Tucson Show 2017 - Live Report
Last Updated: 12th Feb 2017By Jolyon Ralph
This is a LIVE report, keep this page loaded for live updates - new images will appear as they are added.
And it's that time of the year again! A new year and a brand new show at Tucson.
Quick plug for the new minfind mobile app being launched today. Go to AppStore or Google Play and search for minfind on your smartphone.
The new show is held in a disused cinema complex. Lots of mineral dealers catering to collectors rather than the normal mix of gems, minerals and new age stuff.
MineralZone
Vanadinite from B&L minerals. New Moroccan find.
The HTCC show - where I was most of the afternoon but the internet was so awful that it was impossible to live report. Thank you HTCC and AT&T.
Earlier I visited the new Tucson outlet for Californian mineral wholesaler JTI (Jewel Tunnel Imports). Mindat.org regulars will remember JTI's founder Rock Currier, who passed away in 2015. JTI have taken over the old La Fuente restaurant on Oracle.
The building is currently being renovated and is not yet occupied, however a large tent is set up in the car park for visitors. Note this venue is a trade-only venue.
Great sign.
JTI had a big find of gypsum crystals from Greece.
Back to HTCC... and we are selling a new mindat.org T-Shirt. Thank you Rick for modelling for us. This is a limited edition of 100 shirts, it won't be available online. Probably will be sold out before the main show. If you want one then come to Self-Aware minerals in room 124 at HTCC.
Back at the TNMS show today. Let's hope the internet is better now.
Again dreadful internet today. I've just got a new sim so hopefully tomorrow will be better. In the meantime here's a photo from today - Rocks & Minerals and Mineralogical Almanac magazines.
Xtal-Dennis Beals Minerals have this super chrysocolla after cumengeite pseudomorph from Boleo, Mexico.
Now, quick visit over to Fine Minerals International, next to the HTCC hotel.
Wulfenite from Tsumeb Mine, Namibia, Fine Minerals International
Sign on the bed in Dennis Beals' room
A cluster of old mining stuff - Self-A-Ware minerals.
Palm trees at HTCC
Rarestone had this little agate - from Antarctica!
Tucson is a time to meet up with good friends. Last year's show would have been a disaster without the wonderful help from Naomi Hinds and Ray Hill (along with many others - but Naomi and Ray were especially helpful!)
The kitchen table in our rented house has become a temporary mindat.org field headquarters! Just because a show is on doesn't stop us working!
We'll be holding our annual meet-up at the JTI ballroom (as usual) at the HTCC show, 7pm on Monday night. Everyone welcome!
Today we are at the 22nd street show, and if you can read this then my internet is good!
Elwood mine fluorite with very iridescent sphalerite - Colorado Rocks specimen.
And they also have this behemoth of fluorite from the Blanchard Mine, New Mexico.
Beautiful cut Kunzite. again at Colorado Rocks.
Justin Zzyzx with his free Rockhounding guide to Barstow which costs $7.99
Back at the HTCC, this time with Internet.
Great Bad Ems pyromorphite. Barnett Fine Minerals
Parasite-(La) from Mula mine, Bahia, Brazil. Luiz Menezes Minerals
Aragonite from China - John Cornish minerals
Aquamarine from Dache, Pakistan - Fine Art Minerals
I've sneaked into the Westward Look show on setup day to give you a preview.
Russian corundum - Graeber & Hines
Big English hematite - Graeber & Himes
Chinese Quartz, Collector's Edge
Great collection of British minerals! Weinrich Minerals.
Caradon mine fluorite - Weinrich minerals
Cerussite fron Silver Hill mine, North Carolina
Opal from Peru, Mineral Classics
Marshite from Rubtsovskoe, Russia - Dave Bunk minerals
Mogok aquamarine - Kristalli specimen.
Mogok spinel, Anton Watzl specimen
New calcite find from Palmarejo mine, Chihuahua, Mexico - Miners Lunchbox
And another.
Chinese orpiment- Miners Lunchbox
Three lovely malachite pseudos. A.Martaud Minéraux
And it's time to call it a day and head home! More updates tomorrow.
Celestine on sulphur. Agrigento, Italy - Webminerals specimen.
Something happened here but I'm not quite sure what.
Not all interesting minerals are super expensive. For those suffering from sticker shock after yesterday's postings here is a Mexican sanidine specimen for $12. Dennis Beals minerals.
Latest issue of mineralogical Almanac magazine
pyrite on Quartz from Peru. Ramos Minerals
Octahedral pyrite
Dino eggs
Tourmaline drinking glasses. Artisan Made Gemstones
Jolly good.
Crystal Classics wholesale.
Pectolite. It's not pretty but it's classic English stuff.
Nice big Hilton fluorite - Crystal Classics specimen
Gypsum coated twigs. South Australia. Ausrox.
From Quiruvilca, Peru - Jaroslav Hyrsl specimen
Mining hammers - up to 500 years old. Jaroslav Hyrsl
Small Iowa Barite - Saga minerals
Sulphur and celestine from Michigan - Saga Minerals
Barite and Coffinire (probably the most appropriately named mineral ever) from Texas. Saga Minerals
Dundasite from Adelaide Mine, Tasmania. Found 2016
Crocoite, also found last year.
Wakabayashilite from Nevada. Apex Fine Minerals
Getchellite from the type locality. Apex Fine Minerals
Getchellite from the type locality. Apex Fine Minerals
And another from Twin Creeks mine. Apex Fine Minerals
Gold from Jundee/Wilkins, Western Australia - Crystal Fraction
At the U of A Flandreau science centre for a new exhibition
Paraiba!!!
Regional gem displays.
At the U of A mineral museum
Cuprite. Irish Mag mine, Bisbee, Arizona
Cerussite from Campbell Shaft, Bisbee
Scheelite - Rogers mine, Cochise co. Arizona
Wulfenite and cerussite from mammoth st Anthony mine, Arizona
Russian platinum!
Mexican chalcopyrite
Mexican scorodite
Cole mine, Bisbee spangolite
Gold from Crystalline-Alabama claim, California
Laurelite - Grand Reef mine, Arizona
Copper! Tombstone, Arizona
Gold from Icabaru, Venezuela
Gold from Mount Kate, Papua New Guinea
Copper from Phoenix mine, Michigan
Wulfenite from Hilltop mine, Arizona
Chalcoalumite from copper queen mine, Arizona
Adamite from Ojuela mine, Mexico. New acquisition 2016 donated by Ed David
Wulfenite
We have been collecting specimens for the mindat auction at the TGMS show next Saturday - here are a few of the great things that have been donated so far. First some great siderite casts from the Aggenyo mine South Africa donated by Paul Botha.
A Canyon Diablo meteorite donated by Southwest Meteorite Lab. if you would like to donate something for our auctions please find us at the show or email jolyon@mindat.org to arrange a collection! Thank you to all our donors unfortunately I can't post everything to this report.
Spanish smoky Quartz Luis Burillo minerals. Some of these items will be in the live auction here at Tucson and some will be auctioned online by John Veeveart so whether you are at Tucson this year or not you have a chance to bid on something to support mindat.org!
We are very happy to have fossils, gemstones or anything vaguely related too! Everything goes to help support mindat. Thank you Lowcounty Geologic.
One of several minerals donated by Fine Art Minerals. Thank you!
Do you want a mindat.org fridge magnet? Stop me tomorrow (I'll be in a variety of shows) and ask for one! Free! (Unless you want to donate for one!)
Back today at Tucsons New Mineral Show and Shannon & Sons minerals have a whole wing to themselves.
Johannite from Utah
Shannon & Sons have the W. Jim Thomas collection - dozens of flats of rare and classic mineral micros, thumbnails and up.
One of the many flats
Some odd cristobalite balls.
Thallium minerals. Yummy!
Native copper from the New Cornelia mine
About William James Thomas
I actually bought some minerals for myself from there too.
MineralZone
Hydroboracite from the Inder Borate deposit,Kazakhstan.
Paracelsian from Wales
Outside
Mark Candee has this super little columbite.
Phil Persson showing some malachite specimens.
Kelly smithsonite - Persson Rare minerals.
One of several Mexican Volborthite pieces at The Uncarved Block
Murdochite from Bisbee, part of a Bisbee collection being sold by Beliis Minerals. There was another really nice Chalcoalumite here too, but I just bought it!
Copper stained calcite. Belkis minerals.
Back at the Westward Look
Display of minerals from the Rice Museum
Legrandite!
Emerald!!
Sperrylite!!!
Sperrylite!!!
The Alma Rose!!!!!!
Malachite brain - Tonglushan mine, China. The Arkenstone
In the room with Pinnacle 5 minerals. They have just within the last 20 minutes had a good smoky Quartz/amazonite specimen SIMILAR to this one stolen. If you are offered a similar piece under suspicious circumstances please contact Tim.
Uvarovite - Bergman minerals
Fluorite on pyrrhotite. Inner Mongolia - Fine Minerals International
Bournonite from the Herodsfoot Mine, Cornwall - Western Minerals
Stephanite from Mexico. Western Minerals
Bed of fine minerals - Western Minerals
Fluorite 'mushroom' from Elmwood. Nicholas Stolowitz
Aragonite? In situ on the Westward Look fountain.
Stibnite from the Tafone mine, Italy - Stonetrust
Chalcocite from Carn Brea, Cornwall - Kristalle
Tourmaline, Batalha mine, Brazil - Saphira minerals
Atacamite, New Cornwall Mine, South Australia - Saphira minerals
Djurleite from Morocco. Cristophe Gobin
Ferberite and siderite. Kami mine, Bolivia - Cristophe Gobin specimen
Malachite from Kasompi, DR Congo - Cristophe Gobin minerals
Quartz cast after Barite. Silver Point mine, Colorado - Wilensky minerals
"Grape agate" from Indonesia. Wilensky minerals
English hematite - Wilensky minerals
And the end of another day. More tomorrow!
Sunset :)
At the party for 300th anniversary of Fersman Museum
Getting ready for the presentation.
Bryan Swoboda from Blue Cap Productions and Aisha from Rocksaholics.
Michael Leybov starting his presentation
Medal commemorating 300th anniversary showing an image of s Kongsberg silver given to Peter the Great.
Fersman
Fersman in 1916
First guide for the Fersman museum 1741
Alexandrite!
Guide from 1957
Guide book 1984
Perovskite and the Copper Mouse
Staff and visitors to the museum. Katya and I are in there somewhere!
Bryan Swoboda owning the crowd
Second presentation
Peter Simon Pallas
Exploration of Kola peninsular. Hmmm that sounds like a good idea. I wonder if...,.
27% of new minerals since 2010 were discovered by researchers at the Fersman museum
Statistics
The medal! Solid silver.
Having a day off - exploring Arizona.
At the Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Roman and Katya are finally in town! Introducing Roman to the dinosaurs
Escaping from the box
At the Tsumeb.com annual Tsumeb party! Ian Bruce introducing the speakers.
Tsumeb wulfenite. Well Arranged Molecules
Selling our tshirts!
Tsumeb cerussite - Ausrox
Boxes and boxes of Tsumeb classics from Crystal Classics
Jeff Scovil opting for the retro presentation equipment.
Jeff Scovil is showing some slides from Dr Erica Pohl's collection
Captain adamite to 2.4cm
Anglesite 7cm across
Listening tonJeff's presentation
Chalcotrichite in calcite 2.8cm largest crystal
Mineral wines
Tsumeb cuprite - Well Arranged Minerals
Dioptase from Tsumeb - Well Arranged Molecules
Biehlite
Don't forget it's the annual mindat meeting at HTCC tonight in just over an hour. Here's a photo of Mike Rumsey for no reason.
Starting the mindat meeting
Tom and Ida.
I have no idea who these people are or why they are at the mindat event.
And now for some of the auction items donated for the mindat auction. Firstly this faceted Durango apatite from Gems By Mark
Great Chinese scheelite donated by MineralZone
Zircons from St Peter's Dome, Colorado - one of three specimens donated by Persson Rare Minerals
Placer gold donated by Northern Nevada Gold
Silver and Safflorite etc from Bou Azzer, Morocco donated by Hu Hühne.
Ramsdellite from Mistake Mine, Arizona donated by Michael Shannon
Turquoise from Kazakhstan. This is a very interesting new deposit from very close to the famous Altyn Tyube dioptase (type) locality.
Dioptase cabochons! This and the turquoise are from Rare Stone. Room 252 HTCC
Now visiting the JG&M SHOW
If your biometric data is lacking...
Big rocks
Colombian Quartz from
Colombian Minerals
Colombian Minerals
Lab grown sceptre Quartz. R&D Xtals
Gemscenter Brazil have a very professional marketing effort for their tourmaline, Quartz, etc.
Clinoatacamite from The Lily mine, Chile. Nuevo Mundo Imports
Faceted Oregon sunstone. Ravenstein.
More donation items - this Hubnerite from Peru. Ramos Minerals
R&D Xtals INC donated this super lab grown Quartz crystal.
Marcasite on Barite donated by Saga minerals.
Coming soon - our next Adventure!
email adventures@mindat.org if you're interested!
email adventures@mindat.org if you're interested!
Back at the inn suites this morning.
San Carlos peridot from Crystal World
Huge Austrian aragonite donated by Crystal Classics for the auction.
Set up time for the main show
The tri state district - case by Carnegie Museum
Just over an hour before the TGMS show opens and the queue is already building
Robin Hansen from Natural History Museum London with her display of minerals from the mid/west of UK
Our booth is starting to come together
David Barthelmy from webmineral.com
Desperate ways to get the printer working when we forgot the power cable. Fortunately we didn't die or burn the Convention Centre down and it's now unplugged!
Artisan made gemstones by Jeremy Sinkud
I took this photo and it took so long for the internet to upload it that I have no idea what it is. I'm sure it's interesting though.
Very busy in the micro mineral room
The Carbon Mineral Challenge.
One of the new carbon minerals. Now all we need to do is figure out how to train the Kestrels...
Next year's show.
I have a small number of single and double terminated himgannite crystals from Zagi Mountains Pakistan. I am told these contain both Y and Nd dominant zones, Nd dominant Hingannite would be a new species. If you want to buy one come up to the mindat booth tomorrow.
The mindat booth
And back at TGMS. Here is a display of amethyst from Green Ridge, Washington.
Don't forget tonight is the Mindat silent auction here at the TGMS starting 5:30pm. Entry is free (you don't have to buy a ticket for the dinner) so please come along and grab a bargain and support us!
Rice Museum display
Fersman Museum display
Awards dinner at TGMS
This year's Carnegie medal has been awarded to mindat.irg manager (and curator emeritus of LA County Kuseum) Tony Kampf
The mindat auction underway. Right now it's quiet because the awards speeches are ongoing.
Geoliterary society auction also running.
Huge box of micro mount minerals donated by Pat Haynes
Bidding!
Hemimorphite from Mexico. Donated by Peter Megaw.
Jeff Scovil giving the results of the mineral photography competition
Sunday morning at the show and most people are taking it easy.
Sunday morning at the show and most people are taking it easy.
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