With all the changes at the Tucson shows in 2022, the mineral scene was a vastly different landscape than it's been in previous years. Change was already in the air in 2020, and with the majority of the shows cancelled or scaled down in 2021, 2022 was a game changer.
The most noticeable change was the demise of the InnSuites show. This show, hosted in the hotel Tucson, was one of the most exciting mineral events in Tucson, with many recognized dealers setting up their wares in the rooms of this sprawling hotel that had a very chilled atmosphere. Most of the dealers and activity from this show shifted several blocks north to the Mineral City show and the surrounding area.
The Mineral City show was greatly expanded this year, with many more dealers setting up in this new complex of buildings built specifically for dealers to exhibit during their show and store their wares for longer term storage. Several other dealers had tents in the immediate vicinity of Mineral City, making this area a bustling destination area for mineral collectors and other dealers.
Even with the Hotel Tucson devoid of internal mineral activity, the neighborhood still retained the Fine Minerals International home with high-end minerals, and a new venue opened up in the same vicinity with several important dealers and a display gallery. This building also features more permanent-type of features for the dealers to have a year-round home.
Clearly there has been a shift from dealers selling out of hotel rooms to instead have their own leased location where they can store minerals year round. This new format has been successful and has caused a noticeable decrease in dealers at the main show. Some of the mainstays of the main show from previous years were noticeably missing, and there was much more empty space than usual. Despite this, the show was still great, with great exhibits and a healthy showing of good dealers with interesting new material. I went around the show floor looking for interesting material to show for our show report, and these are the minerals, featured below.
Aquamarine on Feldspar, nearly 2 feet tall (!) from Nyet Bruk, Shigar District, Pakistan
Fine Art Minerals
New Find of Pink Tourmaline from Pachigram, Nuristan, Afghanistan, Fine Art Minerals
Fine Art Minerals
Fabulous Silver Wires from the Himmelsfurst Mine, Freiberg, Saxony, Germany
Fabulous Case of High-End Minerals
