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bob kerr

Joined: 13 Nov 2011
Posts: 638
Location: Monroeville PA



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Posted: Jan 23, 2017 20:46 Post subject: More to be aware of |
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I spent much of today at the HTCC - in setup mode right now but maybe a dozen rooms are open - and there's already some fakes running around.
- there are some "thompsonites on stilbites" which Hemant Merchant assures me are in reality oiled mesolites.
- he also said to beware of any deccan stalagtites - many have been found to be manufactured - glued or epoxied so professionally that even he was fooled.
- there are golden marcasite nodules from Madagascar that are indeed complete marcasite nodules, but the color is chemically induced.
I have a photo of the marcasite and plan to post the others - and maybe more - tomorrow.
bob
Mineral: | Marcasite |
Locality: | Madagascar |  |
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the color is chemically formed |
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bob kerr

Joined: 13 Nov 2011
Posts: 638
Location: Monroeville PA



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Posted: Jan 24, 2017 21:38 Post subject: Re: Tucson Show 2017 |
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here's a photo of one of the thompsonites - fake?? caveat emptor
bob
Mineral: | Thompsonite? and stilbite |
Locality: | Jalgaon District, Maharashtra, India |  |
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could this be oiled mesolite? |
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5070
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Jan 25, 2017 11:50 Post subject: Tucson 2017 - Parking in the TCC-Inn Suites Hotel |
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Tucson 01/25/2017
Good news for all the visitors and dealers of the Hotel Tucson City Center-Inn Suites. Finally it will be available the same parking lot than past years.
More to come...
European correspondent of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show®
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5070
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Jan 26, 2017 23:56 Post subject: Tucson Show 2017 - The first days |
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Tucson 01/27/2017
Already operative let me summarize these last days in which I almost had no time to sleep or eat.
More to come...
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Landing in Los Angeles, my last connecting flight before Tucson and where everything was wrong: problems with customs, huge delay on my flight and finally suitcases lost... |
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...so arriving to Tucson so late that the corridor of my sleeping room and the whole Hotel had no signs of life... |
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...but on Tuesday the things normalized. The Hotel has the grass green again... |
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...as well as several changes, like for example this big tent in front of my former room #164 now occupied by the fine German dealer Wolfgang Wendel... |
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...and several dealers were already open like for example Teodocio Ramos and family... |
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5070
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Jan 27, 2017 09:59 Post subject: Tucson Show 2017 - The first days |
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...but yesterday the Monsters also arrived! ;-)
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New kid in the neighborhood, the Gila Monster... |
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...and take care with the Monsters, this year seems to be more aggressive. Here they are trying to encircle Dmitry Belakovski and their friends... |
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...luckily the arrival of the night saved all fears and tomorrow almost all dealers will be ready to offer their "nature miracles" and I will be here chronicling the facts during the whole Show! ;-)
More to come... |
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James Catmur
Site Admin

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 1476
Location: Cambridge



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Posted: Jan 27, 2017 09:59 Post subject: Re: Tucson Show 2017 |
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Thanks Jordi
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5070
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Jan 27, 2017 11:26 Post subject: Tucson Show 2017 - Westward Look-Special Events |
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Program of the Special Events in the Westward Look
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5070
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Jan 29, 2017 13:09 Post subject: Tucson Show 2017 - This is Tucson |
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Tucson 01/29/2017
Well, the things in my new "buyer only" status have turned out to be more complex than I thought and as a result I am not being able to post as much information as I wanted. Tucson is a mega-monster that contains countless Shows inside it and countless things to do, opportunities, social life... As I've said other times, coming to Tucson is as if a giant bubble abducts you and until the Show ends, with everyone burnt, with no money, and with no neurons in our brains, we can not be slowly returning to the reality.
I will do what I can in the next few days, but, honestly, I do not know very well what I can do!
Brief summary for the moment:
- This year it seems to have some interesting novelties
- The line of break between the "normal" and the "fanciful" prices seems to expand more and more, so it is extremely recommendable not to rush, take your time and once you have realized those who "normalize" and those who "fantasize" decide your purchases. The offer is so incredibly huge here that it is practically impossible not to find something that you like and that you can afford, but, again, beware of the prices, it is very easy to commit serious errors, and I'm not talking about the best specimens but about many medium (or even bad) specimens.
- Everyone agrees that there are too many Shows, satellite Shows, mini-Shows and offers everywhere as well as that the Fair is too long, but everyone starts before and before and every time more and more Shows are born, but "La nave va…"
Tucson seems infinite and unlimited and able to digest everything!
More to come...
European correspondent of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show®
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This is Tucson: kids playing... |
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...along with vendors offering minerals of millions of dollars in the background. |
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bob kerr

Joined: 13 Nov 2011
Posts: 638
Location: Monroeville PA



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Posted: Jan 29, 2017 21:06 Post subject: Re: Tucson Show 2017 |
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let me add some thoughts to Jordi's concerning this year's show. I am fortunate in that I live on Tucson for the winter and can spend as much time as I want at the various shows:
- today is Sunday Jan 29 which is the second "official" day of the HTCC show, I started my shopping last Monday and am essentially done today - I've visited all the rooms I wish to visit and made the purchases that were within my comfort level.
- the individual motel rooms can open whenever they wish but even the ballrooms are opening earlier. Jewel Tunnel Imports (Rock Currier's old business in the HTCC) opened on Tuesday, Top Gem and the annexes opened on Wednesday (as well as the second JTI store at the La Fuente) and the main ballroom opened on Thursday (two days earlier than last year).
- you better have made your purchases by Saturday or the selection will be significantly reduced - this is especially true for wholesalers. if you miss this early window, you will have to get specimens from a second or third dealer (with appropriate markups)
- fewer dealers are getting rooms at the HTCC - which requires an about 2 week + agreement and with show fees the cost is just too high. this year there are many available rooms and just two years ago almost all rooms were taken. this has spawned more and more satellite shows that are shorter duration and much cheaper for dealers. and who could blame dealers - your sales are essentially over when the show opens.
- there were so many open rooms that many dealers were able to move from the second floor to the first - causing quite a bit of confusion as the show brochure (printed some time ago) had to have an addendum showing where dealers are in reality.
- the Executive Inn sounded like they had the core of a show going but it's pretty much a bust again this year
- shipping has plagued many dealers. late shipments due to customs and security inspections have delayed many openings.
- although the dirt parking lot is available this year, I hear it will not be for next year and this will be a HUUUGE problem.
- frankly, there is really not much new again - and in my opinion, this is the third year in a row. some interesting small finds but most everybody has rehashes of previous stock. could the "golden age of minerals" be coming to an end? I will try to present a few new and interesting item in a later post.
bob
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Robert Seitz
Joined: 29 Dec 2015
Posts: 261
Location: Phoenix, AZ



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Posted: Jan 31, 2017 21:28 Post subject: Tucson 2017 |
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Some pictures from traveling around today. Again much to see!!
The weather near perfect.
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5070
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Jan 31, 2017 23:42 Post subject: Tucson Show 2017 - The "Satellite mini-shows" |
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Tucson 02/01/2017
Today was my day for the "Satellite mini-shows", a new modality by which an individual person(s) decide to promote a new Show, starting from zero, with few days of duration and with not too many exhibitors.
A bad idea for some as it makes harder the day-to-day in Tucson, a very good idea for others as it offers on the dead days of the Fair (the week between the TCCH-Inn Suites & similars and the Westward Look) an oasis of new offerings.
Time will tell...
Recommended reading: The fine mini-guide from Tom Moore / Mineralogical Record
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The entry of the Tucson's New Mineral Show (TNMS) |
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The lounge itself is great, one of the best places in Tucson I know. He still needs rather more work to approach him to the same league as the Great Shows, but... |
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and even has extra Halls for the wholesale sections. |
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It is not that I do not like this Show, what happens is that today it has started to be hot and without realizing it I took a picture of myself when I tried to photograph the entrance of the Show under the Arizona sun ... ; ) |
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The entry of the Oracle Road "Just Minerals" Show |
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The vision at the entry of the Show... |
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...and the vision from the bottom of the Show. |
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The reporter reported. Note that his hand is starting to flame up due the high number of orders he is attending! ;-) |
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The indefatigable Tom writing his usual chronicles. Some day he will not write texts anymore (hopefully very late ;-) and then their precise texts, his enormous capacity for work and his tenacity will be remembered. Thanks for what you do Tom. |
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Robert Seitz
Joined: 29 Dec 2015
Posts: 261
Location: Phoenix, AZ



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Posted: Feb 01, 2017 20:24 Post subject: Re: Tucson Show 2017 |
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Some pictures from Kino Show today. Much good hunting.
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Mineral: | Barite |
Dimensions: | 350 mm x 250 mm |
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Mineral: | Azurite |
Dimensions: | 450 mm x 450 mm |
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Nice display of blue nodules on the background. |
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Mineral: | Fluorite |
Dimensions: | 375 mm x 375 mm x 425 mm |
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Great color especially with sunlight showing through. A bit of a problem carrying into the sun though. |
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Mineral: | Fluorite |
Dimensions: | 375 mm 375 mm x 375 mm |
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Great color especially with sunlight showing through. A bit of a problem carrying into the sun though. |
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Mineral: | Silver (wire) and Acanthite |
Locality: | Imiter Mine, Jebel Saghro, Imiter District, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco |  |
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Various sizes. I purchased one with wire silver and acanthite. It will need some cleaning but shows very positive signs. Any guidance re cleaning?? |
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Mineral: | Copper (native) |
Dimensions: | 300 mm x 300 mm X 250 mm |
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Lots of this native copper as specimens through the show. |
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Mineral: | Malachite, Chrysocolla |
Locality: | Kambove District, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) |  |
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Many sizes available. Highly variable quality. Such a shame to see how much is polished. |
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5070
Location: Barcelona



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Posted: Feb 01, 2017 23:13 Post subject: Tucson Show 2017 - Plenty of parking space for the 2018 TCCH! |
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Very good news: plenty of parking space for the 2018 TCCH - InnSuites Show.
See below the map kindly supplied by Marty Zinn.
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Enrique Llorens

Joined: 02 Jun 2011
Posts: 408



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Posted: Feb 02, 2017 03:17 Post subject: Re: Tucson Show 2017 |
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Jordi, apart from new "shows" and car parks, there are interesting minerals in Tucson this year ??????
Saludos desde Barcelona.
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bob kerr

Joined: 13 Nov 2011
Posts: 638
Location: Monroeville PA



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Posted: Feb 02, 2017 20:52 Post subject: Re: Tucson Show 2017 |
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I thought I’d summarize a few of the more interesting new finds I’ve seen at this year’s Tucson Show(s).:
- There’s a great deal of Vera Cruz amethyst around the show – the positive: crystals are large, lustrous and there’s lots of double terms and scepters in among the pieces. The downside: the color on the whole is quite pale and these pieces do not typically show the rich purple points fading to clear down the c-axis (xl shaft). I did see some more colorful pieces but these were few and far between and reside on the shelves of the more major dealers. Did I mention that the vast majority are very pale?
- There is also a great deal of chalcedony (grape agate) around. Colors are good and with reasonable prices. They are quite interesting but I don’t find them all that appealing.
- From China there are interesting quartz points – sometimes large matrix pieces – with hematite roses along the length of the c-axis. These are reasonably prices but the good ones were disappearing rapidly.
- Also from China are some mainly undamaged wulfenites. These were etched out of the surrounding calcite and result in low luster but complete crystals. Some dealers put these in protective housings – a good idea given the delicate nature of the crystals.
- One more from China – and I only found these in the Jewel Tunnel Imports rooms – were green flourites with blue internal sections showing clearly through the fluorite window – see photo. Only a few of these were available and all disappeared rapildly. Did not see any others around the various Chinese dealer’s rooms.
- I mentioned previously the wonderful crocoites with white dundasite. The Adelaide Mine people only had a few of these to begin with and the last time I was in the room there was only one left.
- From India, the flow of unique green fluo-apophylites continues – all be it, on a much smaller scale. Helmut Merchant had some bow ties varieties – some on stalagmites but most on stilbite matrix. These are very lustrous compared to many previous finds.
- A resurrection from the past – Minerama was presenting a fairly large number of those excellent Spanish selenite that appeared may 20 years ago. They were only a bit more expensive than when they came out. See photos.
These are what I’ve found that is somewhat new around the shows – would like to see what others have found.
bob
Mineral: | Quartz (variety amethyst) |
Locality: | Veracruz (Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave), Mexico |  |
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Mineral: | Quartz (variety chalcedony named "grape agate") |
Locality: | Mamuju area, Sulawesi Barat Province, Indonesia |  |
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Mineral: | Hematite on Quartz |
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These were called as Huanggang pieces by the dealer that I bought these from but I think the actual locality if nearby but NOT Huanggang. |
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Mineral: | Hematite on Quartz |
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These were called as Huanggang pieces by the dealer that I bought these from but I think the actual locality if nearby but NOT Huanggang. |
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Mineral: | Wulfenite |
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not sure of the exact locality |
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Mineral: | Fluorite |
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Mineral: | Fluorapophylite-(K) |
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Mineral: | Gypsum (variety selenite) |
Locality: | San Timoteo Mine, Pico del Águila, Sierra Minera de Cartagena-La Unión, Cartagena, Comarca Campo de Cartagena, Region of Murcia (Murcia), Spain |  |
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