October 31 Today was set up day here at the show.  This is my favorite day here for visiting with people and trying to glean what is new in the mineral world. The Euro:Dollar exchange rate has kept a lot of people from the US at home this year. Today the exchange is $1.45 for 1 Euro.  Toss in the exchange fees and it is close to $1.50 for one euro.  This fact is clearly on the mind of everyone reaching for dollars in their wallets. OUCH! Enough on that topic. A small view of the set up in Hall A4. Munich is one of the most important shows in terms of new material being presented to the mineral world.  There are some interesting new things to be found here. French dealer Frederic Escaut has a new find of tin rich microlite from Macoa, Alto Ligonha, Mozambique. The crystals are lustrous and have a rich cinnamon reddish brown color. The largest crystal I saw was about 2 cm across and the majority were in the 1cm size.  I saw only a couple pieces on matrix and all would be considered thumbnail to small miniature size specimens. I purchased three specimens in the moderate price range including two on massive cassiterite matrix. Two of the specimens available from Escaut.  I purchased the specimen on the left.   Two views of a remarkable amethyst and calcite specimen from Uruguay that Escaut had on display.   On a tip from Herb and Monica Obodda I went to see French dealer Cailloux Minerals.  Cailloux had a new find of brazilianite from Linopolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil available.  Specimens ranged in size from single crystals to large cabinet pieces. Also, eslewhere in Hall A5, Jose Villani Crystals from Brazil had a very large selection of fine brazilianite specimens available. I purchased three specimens from Cailloux and four from Jose Villani Crystals for the Munich Show update later on.  This is a miniature specimen I purchased from Cailloux Minerals on the left and a 4 cm crystal on the ight from Villani.   Jet lag is a very real consequence of going from the Pacific Time Zone to the European Time Zone. I was tempted to boot Wayne Leicht out of his comfy chair. I had a chance to visit with French Dealer Rene' Daulon.  Rene' is well known for his high quality material from China. He showed me some of the best babingtoninte specimens I have ever seen from the Chinese find made a few years ago.  He had pictures of the actual deposit where they are found and it is quite small and limited. This is a small tray with very large crystals of babingtonite. A museum quality specimen of quartz, prehnite and large babingtonite crystals.   More to come over the next few days from Munich!