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18 Feb-17:30:10 #mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection - sphalerite from malaespera mine, bilbao (Jordi Fabre)
18 Feb-16:51:03 Re: #mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection (Jordi Fabre)
18 Feb-14:55:56 Re: #mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection (Jordi Fabre)
18 Feb-11:11:15 Re: collection of michael shaw (Michael Shaw)
18 Feb-10:54:18 Re: radiating quartz with ring of amethyst (Howard Heitner)
18 Feb-08:56:07 Re: radiating quartz with ring of amethyst (Herwig)
18 Feb-05:28:29 Re: radiating quartz with ring of amethyst (James Catmur)
18 Feb-04:43:48 #mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection - sphalerite after enargite from tsumeb (Jordi Fabre)
17 Feb-18:12:07 #mvm (minerals - virtual museum) collection (Jordi Fabre)
17 Feb-15:18:51 Re: radiating quartz with ring of amethyst (Howard Heitner)
17 Feb-11:52:05 Re: radiating quartz with ring of amethyst (James Catmur)
17 Feb-09:34:34 Re: radiating quartz with ring of amethyst (Howard Heitner)
17 Feb-08:26:43 Re: the mim museum in beirut, lebanon (Mim Museum)
17 Feb-06:02:58 Re: radiating quartz with ring of amethyst (James Catmur)
16 Feb-20:04:26 Radiating quartz with ring of amethyst (Howard Heitner)
16 Feb-13:30:12 New book: minerals of britain and ireland 2009-2024 (Jordi Fabre)
16 Feb-05:39:41 Re: collection of volkmar stingl (Volkmar Stingl)
15 Feb-15:17:13 Re: collection of michael shaw (Michael Shaw)
14 Feb-07:19:19 Re: it's tucson time again - 2025 (Herwig)
14 Feb-03:49:09 Re: it's tucson time again - 2025 (Jordi Fabre)
13 Feb-23:27:23 Re: it's tucson time again - 2025 (Bob Kerr)
13 Feb-23:24:09 Re: it's tucson time again - 2025 (Bob Kerr)
13 Feb-23:08:20 Re: it's tucson time again - 2025 (Bob Kerr)
13 Feb-22:58:38 Re: it's tucson time again - 2025 (Bob Kerr)
13 Feb-22:48:52 Re: it's tucson time again - 2025 (Bob Kerr)

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It's Tucson Time Again - 2025
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Knut Eldjarn




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PostPosted: Feb 03, 2025 12:00    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Thanks for posting all the excellent pictures. It as a great comfort for those who are prevented from attending this year. Just a question - why are you blanking so many price tags? I would think the dealers would like to be contacted by potential buyers (I have already mailed one with prices displayed). It is a bit like browsing shops in third world countries with no prices. It works as a turn off for potential buyers...
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bob kerr




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PostPosted: Feb 03, 2025 15:14    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Knut Eldjarn wrote:
Thanks for posting all the excellent pictures. It as a great comfort for those who are prevented from attending this year. Just a question - why are you blanking so many price tags? I would think the dealers would like to be contacted by potential buyers (I have already mailed one with prices displayed). It is a bit like browsing shops in third world countries with no prices. It works as a turn off for potential buyers...


Knut - I ask two questions of the dealers before I photograph anything - 1, is it ok to photograph and 2, do you mind if the prices are shown.

Typically, the answer to question 1 is - Yes! - but definitely not always. Some dealers just don't want specimens - especially their best ones - posted to the internet.
which ties into the next question -
and the answer to question 2 is mostly "yes I mind if the prices are shown please block them out".

I am not sure as to the main reason but I'm sure it has to deal with internet sales. The overhead difference between selling in a room at Min City and selling on the internet is quite large - the internet being MUCH cheaper. So, buyers may see one price in the room and then a different one on an internet posting.

Otherwise, I would guess that it's just the dealer's preference and I respect it without asking why.

Thanks for the kind comments,
bob
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Knut Eldjarn




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PostPosted: Feb 03, 2025 15:30    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Thanks for the clarification - as expected. There may be another reason for wanting to block the prices : the dealers sources for the specimens. Many suppliers (miners, field collectors, wholesalers) do not understand the mark-up needed to cover the cost of bringing such specimens to Tucson. The dealers do not want to disclose the end-user prices which may be many times what they paid for the specimens. Still a pity for collectors following on-line reports from mineral shows. But again thanks for all posts and photos. Keep ém coming!
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alfredo
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PostPosted: Feb 03, 2025 16:44    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Not letting producers know what final retail prices are may well be the reason for dealers wanting prices to be blocked out on show reports, but it is a rather silly and useless exercise, because nowadays "Third World" miners are very well aware what the retail prices of their specimens are. They all have access to the internet and look at the i-rocks website, among others. The ones who can't afford to own a computer at home, and have no internet at home, are paying 30 cents to use a computer at an internet café, or else they're just cruising the www on their phones. This has caused a skyrocketing of prices at the source mines. Last time I was in Bolivia, a miner wanted the price of a jeep for his thumbnail phosphophyllite, and he did end up getting a us$ 5-figure price for it, although not enough for the jeep he wanted. And Jordi has told similar stories in the past about buying from miners in Romania.
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bob kerr




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PostPosted: Feb 04, 2025 22:31    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

In the room of Barnett Fine Minerals there's a shelf of huge calcites taken from the Sweetwater Mine in Missouri. These are somewhat similar to those of Brushy Creek recovered a number of years ago.


IMG_2523.jpg
 Mineral: Calcite
 Locality:
Sweetwater Mine, Ellington, Viburnum Trend District, Reynolds County, Missouri, USA
 Description:
 Viewed:  2491 Time(s)

IMG_2523.jpg


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bob kerr




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PostPosted: Feb 04, 2025 22:40    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

This portion of a shelf in the room of Unique Minerals really caught my eye - there's a lustrous electric blue azurite from Milpillas and a terrific legrandite with a cut legrandite - but look at the size of that Brochantite from Milpillas. Incredible! (and sorry i cut the tippy top off in the photo)


IMG_2522a.jpg
 Mineral: Seen in the Unique Minerals room
 Description:
 Viewed:  2483 Time(s)

IMG_2522a.jpg


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bob kerr




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PostPosted: Feb 05, 2025 21:34    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

I had the pleasure of meeting George and Jennifer Quist in their booth in the tent just north of B2B Minerals. They hold a number of claims in and around the famous Doris Family Amazonite/Smokey Quartz claim. They have been producing some excellent specimens of Goethite, Microcline, Smokey Quartz and now add in Fluorite. One major specimen of fluorite is shown below. This needs to be in one of our major museums.


IMG_2528.jpg
 Mineral: George and Jennifer Quist holding an incredible fluorite from Lake George
 Description:
 Viewed:  2090 Time(s)

IMG_2528.jpg



IMG_2529.jpg
 Mineral: Fluorite
 Locality:
Lake George, Park County, Colorado, USA
 Description:
A museum piece if ever there was one.
 Viewed:  2097 Time(s)

IMG_2529.jpg



IMG_2526.jpg
 Mineral: Seen in the Quist booth
 Description:
 Viewed:  2099 Time(s)

IMG_2526.jpg



IMG_2525.jpg
 Mineral: Seen in the Quist booth
 Locality:
Colorado, USA
 Description:
 Viewed:  2100 Time(s)

IMG_2525.jpg



IMG_2530.jpg
 Mineral: Seen in the Quist booth
 Locality:
Lake George, Park County, Colorado, USA
 Description:
 Viewed:  2092 Time(s)

IMG_2530.jpg


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bob kerr




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PostPosted: Feb 05, 2025 21:41    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

I was finally able to get over to the booth of R&SH Minerals who specialize in minerals of Madan Bulgaria. If you look back in this thread, there is a photo of the group sitting on the floor unpacking their specimens.

There were a few of those wonderful gemmy green sphalerites available and I was able to talk Sara into holding one for a photo.



IMG_2532.jpg
 Mineral: Sara Sirakova holding an excellent gem sphalerite
 Locality:
Krushev dol Mine, Madan mining area, Rhodope Mountains, Smolyan Oblast, Bulgaria
 Description:
If you can get past Sara's beautiful smile the sphalerite is in the lower portion of the photo
 Viewed:  2521 Time(s)

IMG_2532.jpg


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Herwig




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PostPosted: Feb 07, 2025 10:49    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Mineral City, Building E, Space 14, has lots of new finds collected by long term mineral dealer and avid mineral collector Chris Lehmann.

Among the many new things he is offering this year, were nice, lustrous epidote crystals from Warren Creek,



epidote CA.jpg
 Mineral: Epidote & Titanite
 Locality:
Warren Creek, Mono County, California, USA
 Dimensions: about 5cm
 Description:
Blocky, lustrous, deep dark green crystals of epidote, associated with light brown titanite crystals
 Viewed:  1606 Time(s)

epidote CA.jpg


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Herwig




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PostPosted: Feb 07, 2025 11:00    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Another new find was made by Chris on a prospect owned by one of his friends.

Lustrous, honey colored dodecahedrons of grossular, associated with dark green "booklets" of clinochlore crystals.
Some of the clinochlores even formed nice rosettes, comparable to the famous alpine hematite roses.



grossular CA.jpg
 Mineral: Grossular & Clinochlore
 Locality:
VH Prospect, Mono County, California, USA
 Dimensions: about 6cm
 Description:
Lustrous, honey colored dodecahedrons of grossular, associated with dark green "booklets" of clinochlore crystals
 Viewed:  1590 Time(s)

grossular CA.jpg


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Herwig




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PostPosted: Feb 07, 2025 11:25    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Chris also had a new find of bertrandite crystals from California.The crystals were small, but quite nice through the loupe.
(sorry, no photo)

Finally, Chris also had a flat of phosphates from Folgosinho, Portugal.
Some of these phosphates are quite rare, like the serrabrancaite, the benyacarite and the isokite, to name but a few...
Again, these are microminerals, but that is as big as they get. :-)

Contrary to the other specimens Chris is offering, there is no discount on these phosphates. But considering the fact that for example the serrabrancaites from Folgosinho are world class for the species: https://www.mindat.org/locentry-1097752.html
you can't go wrong with such modest prices!



folgosinho.jpg
 Mineral: (rare) phosphates
 Locality:
Folgosinho, Gouveia, Guarda District, Centro Region, Portugal
 Dimensions: micromounts
 Description:
The flat of (rare) phosphates from Folgosinho, Portugal. About 14 different ones, some of which I had never heard before...
 Viewed:  1589 Time(s)

folgosinho.jpg


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bob kerr




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PostPosted: Feb 07, 2025 23:17    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Patrick and Amanda Arkfeld of Arkfeld Minerals - located in the E building - are displaying a large group of the rare mineral Laurentthomasite. These surfaced in the market maybe 4-5 years ago.

The gemmy thumbnail sized specimens show clear pleochroism - yellow/green in one direction and blue 90deg rotated. See photos.



IMG_2543.jpg
 Mineral: Laurentthomasite
 Locality:
Beravina, Ambaro, Tsaraitso, Betroka District, Anosy Region, Madagascar
 Description:
 Viewed:  1347 Time(s)

IMG_2543.jpg



IMG_2544.jpg
 Mineral: Laurentthomasite
 Description:
 Viewed:  1331 Time(s)

IMG_2544.jpg



IMG_2546.jpg
 Mineral: Laurentthomasite
 Description:
 Viewed:  1336 Time(s)

IMG_2546.jpg


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bob kerr




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PostPosted: Feb 07, 2025 23:34    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Last year Nexus Minerals made its debut as a novel way for collectors to sell to other collectors. The business is run by Mary Fong-Walker and the concept is for collectors selling specimens to rent a display case from her plus a modest advertising fee. The selling collector then places his minerals for sale in the case with a non-negotiable price - then Nexus takes it from there.

A buyer selects a specimen and requests one of the Nexus employees to access it. If the buyer wishes to purchase it, he pays for it at the front desk (including sales tax). A commission is taken and at the end of the show the net proceeds and remaining specimens are returned to the seller.

An interesting concept. The Nexus Building is located two blocks west of Oracle Road making it a considerable walk from Min City - just like the "G-Spot" G-building.



IMG_2551.jpg
 Mineral: Nexus Minerals
 Locality:
Arizona, USA
 Description:
 Viewed:  1327 Time(s)

IMG_2551.jpg



IMG_2548.jpg
 Mineral: inside Nexus Minerals
 Description:
 Viewed:  1335 Time(s)

IMG_2548.jpg



IMG_2549.jpg
 Mineral: inside Nexus Minerals
 Description:
 Viewed:  1339 Time(s)

IMG_2549.jpg


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bob kerr




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PostPosted: Feb 07, 2025 23:48    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

Friday night Feb 7 was the Mineral City open house hosted by the dealers. Great Mexican food and a very large selection of beers were available, and the wonderful wintertime Tucson weather totally cooperated.

Last year's entertainment was via a Pink Floyd tribute band and this year it was an excellent Santana tribute band. You can view a short clip of the band's performance at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ1lYuahFwI
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bob kerr




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PostPosted: Feb 08, 2025 20:54    Post subject: Re: It's Tucson Time Again - 2025  

The French dealership of Escaut Minerals - sharing a room at the D building in Min City with Mineral'ys - exhibited a number of new finds.
1 - bright ruby from Burma (Myanmar)
2 - colorful Barite on Fluorite from China
3 - deep purple/blue fluorite also from China

details given below.



1.jpg
 Mineral: Corundum (variety ruby)
 Locality:
Mogok Township, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District, Mandalay Region (Mandalay Division), Myanmar (Burma)
 Description:
 Viewed:  900 Time(s)

1.jpg



3.jpg
 Mineral: Corundum (variety ruby)
 Locality:
Mogok Township, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District, Mandalay Region (Mandalay Division), Myanmar (Burma)
 Description:
 Viewed:  891 Time(s)

3.jpg



4.jpg
 Mineral: Baryte on Fluorite
 Locality:
Xiefang Mine, Ruijin, Ganzhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, China
 Description:
 Viewed:  891 Time(s)

4.jpg



5.jpg
 Mineral: Baryte on Fluorite
 Locality:
Xiefang Mine, Ruijin, Ganzhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, China
 Description:
 Viewed:  892 Time(s)

5.jpg



6.jpg
 Mineral: Baryte on Fluorite
 Locality:
Xiefang Mine, Ruijin, Ganzhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, China
 Description:
Front view of specimen
 Viewed:  889 Time(s)

6.jpg



7.jpg
 Mineral: Baryte on Fluorite
 Locality:
Xiefang Mine, Ruijin, Ganzhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, China
 Description:
Rear view of specimen showing anhydrite(?) growth
 Viewed:  890 Time(s)

7.jpg



8.jpg
 Mineral: Fluorite
 Locality:
Baxiyayike Diopside occurrence, Baxiyayike, Baicheng, Akesu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China
 Description:
 Viewed:  889 Time(s)

8.jpg



9.jpg
 Mineral: Fluorite
 Locality:
Baxiyayike Diopside occurrence, Baxiyayike, Baicheng, Akesu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China
 Description:
 Viewed:  889 Time(s)

9.jpg


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