Minerals.net

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.

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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)

The 22nd Street Show is one of the largest single shows along the I-10 corridor, and features a mammoth indoor tent with hundreds of dealers inside. This show has free spacious parking, and is in a giant heated tent. There are all different types of dealers at this show, including mineral, gemstone, jewelry, and fossil dealers, and the show is interesting to walk around. My friend Lowell Carhart is the organizer of the show and he also runs the NY/NJ Gem & Mineral Show as well as the Denver Coliseum Show. Click here to visit the 22nd Street Show website.

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Outside view of the Mammoth, Fully Enclosed Tent

Early Morning Visit to the Show

Nice Lot of Indian Zeolites and Associates from the Deccan Traps

New Find of Calcite from Colorado at the Show

Flats of Morrocan Minerals, Especially Vanadinites, Barites, and Calcite Geodes.
I Noticed Less Morrocan Dealers in Tucson then in Previous Years

Show Scene

Massive Ground Sloth Fossil Mold From Alabama at the Center of the Show

Information Table with our Minerals.net Brochure

More Show Scenes

Cheerful Young Ladies at the Show

One Thing About this Show: Everyone Seems to be Enjoying Themselves

Brian Brusse of the Weather Channel's Prospector Series on TV

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.

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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.

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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!