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February 4-7

Well the mad dash to get the first wave of minerals is about over and now we all settle into the drawn out days of the show waiting for "Set Up" day at the main show which is the 12th... For the most part I have been working on taking pictures of specimens and doing email management.  These websites just don't "happen" you know...Sometimes I wonder why I put myself through this maddening pace for 3 weeks with reduced sleep and long days - Rocks! That's why!

Anyway, I took one afternoon recently and went for a hike in the hills near my apartment here at the Starr Pass area to get some panoramic shots of Tucson looking from the west.   Tucson is set in a very beautiful valley and the air quality is exceptional this time of year.   The abundant saguaro cactus in the hills add an odd feel to this area - almost like people standing still and waiting for something...


 
This is a panoramic shot in the foot hills west of town looking toward Mount Lemon.

Along the way I took a few more pictures just because I felt like a "shutter bug"!


   
The image on the left is looking in the direction of Oro Valley which is north of Tucson.  The image on the right is looking in the direction of Mount Lemon.

So much for the fun times away from the pc...

Two other dealers I have seen over the past couple of days are Rod & Helen Tyson from Canada and also, since the Mineralogical Record featured a large spread on the minerals from India, I went over to the Mineral Fossil Market place area and paid a visit to Superb Minerals to round up some decent fluorite specimens.   Tyson's had their usual array of fine specimens from various localities in Canada such as the Jefferey Quarry and the phosphates of the Yukon.  They also had another fine array of colorful fluorite specimens from the Highway 17 road cut locale in Ontario, Canada.  Rod also pulled out some choice specimens of collinsite.  I could not resist either and filled a flat with rocks!  A word to the wise: The Jefferey Quarry has closed.  This is significant since it has been a continual source for extraordinary specimens of grossular (pink & green), prehnite, vesuvianite (greens and purples), and many others.  The day will come when specimens from this locality will be difficult to get.


   
Th image on the left if of one of the new fluorite specimens from Ontario and the specimen on the right is a new collinsite from the Yukon.  


A brief word about Superb Minerals.  They are everywhere!  They have two rooms at the Inn Suites, two rooms at the Executive Inn and also an enormous spread at the Mineral Fossil Market Place area across the street from the Executive Inn.  They also have a room at the Westward Look Resort (More of that further down this page).   If you have any hankering for Indian zeolites or other novelties you never have to go any further than Superb Minerals.  They bring a measureable percentage of the country of India to every show they attend and it is seemingly limitless.   The problem is that there is a tremendous amount of damage on a lot of the specimens but if you look long and hard enough you can come away with some winners. Below are two images of one of the choice fluorite specimens I obtained.


   
This is one of the specimens of fluorite on quartz that I found in the Mineral Fossil Market Place.  
An acicular "drop" of honey colored fluorite set amontg several dozen quartz crystals.



 
The entrance to the Westward Look Resort.

On February 7th the Westward look opened their show.  This is the second year of the show and it is a stark contrast to the shows organized by Marty Zinn.  It is located well off of Interstate 10 about 8 or 9 miles (about 15) to the east and an equal distance to the north from the Executive Inn and Inn Suites shows.  The show is small at this point but it is growing and there are only serious high end dealers here.   This show originated out of the frustration of a nucleus of high end dealers with the other shows in terms of local ambiance and facilities.  This is a very posh resort with top quality rooms.   If you are a bargain hunter looking for wholesale minerals there is no need to come here as there is only the very best in minerals available at this show.  There were not too many people here but there were some incredible rocks most definitely.  I spoke with Ian Bruce briefly and he summed it up nicely I think.  He said, "The Westward Look is not a major show in the present but it will be a major show in the future."  I would have to agree. Some of the best rocks in Tucson are in these two dozen rooms!


   
Here's the show poster seen in several locations and the image on the right displays the dealers who are set up here.
In addition to those listed I also saw Superb Minerals and Stuart Wilensky.  There were also two meteorite dealers.


   
Upon getting to the show I saw Michel Schwab - he is the organizer for the Saint Marie aux Mines show in France.
The image on the right is looking to the north.  See that cool looking green Subaru Forester?  That's mine!  


   
The image on the right is looking to the northwest.  You can see that cool looking green machine of mine on the
right side of the picture.  On the right is a small fountain.  I caught Brice Gobin chatting with another collector.


   
The image on the left is a typical entry way to 4 of the rooms. Peering into the room of Ian Bruce I saw this magnificent
bi-colored beryl specimen.
 The crystal is about 20 cm across!  The whole specimen is about 35 cm in height!!!  


   
In Superb Minerals I saw a stunning collection of beryl crystals!  Goodness!  Both crystals are from India and the aquamarine
specimen is at least 45-50 cm in length!  Unreal color as is the "smaller" one which grades from green to blue.  Pure eye candy!
 


This year Gene Meieran is presenting specimens from his personal collection.   I will be back here tomorrow to get some snaps of some of his better pieces!  

Lots more to come!

Past Shows & Reports
PLEASE NOTE: The minerals that were offered on these pages are all sold
1999
Munich Show
2000
Sainte Marie Show
Munich Show
2001
Sainte Marie Show
Munich Show
2002
Tucson Show
Sainte Marie Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2003
Tucson Show
Sainte Marie Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2004
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2005
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2006
Tucson Show
Bologna Show
Sainte Marie Show
East Coast Show
Munich Show
2007
Tucson Show
Dallas Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2008
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2009
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show

2010
Tucson Show
San Francisco Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show

Munich Show

2011
Tucson Show
San Francisco Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show

2012
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show  
Munich Show

2013
Tucson Show
Sainte Marie Show
Crystal Days (Poland)
East Coast Show
Munich Show

2014
Tucson Show
Denver Show 

Munich Show

2015
Tucson Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show 
Munich Show

2016
Tucson Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show 
Munich Show

2017
Tucson Show
Munich Show

2018
Tucson Show

 
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