn, and is an important part of the Tucson mineral scene. It is a sprawling show, with many dealers selling from their hotel room as well as the dozens of makeshift tents that dot the property during the show.

This show has a wide variety of dealers. There are many mineral dealers, including a growing number of fine mineral dealers, but there is also a very strong presence of gemstone and jewelry dealers. This show is very enjoyable due to its laid-back atmosphere. Always present are gigantic Quartz and Amethyst crystals, which make an incredible site to see.


Very Large Quartz Crystals from Brazil at the Pueblo Show at Riverpark Inn
Very Large Quartz Crystals from Brazil at the Pueblo Show at Riverpark Inn

Dealer Tents at the Pueblo Show, with Sentinel Peak, an Iconic Tucson Mountain, in Background
Dealer Tents at the Pueblo Show, with the Mountains of Sentinel Peak Park Behind

Tent of Large Quartz and Amethyst Crystals from Brazil at the Pueblo Show
Tent of Large Quartz and Amethyst Crystals from Brazil at the Pueblo Show

Very Large Amethyst Geodes In Tent at the Pueblo Show
Very Large Amethyst and Citrine Geodes In Tent at the Pueblo Show

Close up on a Large Amethyst Geode Pair from Uruguay
Close up on a Large Amethyst Geodes Pair from Uruguay

Large Amethyst, and Citrine Geodes and Crystal Plates
Large Amethyst and Citrine Geodes and Crystal Plates

Large Quartz, Agate, And Amethyst
Large Quartz, Agate, and Amethyst Specimens from Brazil and Uruguay

Sign at the Pueblo Show Publicizing the 2018 Munich Gem and Mineral Show
Sign at the Pueblo Show Publicizing the 2018 Munich Gem and Mineral Show

Sign at the Pueblo Show Publicizing the 2018 St. Marie Aux Mines Gem and Mineral Show
Sign at the Pueblo Show Publicizing the 2018 St. Marie Aux Mines Gem and Mineral Show

Dealers in the Riverpark Inn Courtyard, with Ruby in Zoisite being Displayed
Dealers in the Riverpark Inn Courtyard, with Ruby in Zoisite Available for Purchase