FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[bob kerr]

The other main eye catcher of the display cases were the 4 "trophies" entered by Muhammad Ejaz. I have posted some photos here previously but at the main show he had 4 dedicated cases to 4 major pieces including the two largest aquamarine specimens taken recently out of Pakistan - 1.2 and 1.1 meters across. (Note - Pakistani Aquas were EVERYWHERE around the show - I just wish they were bluer - like the blue of Erongo aquas.)

His booth was also a pleasure to see. See photos.

[bob kerr]

Gulan Mustafa brought his incredible specimens from the Westward Look Show (see earlier posts) and had a beautiful and crowded booth at the TGMS Show.

[bob kerr]

The European dealership of Siber+Siber entered a terrific display of Alpine smokey quartzes.

[bob kerr]

In support of their upcoming Mineral Show in Nanjing, China, The Mineral Center of Jiangsu Province entered a case of truly world class Chinese Specimens.

[bob kerr]

What a team!! In a collaborative effort, Walt Donovan, Gene Meieran, William Johnson, Daniel Trinchillo, Irv Brown and Scott Rudolf entered a world class case of gem pegmatites minerals - and I do mean GEM! I for one hope these 6 elite collectors continue this collaboration for the next show - Green Minerals!

[bob kerr]

The group who owns the Tenpercenter Claim in the Pikes Peak batholith entered a terrific case of rich blue amazonites and deep smokey quartzes. These seem to get better every year!

[bob kerr]

The Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh entered what is (regrettably) an important case showing some of the recent fakes and frauds imposed onto the mineral world. I guess I'm not a purist and think that these are ok - AS LONG AS THEY ARE PROPERLY IDENTIFIED - but many collectors think they should be eliminated totally. I know I like my "Heliodor from Tajikistan" and my "Blue Hemimorphite from Ojuela".

[bob kerr]

Peter Megaw entered a single specimen of Nifontovite from Charcas, MX which may be the best of this species in the World.

[bob kerr]

Rocko Rosenblat entered a case of recently mined gem Sphalerite, calcite and anhydrite from the Empire State Zinc Mine in Balmat, NY. His room at Min City was almost sold out of these gemmy sphalerites.

[bob kerr]

I really love thumbnail sized specimens - 1 inch max "as mounted" (and also the toenail size that is used in the TGMS - 1.5inch max "as mounted") and the TN display entered by the Mineralogical Record personnel was about the best display I've ever seen. Take the time to peruse these specimens - they are ALL special.

[bob kerr]

In one of the competitive exhibits was a non-descript specimen labeled as "Shattuckite - Milpillas" - it was a light blue vug with something very dark inside - but when you took a photo with a focused flash you see something wonderful - and this is certainly among the best to come from this mine if not the world.

[Jordi Fabre]

Stay tuned, a great report from the amazing Gail will come with images just as exciting as this one...

[bob kerr]

Noted field collector Steve Scott entered a nice display case of Southern Nevada Pegmatites - all self-collected. He's been field collecting for 38 years!! He also spends hours under water on the west coast of Florida recovering shark's teeth and other fossil items - especially megalodon teeth.

And - to top things off - his self-collected Puzzler Mine vanadinite won the Bideaux Trophy for best Arizona specimen entered in the competition. Congrats to Steve.

[bob kerr]

The Sherman Dugan Museum of Geology at San Juan College entered an interesting case showing some historical uses of toxic minerals. How did we survive childhood?

[bob kerr]

Number 8 in the series of "Barite World Tour" cases entered annually by Bill and Diana Dameron covers Latin America - mainly Mexico and Peru as most other nations in Latin America are devoid of barite. Learn something new every day!

[bob kerr]

The case entitled "Some Favorites from the Irving Collection" was truly first rate and contained two specimens that really caught my eye - the pyrite on quartz cluster from the Spruce Claim in Washington State and the unique aquamarine, spessartine specimen from Pakistan.

[bob kerr]

And, finally, last but CERTAINLY not least was the case entered by Tom Campbell that won both the Desautels Trophy for "The Best Case of Rocks" and also the Lidstrom Trophy for "Best Overall Specimen" for his Beryllonite on Hydroxyl herderite from Pakistan.

[bob kerr]

OK - some final thoughts about the 2024 Tucson shows:

- There was really very little that was new for this year - some small finds of interest and some new/better specimens of older finds but nothing that was the talk of the shows. Pakistani Aquas were EVERYWHERE and HUGE specimens could be had - but I kinda wish they were bluer.

- This year Mineral City REALLY came into its own and became a CITY - it is the hub of mineral dealing and is a terrific place to hang out with friends, have a drink at The Stope, get a good quality sandwich at the various food trucks and stick around for some evening entertainment - this year was the Pink Floyd tribute band - Shine on Floyd who were excellent. Graham Sutton deserves a round of applause.

- I feel sorry for the very good dealers housed in the G Building - which has been dubbed "The G-Spot" since it's so hard to find. The building is simply too far away from the others. Not sure what the solution to this problem is.

- The TGMS Show at the convention center (aka The Main Show) has reverted back to its roots - by that I mean the large majority of mineral dealers are what I would classify as smaller and more local dealers - kinda like it was many moons ago. The "major league" dealers now either have their own buildings or rent a room annually at Min City so why should they incur the risk and cost of setting up at the TGMS Show? I can't blame them.

- From my limited and non-scientific polling of various dealers, it seems sales ranged from above-average to very good with of course a few dealers not earning their fee's/costs but that's always the case.

- This was the wettest Tuscon Show ever - well over 3 inches of rain fell during the shows and the cold/windy/wet Saturday of the Main Show resulted in a huge crowd - about double the usual crowd size.

- Change is inevitable - especially for the Tucson Shows but I think Mineral City (and its surroundings) is going to be around for a very long time. Dealers and buyers like the entire situation. There is however one big historical change occurring in the vicinity and that's the removal of an old Tucson landmark - the infamous and proverbial No-Tel Motel is being torn down - see photo.

[Don Lum]

Bob, I want to thank you very much for all the fine pictures and the reporting on the 2024 Tucson show. Your pictures and comments were excellent.

Don Lum

[James Catmur]

Thanks Bob.

I attended a great talk last week all about the use of fossils, gems and minerals in medical matters.