Every February, Tucson transforms into the global epicenter for gems, minerals, and fossils. The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show remains an incomparable experience, drawing tens of thousands of collectors and experts to witness everything from common stones to museum-quality treasures. My week in Tucson yielded some incredible highlights centered around mineral specimens and friends. Highlights included:
Visits to dozens of dealers at the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery, Mineral City (numerous interconnected buildings with dedicated space for dealers), numerous other venues both outdoors, and the Tucson Convention Center for the "main show."
Reconnecting with many dealer friends both domestic and international, and making new friends who share a passion for rocks, gems, and minerals.
Talking with people who actually mine, or have mined, for mineral specimens; learning more about geology, gemstones, and mineral occurrences; and seeing specimens from some remarkable new finds.
Meeting fellow MSDC members Dave & Leslie Nanney and Kathy Hrechka.
Attending several expert-led talks and spreading the good word about MSDC.
Perhaps the best of all was the chance to enjoy some amazing eye candy.
Without further elaboration, here are some visual highlights of some fabulous mineral specimens that surely represent some of nature's finest handiwork. All photos were taken by me and are used with permission of the owners.
The fabulous specimen was for sale by the Focal Crystal, $16.5K.Ken Rock and Marshall Sussman, Tsumeb expert and mineral dealer. I reconnected with Marshall shortly after I arrived in Tucson and it was a highlight of my Tucson experience.This exceptional specimen was sold at the show by the Rocksaholics, Arif and Aisha Jan. Aisha said that this fluorite is the best in the world from Chumar Bakhoor, Nagar, Pakistan, adding that it is 100% natural, with zero repairs, treatment, or restoration. Vanadinite on barite, Mibladen, Khenifra Province, Morocco. For sale by Unique Minerals, Inc. $15K.According to Arkenstone Minerals, this specimen shows "A color combo worth treasuring - purple amethyst with salmony, orangey red calcite from Brazil."Gary Roskin, Publisher of the Roskin Gem News Report, and Ken Rock at the GJX Gem Show holding specimens of Paraiba tourmaline. The blue color comes from trace amounts of copper in the crystal structure.Elbaite variety tourmaline "Rocketship," Aricanga Mine, Sao Jose da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil for sale by Crystal Classics, $17.5K.This remarkable polished face of rhodochrosite is from the Inakuraishi Mine, Aomori, Japan. It was purchased by Gene Meieran in Japan in the 1970's while he was on travel for Intel. It is for sale by The Arkenstone, $75K. Malachite from the Star of the Congo Mine, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo. Available at the Arkenstone, $120K.Note the lovely "grape jelly" color of this specimen.Many different forms of malachite. Most (or all) are from the Democratic Republic of Congo.This wonderful, gemmy, good-sized, lustrous pink octahedral specimen of spinel is from the Mogok Township in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. The crystal formed in a marble matrix. One the left is an accompanying negative "cast" specimen of marble showing how the crystal was formed. For sale by Brian Kosar Mineral Classics for $16K. Three fine tourmaline specimens.One of several cases at the Convention Center show dedicated to Gene Meieran, collector, philanthropist, friend, and overall great guy. The case features a timeline of Gene's life, some of his many awards, and some extraordinary mineral specimens from his collection.Kathy Hrechka, MSDC member and Editor and Historian for The Micromineralogists of the National Capital Area.Past MSDC President Dave Nanney, Leslie Nanney, and Ken Rock at the Convention Center show.This bathtub is made entirely from labradorite from Madagascar. Ready for your next bathroom remodel.
