Tucson 2012 - Report

I'm back in Tucson again for another year, and finally have time to write a report.

John White was sitting outside the Inn Suites, it was so sunny that only tourmaline provided sufficient eye protection. These glasses were custom made by Naiomi Hinds.



A large find of 'fossilised bamboo' - or chalcedony - from Indonesia was on display at the Pueblo Gem and Mineral show. I've no idea if the stated origin is genuine, but it seems suspicious to me.



I visited Rocksaholics at the Pueblo Show, and they showed me an exceptional tourmaline specimen - now sold!



Here is the incredible tourmaline specimen from Afghanistan displayed by Rocksaholics - already sold by the time I went to see them.



Here's an aquamarine with schorl in the shape of a poodle's face! From Rocksaholics



And also from Rocksaholics, this schorl 'bug' trapped in Aquamarine!



This massive Brazilian amazonite crystal was displayed in the courtyard at the Pueblo show.



Over to the Inn Suites show, Jaroslav Hyrsl has a number of specimens of Anorpiment, a newly approved mineral.



Here is one of the larger specimens.



Jaroslav also had this curious manganocalcite from racracancha, Peru, with no less than three different twins combined into one specimen!



Rick Kennedy from Earth's Treasures had a find of superb aquamarine beryl from the California Blue Mine, San Bernardino Co, California. This is one good example.



Gunnar Farber, dealer in much unusual stuff, had these crystals of Jadeite (from Syros Island in the Aegean Sea, part of Greece)



Another rarity from Gunnar, Eitelite from the Green River Formation, Wyoming.



Feroz Azam, from Hamza Gems and Mineral, had a large quantity of quartz crystals from Pakistan that contained yellowish inclusions of hydrocarbons.



Here are the quartz crystals.



And under UV, the inclusions glow brightly.



Here is a close-up.



Jordi Fabre had a number of botryoidal mottramite specimens, a new find from the Ojuela Mine in Mexico.



Another new find at the show, this sample also from Jordi, was excellent combinations of Chalcopyrite and Siderite from China - although there is some doubt about the exact locality for these.



Jeff Self and Donna Ware from Self-a-Ware minerals had a great selection of topaz crystals from their claims in Colorado.



One particularly fine example of Colorado topaz.



Another new find of orange hematite-coated quartz from the Orange River, South Africa, was seen around the show - this particularly nice single crystal was offered by Chris Wright.



Dioptase from the Kaokoveld in Namibia was also available around the show from a number of dealers, this particularly fine small sample with a grey cerussite crystal attached was offered by Luis Burillo minerals.



Moving on next to the Westward Look show, this japan-law quartz twin was offered by Green Mountain Minerals



Collector's Edge offered a number of the new Namibian Dioptase specimens. Here are a few great examples.









Watzl minerals brought some classic European minerals, which I always enjoy, including this German proustite.



And this, claiming to be the largest 'Iron Rose' hematite ever found in the Alps.



From the other end of Europe, they had this lovely Kammererite crystal on matrix.



And from the Asian part of Russia, this excellent Sperrylite specimen.



Cal Graeber had this classic (and highly desirable) Mourne Mountains Beryl - one of the subjects of my Tuesday night presentation.



While The Arkenstone had a group of Vietnamese aquamarine beryl crystals



Western Minerals offered this copper psuedomorph after cuprite from Mt Isa, Australia



I usually feature minerals from Brian and Brett Kosnar of Mineral Classics in my show report but this time I thought I'd concentrate on the tremendous collection of cut gems made that Brett has faceted for sale.



This faceted opal was simply amazing. A photo cannot ever do it justice.



New techniques for more artistic carving into minerals have given Brett the chance to create pieces such as this, an Ametrine from Bolivia.



Monday night was our annual Mindat "meet the managers" meeting at Rock Currier's room in the Inn Suites show. Here a group of about 30 serious mindat.org users discussed issues such as the future of the site, mineral restoration and how to improve our educational content.



Tuesday night was the joint Mindat.org/Pueblo Gem and Mineral Show evening where Tomasz Prazkier and myself gave public talks, to about 160 people in a very pleasant outside setting with plenty of wine and cheese for guests.



The presentation underway



Here I am (left) with Dave Wilber (host of the What's Hot in Tucson DVDs) and Elise Skalwold (editor of the Journal of Gemmology)



People enjoying the after-presentation drinks



Justin Zzyzx hands Michael Bainbridge a copy of his latest book - The Vug Magazine Director's Cut. I have five of my articles within this book, so please buy it!