Tucson 2008 TGMS Show report - Part 1
Last Updated: 17th Feb 2008By Jolyon Ralph
This is part 1 of the TGMS show report - the first of MANY reports that will be posted over the next few days - with over 1000 photographs and 2 hours of video to sort through, I want to take my time to report back from this show in full detail.
Why? Because, quite simply, the displays at this show are the best mineral show displays that are, ever were, or ever will be displayed. Never has there been so many incredible and significant specimens under one roof at the same time, and it is unlikely we will see such a gathering ever again. In years to come, you'll be asked whether you saw the exhibits at Tucson '08. If you did, you can justly feel good about it. If not, then I hope that this series of show reports will at least give you a taste of what you missed.
This video shows a brief run around the show approximately 10 minutes after the doors opened on Thursday. You will note that there is already a queue forming at Dan Weinrich's stand as he starts to sell the Minnete collection - one of the commercial highlights of the show (more on this later).
show_run.flv
This next video shows the display case of American classics brought over from the Natural History Museum in London. Look for an incredible Willemite crystal from Franklin, the type specimen of 'Columbite', some 1930s Red Cloud wulfenite to be amazed at (from the original Ed Over finds) and a purse made of asbestos that used to be owned by Benjamin Franklin!
nhm.flv
Alan Hart and Mike Rumsey from the museum were over looking after the display and also hunting out new specimens for the national collection. Here is Alan examining a Sapphire from Afghanistan (Mountain Minerals International specimen)
... and then ...
Actually, the sapphire just rests in the matrix - it was detached during specimen preparation, but fits back neatly into the matrix - this specimen was purchased by the museum and will go on display in their new gallery - "The Vault".
In the Westward Look show report I showed some photos of these new 'stacked' Apatites - there was a whole display cabinet here featuring this new exciting find:
sapo_apatite.flv
... more reports from the TGMS show 2008 soon!
Why? Because, quite simply, the displays at this show are the best mineral show displays that are, ever were, or ever will be displayed. Never has there been so many incredible and significant specimens under one roof at the same time, and it is unlikely we will see such a gathering ever again. In years to come, you'll be asked whether you saw the exhibits at Tucson '08. If you did, you can justly feel good about it. If not, then I hope that this series of show reports will at least give you a taste of what you missed.
This video shows a brief run around the show approximately 10 minutes after the doors opened on Thursday. You will note that there is already a queue forming at Dan Weinrich's stand as he starts to sell the Minnete collection - one of the commercial highlights of the show (more on this later).
show_run.flv
Natural History Museum (London)
This next video shows the display case of American classics brought over from the Natural History Museum in London. Look for an incredible Willemite crystal from Franklin, the type specimen of 'Columbite', some 1930s Red Cloud wulfenite to be amazed at (from the original Ed Over finds) and a purse made of asbestos that used to be owned by Benjamin Franklin!
nhm.flv
Alan Hart and Mike Rumsey from the museum were over looking after the display and also hunting out new specimens for the national collection. Here is Alan examining a Sapphire from Afghanistan (Mountain Minerals International specimen)
Alan Hart examining a sapphire in matrix
... and then ...
Alan Hart examining a sapphire off matrix!
Actually, the sapphire just rests in the matrix - it was detached during specimen preparation, but fits back neatly into the matrix - this specimen was purchased by the museum and will go on display in their new gallery - "The Vault".
Apatites from Sapo
In the Westward Look show report I showed some photos of these new 'stacked' Apatites - there was a whole display cabinet here featuring this new exciting find:
sapo_apatite.flv
... more reports from the TGMS show 2008 soon!
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