Jean Sendero
Joined: 20 Dec 2009
Posts: 270
Location: Hudson Heights, Quebec
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Posted: Feb 28, 2016 08:44 Post subject: Re: Tucson Show 2016 |
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Two weeks after the end of the show, these are my thoughts. Contrary to the past 6 shows, I arrived on the Thursday, opening day of the Main Show. The previous years, I would start when everything opened and tour most of the venues trying to uncover the new Mexican finds. But this year, I basically only attended the Main Show on Saturday and Sunday, some social events and got a very small taste of the Tucson City Hotel venue closing.
I landed in the morning of Thursday the 11th and went directly to the TCH show of Marty Zinn. I only could spare an hour or so to do a quick tour. I had to attend company business in the afternoon and most of the day Friday. When I arrived at the TCH, it was a ghost town, plenty of parking available, which is normally the case on opening day of the Main show organized by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society. But what surprised me more, half, may be more, of the dealers had already packed up. The ones that were left were tired, some happy, others cynical. Sales have been good for some, terrible for others. I managed to find three new specimens. 1) Fluorite from the San Diego mine in the Santa Barbara District in Chihuahua, 2) Baryte from Milpillas that will end up a super specimen damage free (needs to be trimmed) and 3) chalcedony after aragonite from Rancho Coyamito in Chihuahua. These are great pseudomorphs. The first I saw of these was last year at the Main Show in the case of Si and Ann Frasier.
After returning from work, I had a few appointments that kindly came to my hotel. These ended up with the purchase of a 6 new specimens for the collection. Afterwards, I was fortunate to be invited to the FMF and Spann paella fiesta which I attended with somewhat major jet lag. Always a super party, and I ended up meeting a bunch of new mineral aficionados. Before heading to work on Friday, an early meeting at a friend's place ended up with another 5 specimens including a killer miniature Calcite (Mn) from Mina San Martin in Zacatecas. Friday evening was great. Friends, food, wine and plenty of Mexican minerals. Heaven in Tucson.
So not even to the Main show yet and 14 specimens already acquired. Aside from the San Diego Fluorite mentioned above and a whopper Palmarejo calcite (another one), all are from older finds or recycled collections. Nothing that could be considered a “new find”.
Here we are, Saturday morning, entering the Main Show. The following will be my view on the show with a bias view on the Mexican content.
Mexican specimens offered for sale were not abundant other than specialized dealers such as Casa del Cobre which is dominantly marketing Milpillas specimens. Specimen no. 15 was acquired there, it was dear but….now I am happy with my suite of specimens from Milpillas. Although, I am still looking for a good cuprite and volborthite.
Other dealers had the usual stuff. Adamite, San Pedro Mimetite, the odd Legrandite, etc…..I saw plenty of specimens that I consider old friends. Not because I owned them but because they are still on the shelves, for sale, with the same dealer after being there for several years. So this will be my only comment on prices…..Not all specimens have to be in the 5 digits or even 4 digits. Few should be in the 5 digits and above. Let’s be realistic….. Common sense needs to prevail.
The one spectacular specimen that I saw this year, and I do not have a photo of it, was a damage free specimen of only Pyrargyrite from Mina San Jose in Oaxaca that was 5 cm tall. The price was high but the specimen was unique.
So following, are the exhibits with the Mexican minerals. Milpillas azurite, could have been ubiquitous but surprisingly, they were not.
I left Tucson with 19 new specimens, a big hole in my wallet, but happy. Looking externally, my overall impression was less energy at the show this year than the previous years. Nothing really new from Mexico. Despite the economic downturn, we still see stupid prices on ordinary specimens, lack of pricing consistency, and the overall aging population of the hobby. Looking at the posts and walking around, where are the younger people?
As Jordi wrote above: “Something is changing in Tucson”
Cheers and enjoy my top 10 Mexican specimens of the show and a few other mentions.
Jean
Mineral: | Stephanite |
Locality: | Mina Chispas, Arizpe, Municipio de Arizpe, Sonora, Sonora, Mexico | |
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Description: |
In the Rock Currier cases. This specimen won the Romero trophy at this year show. |
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13607 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Volborthite with azurite |
Locality: | Milpillas Mine, Cuitaca, Municipio Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico | |
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Description: |
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13274 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Barite on epidote with quartz |
Locality: | Piedra Parada (Las Vigas), Municipio Tatatila, Veracruz (Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave), Mexico | |
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Description: |
Jason New had a case full of super Mexican specimens. Some had been previously displayed, I believe in 2010. |
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13456 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Mottramite |
Locality: | Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Municipio Mapimí, Durango, Mexico | |
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Description: |
Another one from Jason New case. We have seen a lot of Mottramite from Mapimi but this piece is flawless. A beauty |
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13416 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Adamite |
Locality: | Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Municipio Mapimí, Durango, Mexico | |
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Description: |
In the Tea pot case. Superb Adamite (Cu) |
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13337 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Chrysocolla included in quartz |
Locality: | Concepción del Oro, Municipio Concepción del Oro, Zacatecas, Mexico | |
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Description: |
Forgot in which case I saw this one but this is not a common sight. |
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13531 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Bournonite |
Locality: | Noche Buena Mine, Noche Buena, Municipio Mazapil, Zacatecas, Mexico | |
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Description: |
In one of the novice competition cases. I liked it. Unsure about the locality, it seems to be a Noche Buena bournonite |
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13315 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Adamite |
Locality: | Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Municipio Mapimí, Durango, Mexico | |
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Description: |
In one of the competitive cases |
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13346 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Wulfenite |
Locality: | San Francisco Mine, Cerro Prieto, Cucurpe, Municipio Cucurpe, Sonora, Mexico | |
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Dimensions: | Approx. 4 cm on edge, may be more |
Description: |
A perfect window pane, no damage, translucent |
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13264 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Boleite |
Locality: | Amelia Mine, Santa Rosalía (El Boleo), Boleo District, Municipio Mulegé, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
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Dimensions: | Crystal is exceeding 1 cm easy |
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13310 Time(s) |
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Minerals named after people is always a great recognition to these individuals of their contributions to mineralogy. Here in the META case we can see members with minerals named after them. Super. |
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13393 Time(s) |
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bob kerr
Joined: 13 Nov 2011
Posts: 537
Location: Monroeville PA
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Posted: Feb 28, 2016 16:01 Post subject: Re: Tucson Show 2016 |
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In the above previous post, Jean Sendero provided a photo of the incredible San Francisco mine wulfenite "window" that was in one of the Rock Currier cases. The window is huge and i thought i'd provide another photo from a different perspective that may show it's size better. There's a perkey box in the photo and the Aqua next to it is over 30cm!!
bob
Mineral: | Wulfenite |
Locality: | San Francisco Mine, Cerro Prieto, Cucurpe, Municipio Cucurpe, Sonora, Mexico | |
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Description: |
Jean's estimate of 4cm across the top is a pretty good one. "Huge" is another good descriptive ajective. |
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13132 Time(s) |
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Mineral: | Wulfenite |
Locality: | San Francisco Mine, Cerro Prieto, Cucurpe, Municipio Cucurpe, Sonora, Mexico | |
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Description: |
incredible agua next to that huge San Francisco Wulfenite |
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13168 Time(s) |
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