At the main Tucson show, one will be treated to some of the finest mineral specimens in the world, and the minerals seen at the show will often outshine the exhibits of the top museums. The abundance of outstanding minerals is truly mind-boggling. It would be almost impossible to photograph all those excpetional and unique minerals. I therefore took a few sample photos of some items I found unique or interesting, and posted them here.
Amazing Fluorite from Illinois. This was the show poster mineral.
Bright blue, iridescent Chalcopyrite from the Sweetwater Mine in Missouri.
This specimen and others were available from Dan Weinrich.
According to Dan, the iridescence is natural and not acid-treated.
Amazing case of North Carolina Hiddenite and Emerald, from Terry Ledford's exhibit.
(Click the image for a larger-res version)
Once on the topic of Emeralds, here is an amazing Emerald on Quartz matrix from the Kagem Mine in Zambia.
Specimens from this gem mine are relatively new. This specimen was for sale at The Collector's Edge.
Wire Silver from the Himmelsfurst Mine, Africa-shaped Gold from Bendigo, Australia,
and an intricate Gold from the Mockingbird Mine, California.
At Rob Lavinsky's The Arkenstone booth.
Zoom in to the incredibly-shaped Africa Gold
Incredible silver from the classic locality of Kongsberg, Norway.
At Rob Lavinsky's The Arkenstone booth.
Elongated Imperial Topaz in matrix.
One rarely sees Imperial Topaz in this size, let alone in a matrix.
This was in a public exhibit featuring Topaz gemstone varieties.
An absolutely giant, almost-perfect, Rhodochrosite rhomb on Quartz and Galena from the
Sweet Home Mine in Colorado. This was in one of the public exhibits.
I am almost sure this same specimen was previously displayed at last year's show.
