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Tucson Mineral Show
One of the most interesting new mineral finds this year were psuedomorphs of hematite after magnetite from Patagonia. They formed perfect floater crystal groups, ranging from sharp octahedrons to elongated hoppered crystals that reached 3-4 inches in length. Many dealers had a few nice crystals, usually over $1,000. Patagonia Minerals in room 240 at the Executive had hundreds of them and for a couple hundred dollars you could have a beautiful specimen. At the Denver show last year amethystine "cactus quartz" from the Magaliesberg Mountains of South Africa first appeared in quantity and two of the ballroom dealers at the Executive had some of the best specimens offered so far. Most were small clusters but some singles approached 4 inches in length and a few good cabinet specimens were available.
The Inn Suites was also missing a few dealers although considerably less than the Executive Inn. This show offers the widest variety ranging from fine mineral specimens to cut stones, gem art, corals, wood carvings and fossils of all qualities. The ballrooms here are set up for wholesale sellers and there is a display of art and jewelry, made entirely from stones of course, in the hotel lobby. A couple of the Chinese mineral dealers here seemed to have the best quality specimens. There are also still a number of dealers with high quality mineral specimens at this motel. A refurbished house just off the Inn Suites property is now the home of the Fine Minerals International Gem and minerals forum house. The areas outside the house were decorator quality but inside they had some fine material, including what was arguably the best tourmaline specimen at the show, offered by Detrin. Think softball sized matrix with 1/2 inch thick light blue crystals up to 10 inches long going in all directions. ©2004 - 2001 Evolving Earth Foundation. All rights reserved |
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