Recent Activities -Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, 2012 -A Little Bit of It!

01/20/2012

Here are a few images from my recent trip to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. I did not take a lot of pictures but did try to capture a few images of specimens that I thought you might find interesting. Unfortunately, I forgot to note WHOSE cases many of these specimens were from. Forgive me!? Or let me know?

A lovely, well crystallized specimen of malachite, 12.0cm across, from the Czar Mine at Bisbee. Denver Museum of Natural History specimen.

This is one of the famouse azurite and malachite specimens from the Morenci Mine. About 20.0cm across.

I though that this specimen of malachite and azurite was striking particularly with the white mineral on the upper right. The label didn't say what the white minerals weas, though! About 18.0cm across from the Morenci Mine.

There are at LEAST two good reasons to go to Tucson for the Gem and Mineral Shows. One, of course, is great minerals. The other is to hang out in the sun with friends! Here I am with my friend Ray McDougall relaxing at one of the hotel mineral shows.

Fellow Canadians Frank and Wendy Melanson have reduced their mineral dealing activities but still maintain a booth at the Tucson Gem and Mineral main Show. It is one of the best quality, reasonable dealerships at the show! Be sure to visit them next year.

The label said Chysocolla but I have to believe that this 12.0cm, or so, tall piece was a chysocolla specimen after azurite or something like that.

The TGMS featured minerals of Arizona this year and, of course, great wulfenite specimens abounded! Here is a beauty, about 24.0cm across from the Glove Mine.

I thought that this 7.0cm tall Evan Jones' specimen from the Rowley Mine was very special.

There was one case that held a number of beautiful red Cloud Mine wulfenite specimens from various owners. Hard on the eyes!

Here is one of those Red Cloud Mine Wulfenite specimens, a 12.0cm wide beauty owned by Daniel Tranchillo.

A very bautiful and interesting calcite specimen, tinted red by cuprite from the Ray Mine, owned by Bill and Robbie McCarty. About 8.0cm tall.

I thought that this green smithsonite specimen from the Mammoth Mine was very striking. I also thought it odd that they did not "stand it up" to display it to better effect. About 8.0cm across from the Smithsonian Institution.

One of the first mineral specimens that I owned many years ago from the USA was a sceptred quartz from the Fat Jack Mine. Here is a very dramatic specimen of quartz crystals, owned by Marshall Suffman, featuring such a sceptre. About 10.0cm across.

This spectacular copper specimen, from the Ray Mine, was featured in the 1997 Tucson Show Poster, in this image, behind it. Great copper! Ray Mine specimen about 20.0cm tall.

A selection of choice crystals of copper from the Ray Mine. The spinel-law twinned crystal on the right, owned by Paul Harter, from the Pearl Handle Pit of the Ray Mine, is about 15.0cm tall! The specimen in the middle is owned by Evan Jones.

Wow! Wouldn't it be something to find a copper crystal cluster like this?! This piece, owned by Bryant Harris, from the Pearl Handle Pit of the Ray Mine, is about 23.0cm across.

I don't think of "silver" when I think of Arizona minerals but here is a magnificent silver specimen from the Stonewall Jackson Mine. It is about 8.0cm across and is owned by Evan Jones.

What a great, 10.0cm tall wire silver from Mineral Park! Sorry about the glare on the glass! Again, owned by Evan Jones.

This 19.9 pound nugget of silver is affectionately known as "The Silver Dog" for obvious reaaons. It was found in 2006 by Doug McDow while metal detecting in the Sierrita Mountains near Tucson. It is still owned by Doug McDow.

There was one case of non-Arizona specimens that also deserves mention. Chris Stefano brought a mind-blowing display of crystallized copper specimens from, I believe, the University of Michigan. We've seen many of the great Michigan copper specimens from many other great institutional collections but not from this one! The specimens were amazing! This piece was about 28.0cm across and had very sharp copper crystals on the left hand side.

You have to admit that this specimen from the University of Michigan copper display case is really quite something! Donated to the Museum by L.L. Hubbard with just Keweenaw Peninsula as the location. The specimen is about 15.0cm across.

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