KOFA National Wildlife Refuge - February 2010 - photo by John Veevaert
John Veevaert    5582 N White Sands Rd, Reno Nevada  USA  (888) 689-8402



 

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Show Reports
Report 1    Report 2    Report 3    Report 4    Report 5

 
  
Report 5 from Tucson 2015

T he theme at the Main Show this year was Minerals of Western Europe.  There were many fine displays centered around the theme as well as competition displays and others of simply incredible minerals.  This is but a small sample of the myriad things that were available for viewing.  I would encourage you all to go look at other websites such as Fabre's Mineral Forum, Facebook and others for a fully comprehensive view of the Tucson experience.  Before I launch in to the displays there is one more item to note that is new to the mineral world.  Some exceptional specimens of azurite with malachite from the Khanong Open Pit, Sepon mine, Savannakhet Province, Laos. These things look remarkably similar to Bisbee specimens. Brilliant luster and sharp, well defined azurite crystals.  Scott Werschky of Miner's Lunchbox had a few of these available. 
 

35 cm specimen of the new azurite & malachite from Laos. The price said P.O.R.
 
 

Another of the Laotian azurite specimens - this one is about 15 cm across.
 
 
On a hunch I went back to Chinese dealer He Xin Jian at the Inn Suites to see if he had any more of those chalcocite specimens coated with microcrystalline chalcopyrite from the Daye mine, Hubei Province, China.  I was in luck as he had a box of them under the bed.  These are not as good as the best that came out last year but you'll have a chance to get a good representative specimen as I looked at well over 200 pieces to select 7.
 

A 3.5 cm specimen of the fabulously iridescent chalcopyrite on chalcocite from China.
 
Okay.  On to the displays.
 

Here is a better view of the Smoky Hawk King found by the Dorris Family this past summer.  What is that in the back?
 
 

 
That thing in the back is the finest baveno twin of amazonite I have ever seen!! What the hell? One of the best rocks at the show!!
 
 
 

This was pretty cool - a bunch of miniature instruments made of minerals.
 
 

Here's the story on the above display.
 
 

Scott Rudolph had some exceptional specimens on display.  This bournonite with the classic cogwheel habit is one of the best from Peru I have ever seen.
 
 

Just another eye popping specimen of rhodochrosite from the Sweet Home.
 
 

Why not put out an incredible array of silvers from Kongsberg....
 

Bill Larson, Paul Harter and Gene Meieran put a collaborative case of minerals found in the western USA.
 
 
 

The benitoite specimen had a crystal 4 cm on edge I about fainted.
 
 

Here's a case Jim & Gail Spann put in tied to the theme. 
 

Smokin' proustite from the Czech Republic.
 
 

When is the last time you saw a gorgeous aquamarine from Ireland???
 
 
 

This Panasqueira fluorapatite was on display last year and I took a picture of it.  It is so dang good I took another picture of it.
 
 

Probably one of the top ten specimens of stibnite from France.
 
 

This was a display on minerals from the West Cumbrian Iron Orefield
 
 

An absolutely stunning specimen of "kidney ore" also known as hematite.
 
 

Calcite specimens from the Iron Orefield display.
 
 

Dave and Liz Hacker put out a display of mineral inlayed items with exquisite handywork.
 
 

A better view of several of the pieces.
 
 

UK Mining Ventures put out a beautiful array of fluorite mined over the last decade from the Rogerley mine.
 
 

United Kingdom specimens from Lindsey Greenbanks.
 
 

Closer shot of a gorgeous fluorite from Cumbria .
 
 

Specimens of fluorites and another "kidney ore" specimen.
 
 
 

Jaye Smith put together a fine tribute case to her late husband Bill Lawrence of specimens from Western Europe.
 
 

A calcite and fluorite in the display.
 
 

A fine Scottish smithsonite.
 
 

The Mineralogical Record's Tom Moore had a fine thumbnail sized collection of minerals from across western Europe.
 

Thumbnail sized specimens.
 
 

Wolfgang and Karin Wendel had a stunning display of European minerals.
 
 

Gorgeous German silver.
 

A world class specimen of nagyagite from Romania.
 
 

Exceptional crystals of bismuth from Germany.
 
 
 

Fine Kongsberg silver.
 
 
 

The theme for next year's Tucson show is Blue Minerals. This case was put out by the
META group. Mineral Enthusiasts of the Tucson Area.
 
 
 

A fantastic specimen of blue smithsonite from the San Antonio mine in Mexico.
 
 

A brght blue azurite with malachite from Mexico.
 
And another Tucson experience comes to an end. 
 
There were some interesting new things here at the show and seemingly an ocean of great rocks released from old collections.  As usual pricing for fine specimens is all over the map. A lot of collectors seem willing to pay vast sums for fine specimens while there are those that are prudent and will wait to find the treasure that has alluded the halucinatory pricing that seems to have become pervasive in this "hobby". History is filled with examples of collectables that experience bubbles that burst but it seems that this one is only at the front end of attracting people with large hoards of cash looking to put it into something other than dollar assets.  Let face it each mineral is unique.  and the best specimens from any locality will always command big premiums but I still find it hard to see common species like fluorite with five or six digit prices.
 
The people who, like myself, are interested in the chemstry, crystallography and associations of mineral species seem to be becoming a dying breed.  The upper tier of collectors care primarily about appearance and probably don't care about the fact that minerals are chemical compounds or how these inanimate objects organize themselves into such stunning examples of nature.  Those that care about the science of mineralogy are not extinct - we are merely eclipsed by the money moving in from the natural art sector. 
 
I have said it before and it is worth repeating.  Developing a focus for your collection is the best way for an average collector to derive enjoyment out of this hobby and whatever you do at any pricing level do not view minerals purchased in recent years as an investment. I think that is somewhat dangerous if you are looking to "cash out" at some point in the future.  Collectables of every sort experience the bubble bursting and there is no reason to think that they are immune from such a turn of events.    
 
Wow, did I have fun talking to so many people from around the globe.  I am always pleased to get reaquainted with old friends and also meet people who I have done business with over the years for the first time.  Up until that instant we are just email addresses. The challenge for me is to remember the names and the faces.  The challenges of an aging brain.
 
We that will wrap it up. I have one more large update of new Tucson Show specimens to post and then I will spend 2-3 days packng up specimens that were ordered online.  Judging from the stack I have my work cut out for me.  I will be here again next year if I am still here and will look forward to the next encounters of all the people I know as dealers and collectors.  We are all an extended community of people brought together by our interest in minerals.
 
Till next year - Adios.
 
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

 

 

 
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