FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[bob kerr]

I visited Wendy's Minerals (they were one of only a few who were open) and there were two new finds of interest:
- pinkish octahedral fluorites on and off matrix from Huanggang. The single xls are floaters.

- for Xianghualing, in an attempt to imitate Dalnegorsk, clear, light green cubic fluorite. the one in the photos has all 8 corners showing and a nice phantom in the center. This one now resides in my collection.

much more to follow.
bob

[bob kerr]

I saw evidence of two new finds since the last Tucson show - both from Chihuahua, MX. There are so many dealers yet to open that I've not yet seen what's being offered as top end pieces but will report back as soon as I can find some.

- Wulfenite and mimetite from La Morita mine. I saw a handful of specimens that look like thick versions of Rowley Mine material including the variety of mimetite in association with the Wulfenite. one photo attached. I think these will be focused in the Collector's Edge cases as I hear their team did the field work.

- Vanadinite from Chihuahua (San Carlos?) - Top Gem had about 15 flats of these priced very reasonably but were mainly smallish prism xls in associating with (and covered by) calcite rhombs. a photo of typical material is attached but I need to search out the trophies.

and - as a side note - all rooms in the three new Mineral City buildings planned for next year are sold. This area will clearly be a mineral focal point for the future.

bob

[Tobi]

The new red fluorites from Huanggang are really awesome!

[bob kerr]

[Joseph DOliveira]

Here is a large specimen of the fluorite on matrix found at the Red Lion Hotel.

[bob kerr]

OK - after complaining for the last 5 years that "there's nothing new" in Tucson - this year is making up for it. I already mentioned the octahedral pink fluorites from Huanggang but there are also:
- Wulfenites and mimetites from La Morita mine, Mexico (mainly in Collector's Edge)
- Vanadinites with rhomb calcites from San Carlos, Mexico (Dennis Beals and Top Gem)
- Bournonites from Bolivia - many on matrix and lustrous (Crystal Springs)
- Vivianites from Bolivia (Minerama and Crystal Springs)
- Pyromorphites from Bunker Hill Idaho (not newly dug from the ground but dug from a dusty garage - mainly at Collector's Edge)
- Dioptases from Congo many with pyromorphite and mimetite (mainly from Minerama)
- giant Sulfur crystals - these came out last year but are at bargain prices for quality pieces (mainly from Minerama)
- incredible double terminated scepter quartzes - amethyst and smoky mixed - from Zimbabwe in Paul Botha's room (and only in his room) at Mineral City.
- Spinel twinned fluorites in purple/green/others in Clive Quiet's room at the Top Gem annex
- "Chinese Tanzanites" - that came out a year or so ago - aka deep purple/blue fluorites are not really new but the prices seem more reasonable - get them now while the getting is good.
- the usual great haul of Rogerley fluorites - and some nice ones in the Crystal Classics double keystone room of specimens left over from last year.

and - there are no doubt others I left out - AND THE SHOW HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET (at least officially) but will update later.

So, you will NOT hear me complain about the lack of new and exciting specimens at this year's show.

bob

[bob kerr]

Looking thru the photos I took today, there are two other somewhat unique items I saw in the Minerama room at Mineral City (photos follow):
- Autunite - some of the best matrix pieces I've seen from Senhora da Assunção Mine, Viseu District, Portugal

- Kobyashevite (?) from Ojuela (this mine never ceases to amaze me)

bob

[Bob Harman]

BOB K, Thanks for your continuing Tucson updates with all your great photos!
I head out there this coming Sunday or Monday.

For me, one interesting takeaway on your new finds report, is that there seems to be little or nothing new from the US. Not too surprising.

For those collecting worldwide minerals, the positive response could be..... Oh!, this is great, all the new finds! Or it could be the opposite, Oh great.....with all these new finds,
there continues to be the never ending supply of new minerals!
Specifically, for US collectors, the negative response might be, Oh great!.....nothing new again this year. Or it could be more positive. Great, nothing new again this year,
so I'll just look for some interesting (recycled) specimens.

With my narrowly focused interests, I don't have to be too concerned with new finds, I just continue my search for high quality Indiana minerals.....they are out there somewhere!
BOB

[bob kerr]

Many more rooms are opening - still lots to go yet - and I found yet another new interesting find - rutile needles by the bundle. These were in the room of Jean Jacques (JJ) Abello. He had maybe 30+ specimens covered with the needles. These are from Ibiajara, Brazil near the famous Novo Horizonte find but these are pretty much without the hematite "star" at the centers. Some photos attached - and hopefully more new finds to come.

bob

[bob kerr]

Today was opening day for Top Gem and as usual lots of new and excellent material was available as was a wonderful Mexican lunch with a cold beer all the while being entertained by a mariachi band. A wonderful way to spend a day.

Jason New kicked things off by announcing that his father Mike is still in charge - although physically restricted - and that there is no truth to the rumors that Top Gem was closing their doors and going out of business - and the material that was offered made this clear.

There were four tables full of Vera Cruz amethysts (kind of pale purple but quite nice specimens) but the main attraction was a huge selection of Vanadinites from Morocco. I know - YAWN!! - but these pieces consisted of HUGE crystals mainly red/orange on one side and brownish on the other - and the prices were MUCH better than you will see from any of the Moroccan dealers. A feeding frenzy ensued and it was a bit disappointing to see a few of these great pieces get damaged by the crowd.

The were also some higher end specimens from the recent Vanadinite/Calcite find at San Carlos although they were a bit brown and somewhat dinged for the price. Jason suggested looking elsewhere as he and his team were unable to get the higher end pieces. Will keep looking.

I should also mention two excellent TRUE keystone sales by two higher end dealers that also resulted in small feeding frenzies. Wendell minerals had half of their room in Mineral City listed as keystone - some of the aqua prices were circa 1970's - and Luis Barillo has a full room of keystone pieces at his room at the HTCC. A bonus with Luis - buy $1000 or greater and it's 60% off. Easy to do with the quality of pieces he is noted for.

LOTS more to come including specimen photos that I just don't have time for right now.

bob

[Chris Rayburn]

Those rutiles are stellar Bob. Do you know if they required any prep and cleaning, or are we seeing them pretty much as they came out of the ground?

[Jordi Fabre]

Tucson 01/30/2020

Already in Tucson, what I can say is that this year there is an important feeling of widespread confusion. The owners of the HTCC Hotel - Inn Suites have decided to continue the Show in that Hotel by organizing it on their own, the Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show group that organized the Fair there until now, next year moves the Show to the El Conquistador Hotel and the new concept of "Local without Hotel" that is being organized around an area of ​​Oracle Street seems to expand with incredible speediness and there are already several more events that will begin in that area next year. The result is a general state of confusion and many headaches of exhibitors who do not know very well what to do or where to go (or to stay)

On the positive side it seems that this year is going to be a good year of new discoveries, led by Mexico, a country that will give a lot to talk about in this edition of Tucson and along with Mexico other countries will also have a lot to say in the chapter of the new discoveries.

Stay tuned… 😏

[Tony L. Potucek]

Welcome back, Jordi! See you, soon!

[bob kerr]

[Joan E Kureczka]

Incredible musical opportunity in the Westward Look lounge on Thursday Feb 6 from 6 to 8!

Jesse and I are just back from attending Folk Alliance International, a professional music conference. One of our finds in the evening private showcases is a prominent world-class classical guitarist, Gabriel Ayala, who lives in Tucson.

We had asked about possible gigs he might be doing in February, and he just wrote me that he's now booked to play at the Westward Look that night. His music is a mix of classical, flamenco, jazz and originals. This guy's playing give me goosebumps, so if you like this sort of music, I highly recommend you catch his show.

Here's an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLrTPoOHhZY