FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Jordi Fabre]

Barcelona 01/22/2011

This is the official opening of my oficial thread about Tucson Show. On past years I wrote my texts mostly alone and I managed the threads as my personal vision about Tucson.

Recently I changed the layout of this kind of threads, I opened them and I let everybody participate and share their visions of Ste. Marie 2010 ( https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?t=1159 ) and Munich 2010 ( https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?t=1385 ) with succes, according others:

[Peter Megaw]

Jordi et al...Speaking as Exhibits Chair for the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (tm) I am pleased to announce that we will have some truly spectacular exhibits this year. The theme is Minerals of California and there are at least 40 museum and private exhibits playing to that theme including several "group-shoot" cases with pegmatite minerals from Southern California that should be superb. This will include the first public unveiling of a magnificent brand-new find from the Oceanview Mine...resetting the standard for California kunzite.

For those jaded with pegmatites...there will also be a strong showing of non-pegmatite species...including some secondary base metal species that may blow your mind.

We will also host the first US Showing of the 774 ounce "Ausrox Nugget" from Australia, the third largest in captivity...and pretty to boot! Another highlight is the first US Showing of the Caerhays-Williams collection of classic Cornwall minerals...recently rescued from obscurity in the basement of a Cornish manor house!

This year will also feature a group of 12 exhibits of Calcite, organized by a cadre of die-hard calcite collectors including Chuck Houser, Phil Richardson and Terry Huizing. This will include worldwide killers, pseudomorphs, twins, fossils, speleothems (sensu latu...ie not ripped from wild caves) and a half dozen locality cases.

Plus the usual array of competitive and other exhibits featuring the best minerals in the world...and dealers to buy them from.

Another "activity" this year is that TGMS is working with a number of our major supporters to replace our outdated...and overworked exhibit cases over the next few years. We'll be trying out several new case designs as well as a range of new lighting systems. We hope you'll check them out and let us know what you like...and dislike...about the designs. Our goal is to have new cases by our 2012 Arizona Statehood Centeniel Show, but we're more concerned about getting it right than just getting it done. The old cases lasted over 40 years...and we hope the new ones can live up to the same!

[Jordi Fabre]

The topic for the exhibits of the TGMS (Main Show) 2011 is "Minerals of California".

Here is our own appetizer ;-) -> https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?t=1309 and the VERY BEST will be displayed in the TGMS!

Web page of the Tucson gem and Mineral Society, Inc. -> https://tgms.org/

Jordi
2011 European correspondent of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show™

[robynahawk]

Coming in from California - you better believe I am excited to see the cases and CA Minerals!

Peter - I can't wait to learn about something besides pegmatite materials, as that is what I am most familiar with ;-)

As usual I will be posting live from various venues (not all mineral) on my Tucson Gem Show - Live! blog - on the Tucson Gem Show page on Facebook - and on Twitter as @Tucson_Gem_Show.

BTW - I welcome all of you to post to the Facebook page - there is a 2011 Vendor Finder under the Discussions tab - feel free to add your info = what you specialize in and your show location.

You will see me with my camera - I love introducing my readers to the mineral venues ;-p

Robyn @aflyonthewall

[Joan Kureczka]

Yes, Jordi -- and a number of our pieces that Jesse posted photos of in that California thread will be present in person this year at the TGMS show.

[Peter Megaw]

And for those interested in the TGMS monthly meeting...Jesse will be speaking on Southern Calfornia pegmatites...Monday evening at 7:30 at the TGMS Clubhouse. 3727 E. Blacklidge. No, you do not have to be a member to attend!

[Jesse Fisher]

SoCal pegmatites??? I thought I was giving a photo-tour of my favorite London pubs!

[Peter Megaw]

Not without samples you're not!

[ian jones]

I'll be sampling a couple of them tomorrow evening on my way across Jesse.

Probably the Churchill and the Uxbridge Arms!

[Jordi Fabre]

Barcelona 01/23/2011

Waiting for the "official" start of the Show (Saturday 29th January, when most Hotels will open) , in the meantime we could fill in this kind of on-line paper, trying to explain to people who never been in Tucson the skills which characterize Tucson and make it different from any other Show.

My two cents:

One of the reasons why Tucson is so different is that the Show seems to have no start nor end. Some people like Luis Menezes are already there:

[Darren]

Am getting excited about seeing the show for the first time! I will be visiting the weekend of Feb 4-6 and have 3 kids who are interested in minerals - but not a lot of $$$$!!! Which of the shows (tents?) would be best to hit for low-cost but decent specimens for them? I'll also be visiting the Tucson City Center with the family in tow to look for stuff for myself, but need a lower-cost alternative for the kids - any suggestions???

Darren

[Joan Kureczka]

Don't discount the Tucson City Center show even for the kids, as the range of what's available there varies greatly... and often dealers will do a little something to encourage young collectors as well. The prices and quality ranges from "low-cost but decent specimens" to magnificent pieces at equally "magnificent" prices.

[Darren]

Thanks Joan!

With my excitement comes a sense of being overwhelmed! We are taking the kids to the Reid Park zoo and the Sonora Desert Museum (one of my favorite places!) as well, so only have Saturday to do what we can "mineral-wise!" We plan to make the City Center show our first, so we'll see what happens!

Darren

[Jim Robison]

I second what Joan says about the Tucson City Center. I have shopped there for my grandchildren and find that many of the dealers have a special supply of 'kids rocks.' Just explain that they are new to the hobby and funds limited, and ask for low price material. I remember one occasion when a Moroccan fossil dealer sold me a dinosaur tooth for a dollar, and found lots of material for $5 or less. Most dealers recognize that their future business will come from the next generation, and are anxious to help that happen.

Enjoy your visit and have lots of fun. Going with kids can be a real eye-opener.

[ellencmoe]

I am so jealous reading posts about Tuscon since I can't go due to work.

But I am sneaking away this Saturday to go to the Oceanview Mine and hope to see in person some of the new pegmatite finds that they will be showing at Tuscon. The mine shifted the direction of their tunnel last year and hit an unexpectedly rich zone in the pegmatite. The pink, purple and green spodumene have been amazing - some pictures of what the fee-dig customers have been finding the last month are on the Oceanview facebook page which can also be accessed from the mine web page (www)digforgems(com)