Hello and welcome to our first show report from the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society Show. For many this heralds the end of the Tucson season, as the final mineral show. We alway urge people to stay to see this show, it is a ‘must-see’ for any collector. Apart from the many dealers, who create fancy booths especially for this show, there are many fantastic displays by museums and collectors from all over the world. Each year the show has a special theme, this year is ‘Minerals of Western Europe’.
The Westward Look Fine Mineral Show finished on Monday, and on the Saturday night we attended a party hosted by the China (Changsha) Mineral Show.
Wayne with Johannes and Hermi Keilmann of Mineralientage MunichDona with Gian Carlo Parodi from the National Museum of Natural History, ParisDona with Patrick from the Changsha Mineral Show
The Westward Look show finished on Monday and then it was time to pack it down and the rooms at the Hotel Tucson City Centre, ready for set up at the TGMS show. At this show we have a large booth in the centre of the convention centre, and setup takes a full day.
Setting up the boothWayne, Lois and Robbie unpacking mineralsMinerals in casesThe finished displaysAll finished
Large Selenite from Naica Mine, Mexico with fantastic ‘fish tail’ twinned crystals, up to 60cm in height. It is thought to have been mined about 40 years ago.Jeff Post and Paul Pohwat from the Smithsonian setting up their special display
On opening day we always like to get into a theme, with everyone dressing for the occasion. This year it was ‘Purple and Pearls’ with the ladies in matching dresses.
Wayne’s girls – (L to R) Lois, Tana, Audrey, Dona and Robbie
As you can imagine there are a lot of valueable specimens both for sale and in the special displays and the Tucson Police force do a fantastic job at the show every year, providing security.
Lois with two of Tucson’s finest – Mark Evanoff and Anthony DeLaOssa, who are helping to make the show a safe place.Dona with Renate Schumacher from Mineral Museum of University Bonn, Germany, who is in traditional dress for Opening Day for the theme of Western Europe
At Munich last year, the Gold for Collector’s book was released featuring the photography of Joaquim Callen of MineralUp Magazine fame. He and his wife Eloise were kind enough to present Wayne and Dona with an autographed copy of the leather bound edition.
Wayne and Dona with Joaquim and Eloise CallenWayne is interviewed by a local TV station
Here are a few photos of our mineral cases:
Some of our more spectacular mineralsA closeup of the Native Copper from Michigan, USA with very large crystals, approx 25cm tall – now spoken for
A closeup of the Native Sulfur from Agrigento, Sicily, Italy, over 10 cm across.An amazing Topaz from Katlang, Pakistan with approx 2.5cm crystal, accompanied by a Sweet Home Rhodochrosite on the rear left, and Goshenite specimen from China on rear rightOur Gold displayA superb Silver wire specimen nicknamed ‘The Swan’ from Vetagrande, Zacatecas, MexicoA colourful cabinet of miniaturesA display of Gem minerals – blue Aquamarines, pink Kunzites, colourful TourmalinesA selection of Amethyst, most from Vera Cruz, MexicoA selection of mineral specimens including some lovely crystallised Coppers on the bottom shelf, and a large Malachite after Azurite from Tsumeb on the second from top shelfMore minerals including a large Quartz from Minas Gerais, Brazil on the top centreA funky looking Calcite from China, nicknamed ‘The Bird’, approx 25cm high
A rather nice Dioptase with Calcite from Tsumeb, Namibia, approx 7cm acrossView over one end of the convention centre, with umbrella decorations hanging from the roof
On the evening of Opening Day we were invited to a party hosted by Gail and Jim Spann and Jordi Fabre at Casa Vicente. It was a fun night.
People lining up to get inA huge dish of Paella being cooked
Our next show report will be coming soon with more photos from around the show, see you then!
