Rare, collectible and out of print mineral books – come in and see what we have available, some are marked at keystone prices in our wholesale section!
In the third of our show reports from the Tucson Gem and Mineral show 2013, we would like to bring you a little more detail on the great specimens we have to offer at the Hotel Tucson City Centre, especially for those who are not able to make the show in person. Later we will show you a little of the huge effort that goes into the preparation for the Westward Look Fine Mineral Show and some of the exceptional specimens we will have on display.
This year the new location of our retail room at the Hotel Tucson City Centre has afforded us the advantage of a more spacious and comfortable viewing area. Here is the finished setup:
Dona and Audrey organising some of the paperwork.Two of the Daves enjoying the hard workOutside the showroom a late shipment arrives and we have to transfer the crates from truck to truck, while Liz Hacker supervises…….at least some of the time. Caught here with the new man in her life – attention is not always on the job!Caught red handed. Audrey, having told us all she was off the chocolate!
Onto the minerals, here are some of the specimens we have to offer:
Large crystals of Spodumene are not uncommon, but this almost perfect crystal of the Kunzite variety is near gem clean towards its termination. The crystal measures around 7.5″ tall. From the Mawi pegmatite, Nuristan Region, Laghman Province, Afghanistan.Lustrous black Neptunite crystals contrasting with white Natrolite matrix from the Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, USA. A sizable example measuring around 8″ x 6″A superb Hydroxyl-Herderite with twinned crystal form on a flat plate of Quartz, in turn encrusted with Tourmaline crystals. From Virgem da Lapa, Jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil.A pretty group of Quartz var. Amethyst crystals from Mun. Las Vigas de Ramírez, Veracruz, Mexico.One of the best pale Smoky Quartz Gwindels we have had in a while, from the classic location of St. Gotthard, Switzerland. This specimen measures around 5″ across, and has a high degree of “twist”.Two pale cream coloured Calcites standing on a bed of purple Amethyst crystals from Iraí, Alto Uruguai region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Specimen around 2.5″ tall.A delicately coloured clear terminated Aquamarine crystal, measuring 3″ tall and 1/2″ thick with a little matrix in association. From near Skardu, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.Crystallised copper specimens rarely get to this size and quality. This is an old time specimen, measuring approx 12″ tall by 5″ across. It has an amazing 3D appeal to it. From the Osceola Mine, Osceola, Houghton Co., Michigan, USA.A rarity from the Swiss Alps this remarkably well developed tabular Fluorapatite with modifications to the crystal corners. It’s associated with the unusual form of Albite known as “Pericline” which in turn has a light dusting of tiny Chlorites. From the Burg-Fiesch Glacier area, Fiesch, Goms, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland.Another fine specimen from the Burg-Fiesch Glacier area – a near perfect cluster of “Pericline” crystals, some reaching 1″ and more in size. The whole specimen is enhanced with a similar dusting of Chlorites. An Alpine mineral collectors dream specimen! From the Burg-Fiesch Glacier area, Fiesch, Goms, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland.A great specimen from the Ancient mines at Lavrion in Greece. Calcite on Azurite with Malachite and Olivenite. Specimen measures approx. 5″ across. Hilarion Mines, Kamariza, Lavrion District, Attikí Prefecture, Greece.A near spherical aggregate of radiating flat terminated Apophyllite crystals on a bed of Stilbites. From the Momim Akhada Village Well Pocket, Rahuri, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India.Beryl var. Morganite in thickened, modified tabular habit on Albite matrix with a little Muscovite. The largest crystal, top right, measures around 1″ across. From the Elizabeth R. Mine, Chief Mountain, Pala, Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA.Robust Epidotes in association with tiny clear needles of Quartz. From the Green Monster Mountain, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, USA.A scattering of green dodecahedral crystals of Chromium rich Grossular Garnet on matrix from the Jeffrey mine, Asbestos, Québec, Canada.Slender, parallel crystals of rich salmon coloured Serandite from the Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada.An aesthetic group of pure white Analcime crystals clustered around prismatic Aegirines. Again from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada.A rare and rich specimen from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Carletonite from the Poudrette Quarry.Richly coloured Fluorite crystals scattered on matrix with Sphalerite from Elmwood mine, Carthage, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA.American Wulfenites are always of interest. This cluster of lustrous rich orange tabular crystals comes from the Stevenson-Bennett Mine, Organ District, Organ Mts, New Mexico, USA.Coatings of Linarite on the white tips of Quartz crystals from the Mex-Tex Mine, Bingham, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA.Rich orange Wulfenite in thin flat tablets interspersed and contrasting with greenish-blue micro-crystals of Dioptase from the Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine, Tiger, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA.A complex twinned crystal of Calcite on Fluorite from Denton Mine, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA.A typically modified and particularly well developed pseudo-cubic Pseudoboleite measuring just under 1cm, with great colour and lustre from the classic location of Santa Rosalía, Boleo District, Baja California, Mexico.A classic European Fluorite specimen of well developed intergrown bright yellow cubes. From Marienschacht Mine, Wölsendorf District, Schwandorf, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany. Specimen measures approximately 3.5″ across.Another European rarity and in particularly good shape for an old time specimen. Kermesite with Pääkkönenite from Bräunsdorf, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany.From the Island of Sardinia – a classic European thumbnail of Phosgenite. Well developed and with good colour and lustre, it is from the Monteponi Mine, Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy.A cluster of yellowish green dodecahedral crystals of Andradite var. Demantoid on matrix from Lanzada, Malenco Valley, Lombardy, Italy.A group of transparent pale lilac Fluorite cubes with shallow Pyrite inclusions just beneath the crystal surface. From the Berbes Mining area, Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain.A Chrysoberyl var. Alexandrite “trilling” (or “sixling”). This is a twinned crystal with three components forming an overall star shape. A fairly well developed crystal for this location, measuring approx. 3/4″ across, from Masvingo (Fort Victoria), Masvingo District, Zimbabwe.A superb yellow Beryl var. Heliodor from Volodarsk-Volynskii, Zhytomyr Oblast’, Ukraine with delicately etched surface markings characteristic of this location.A classic from Norway – clear Quartz crystal studded with bi-pyramidal Anatase crystals. From Matskorhæ, Odda, Hardangervidda, Hordaland, Norway.A classic Scottish specimen, difficult to find these days. Lanarkite with Leadhillite from the Susanna Mine, Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
The second mineral show at which we exhibit in Tucson is the Fine Mineral Show held at the Westward Look Resort. This is a small show showcasing the dealer’s most exceptional specimens.
Floral surroundings of the Westward Look Hotel Resort.Some of the dealer trucks arriving at the Westward Look Resort on Tuesday afternoon.
The planning and setting up of the Westward Look Show takes a huge amount of effort for all dealers concerned. With many dealers holding back some of their finest acquisitions for this show, displaying them requires a keen attention to detail to display them at their best. Here is some of the preparation that goes into our showroom presentation.
The sand coloured apartments that house the dealerships under a clear blue sky at the Westward Look.Wayne loading one of our trolleys on board an (almost) empty truck.The muscle: Ian, Wayne, Dave Lloyd and Dave Hacker at the rear of the truck for a short break.The cabinets in place, lighting wired and being tested.Liz and Lois patiently setting up the mineral specimens in the display cabinets in a very warm room. A particularly time consuming job requiring a great deal of attention to detail. Great work girls.The cabinets complete with specimens in display positions. Hours of work finished.One of the finished cabinets with all its specimens in place.A selection of Rhodochrosites from Sweet Home Mine, Colorado and the Kalahari Manganese Fields, South Africa.Gem minerals Topaz with Quartz, Aquamarine, and Kunzite, with specimens of Smithsonite.
This year at Westward Look we are promoting an important collection of exclusively French mineral specimens from French dealer and collector Gilles Emringer. Gilles has been accumulating this definitive collection of some of the finest examples from French locations for many years, and it is with great pleasure that we have been given the opportunity to display and sell this wonderful collection. Here are a few of the highlights:
Cluster of well developed Azurite crystals on a small amount of matrix from Chessy-les-Mines, Le Bois d’Oingt, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France.Large Siderite crystal group with Quartz from La Mure, Isère, Rhône-Alpes, France.Group of rose coloured, slightly modified octohedral crystals of Fluorite in association with Quartz from the Mont Blanc Massif, Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, Rhône-Alpes, France.A very nice Smoky Quartz specimen with excellent terminations, clarity and rich colour, again from the Mont Blanc Massif, Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, Rhône-Alpes, France.Small balls of radiating Pyromorphite needles on matrix from the Saint-Salvy Mine, Saint-Salvy-de-la-Balme, Tarn, Midi-Pyrénées, France.Richly coloured cubes of blue Fluorite with Quartz and a dusting of Pyrite from Le Burc Mine, Alban – Le Fraysse area, Tarn, Midi-Pyrénées, France.Bright greenish-yellow, hoppered, hexagonal, free standing Pyromorphite crystals on a bed of matrix from the Les Farges Mine, Ussel, Corrèze, Limousin, France.Another specimen of Pyromorphite from the Les Farges Mine, this time associated with Quartz.Closeup of the Pyromorphite from Les Farges Mine, Ussel, Corrèze, Limousin, France.Globular aggregates of Malachite on Quartz from Camares, Aveyron, Midi-Pyrénées, France.A very pretty cluster of clear needle Quartz crystals, interspersed with delicate buff coloured flowers of almost discoidal Siderite crystals from La Mure, Isère, Rhône-Alpes, France.Another Siderite from La Mure, Isère, Rhône-Alpes, France, but this time in association with deep coloured Sphalerite crystals.Banded blue cubes of Fluorite from Mont-Roc Mine, Villefranche d’Albigeois, Tarn, Midi-Pyrénées, France.Dolomite, Ankerite, Quartz and Pyrite – a large specimen from Saint-Pierre-de-Mésage, Vizille, Isère, Rhône-Alpes, France.Closer view of the Dolomite, Ankerite, Quartz and PyriteYellow and blue colour-zoned Fluorite cubes in an aesthetic group from Le Burc Mine, Tarn, Midi-Pyrénées, France.
For our next show report we will bring you more from the Westward Look Fine Mineral show, of our specimens and those of other dealers at the show, plus the special exhibit. Be back in a couple of days!
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