FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

Jordi Fabre · Posted: Feb 25, 2014 02:28 Post subject: Tucson Show 2014 - MinBlog (NHMLA)

Good news, in MinBlog (the blog of the Mineral Sciences staff of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County) Eloïse Gaillou already published her regular (and excellent) "Tucson Gem & Mineral show 2014: Mineral Shows"

Don't miss it! ;-)

Tobi

Carl · Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 28

Wonderful photos Jordi. Thank you for sharing them.

Would love to see the Millerite from Antwerp when you have time!

John Cornish · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 128 Location: Port Angeles

Thank you everyone who contributed to this report, very much I've enjoyed cruising along with you as you've explored the show and shared here... Cudos to all!

Sincerely,

John

Ed Huskinson · Joined: 15 Apr 2009 Posts: 318 Location: Kingman, Arizona

Hi John.

Hey, Rock showed me your geode with the Rhodochrosite in it. Do you have a good photo of the geode that you can post for the benefit of all of us FMF'ers??

That would be a wonderful thing for all of us to see. As you state in your story about the piece, we've all seen thousands of the geodes, but never another with rhodochrosite therein.

Thanks in advance.

Ed in Kingman

bob kerr · Joined: 13 Nov 2011 Posts: 638 Location: Monroeville PA

In case you missed it, here's some photos of one of the largest gem kunzite ever found. it was in Dilermando Melo's room at the HTCC.

young Dilo is a budding guitarist but I don't think he'll make it with this "guitar".

bob

Don Lum · Joined: 03 Sep 2012 Posts: 2900 Location: Arkansas

Awesome kunzite and pictures, Bob.

Thanks.

Don

Matt_Zukowski · Site Admin Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 737 Location: Alaska

bob kerr · Joined: 13 Nov 2011 Posts: 638 Location: Monroeville PA

the kunzite is from the Urucum Mine in Brazil.

bob

Jordi Fabre

Jordi Fabre

Jordi Fabre · Posted: Mar 16, 2014 13:11 Post subject: Tucson Show 2014 - My thoughts

Barcelona 03/16/2014

With this post and the last batch of images I finish my posts about Tucson 2014.

A so large show as Tucson inevitably involves many reflections about our hobby as it certainly is the major annual event of mineral collecting . I will try to create a compendium of the many conversations I've had with each other about the small changes that it seemed to see. In recent years much has been said about the upstroke of mineral prices and it was said that this race has impacted on a particular type of mineral, very aesthetic, very showy, reaching a kind of irrational prices due in part to the arrival at the hobby (many via Internet) of a large group of new wealthy collectors with moderate knowledge of the real price of the minerals. Well, true or not, has been a widespread view that most of these collectors are not more newer, they have learned quickly and the time to sell common minerals at prices of VERY uncommon minerals has changed. Please note that this does not mean that prices will go down, but the contrary, as there is less exceptional pieces that buyers willing to pay very well, these exceptional minerals will probably continue to be so expensive and desired as before, if not even more...
What we are talking about is that if the specimens are not REALLY exceptional, may no longer be sold at stratospheric prices as could happen in the last years, and that after a few years maybe a little bit crazy, the market and new collectors seem have reached a point of maturity that will allow, even with very high prices, a certain degree of rationality that perhaps may have lacked in previous years.

Summarizing, I believe is not expected to the mineral prices fall sharply, but some kind of minerals they could now appear as wholesale or similar, because although the number of collectors in USA continues being exceptionally high ( much higher than that of other countries) the desirable specimens for its rarity, quality, or specific findings/mines will be easily "digested " by the high number of collectors, but may not occur the same with specimens of medium quality, repetitive, or with damages, that should have to find its way through special offers and consequently cheaper prices than those paid before.

Nothing more, I hope you enjoy these latest pictures and I hope to see you again (or for first time) the next year in Tucson. Every collector should consider trying to attend at least one time to this mega-show. All said about mineral collecting is trivial compared to the brutal practice experience that Tucson signifies.
There is everything and there all makes sense.