With the demise of the InnSuites show at the Hotel Tucson, the majority of mineral dealers in Tucson moved farther north to the Mineral City show. This is the newest and fastest growing area of mineral activity in Tucson. This relatively new show presents a more practical solution for dealers to rent their room for long term, and to use them for storage. This also allows a better system for shipping as well as for not having to deal with beds and furniture in the way, as the dealers did at the hotel shows.
There was much growth at the Mineral City show this year, with several new buildings and more satellite tents. The show had a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere where I was able to chat one on one with many of the dealers.
Here are some highlight minerals I noted at this year's Mineral City show.
Banded Chrysocolla from Milpillas, Sonora, Mexico
Valenzuela's Minerals
Rare Blue Barite from Milpillas, Sonora, Mexico
Valenzuela's Minerals
Fluorite Crystal on Dolomite from the Penfield Quarry, Penfield NY
Crystallize (Alex Amiel)
Bi-Colored Kunzite from Dara-I-Pech, Kunar, Aghanistan
Crystal Cantina fine Minerals & Crystals
New Find of Yellow Botryoidal Calcite from Ait El Abbas, Midelt, Morocco
New Find of Purple Fluorite and Calcite from Qinglong, Guizhou, China
Wendy's Minerals and Gems
Giant Yellow Barite Crystals from the Xiefang Mine, Jiangxi, China
Wendy's Minerals and Gems
Bright Blue Gibbsite from Wenshan, Yunnan Province, China
Wendy's Minerals and Gems