Category Archives: Rock shows

Tucson Gem Shows-Westward Look-Part 2

82 sunny

Today I continue on part 2 of our visit to the Westward Look Resort for their specimen show. The most prestigious dealers in the world come there every year to sell what arguably are the finest specimens in the world. I hope my information and spellings are correct on the pictures. I took a lot of time trying to get them correct.

Tourmaline and Lepidolite-Minas Gerais

Sugalite-South Africa ($7500)

Rutile with Hematite-Brazil ($13,500)

From right-Spodomene (Minas Gerais), Aqua with Albite and Mucovite (Pakistan), Halite & Selenite (Thuringia, Germany)-$10,000

From right clockwise: Dioptase -Namibia, Crocoite-Austrailia, Plumbogummite & Pyromorphite-China $85,000

Amethyst with Calcite-China ($12,500)

Aquamarine & Flourite-Pakistan

Stibnite-China (I wondered how the hell this did not break)

Flourite-China

Rhodocrosite-Sweet Home Mine, Colorado

Gelena & Marcasite (Reynolds Co., Missouri)

Tourmaline on Quartz-Minas Gerais

Plumbogummite (Pyromorphite)-China ($85,000)

Bonnie says this is a fine show for several reasons. 1. Amazing specimens, 2. Free parking, 3. We spent no money (because we could not afford anything), 4.The scenic views as we walked out of the rooms and 5. It kept us out of other shows (Where we spend money)

Datolite from Russia

I could have taken a thousand pictures at this show, but I’m just baiting you. Come to Tucson and look for yourself. Tucson should be on every Rockhound’s bucket list.

Tomorrow we return to the Miners Co-Op show and are stunned to see 3 times the vendors that were there a week ago.

Tucson Rock, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase-Westward Look

Sunny and 80!

Tourmaline-Minas Gerais. About 1 foot long. $75,000

smokey:aqua and?, aqua and morganite-pakistan

From top clockwise-Smokey Quartz, Tourmaline, Aqua and Morganite

Azurite/Malichite

From right-Tourmaline, Morganite, Liddicoatite( ($54000), Tourmaline, Topaz (Myanmar)

Flourite, Calcite, Pyrite (Peru) $14,000

Guindel Quartz (Switzerland)

Since I am not a specimen collector, I tend to avoid shows that specialize in them, and have not ever taken Bonnie to the Westward Look Resort in the foothills north of town where the classiest specimens can be found. I have been there in the past and enjoyed it, so today that is where we went to look at the eye candy.

Emerald (Beryl), Laguna Beach, California

Rutile with Hematite and Quartz (Brazil) $10,000

Native Copper (Surprise-it’s from New Mexico)

Westward look at the Westward Look Resort

Both foreign and domestic dealers are represented at this show. They advertise 40 dealers, many selling to museums and discriminating collectors worldwide. Each dealer has a room at the Resort and it looked at though purchases were being made, where we saw gaps in the cases and saw many conversations going on between knowledgeable people. We wandered from room to room looking at their beautiful specimen displays. The cases are illuminated professionally, with special true-color LED lights. Due to the number of photographs, I will divide this and give you more photos tomorrow. Each specimen is museum quality, and it was hard to choose favorites to take pictures of, with thousands of premiere specimens to see. I did not note who each of the owners were, but hope you enjoy seeing the photos.

Quartzsite 2016-Day 2

Lepidolite

T-Rocks Yard in Quartzsite

I apologize for not posting yesterday. I know you were waiting with baited breath! Someone, (me) forgot the charging plug for the computer, so forgive me and I’ll try to make up for it.

Bonnie diving for Pink Amethyst Lace

A place we never miss in Quartzsite is T-Rocks on West Main Street, a permanent rough rock vendor owned by Theresa and Mike Thompson, friends of ours from Calumet, Michigan. Guaranteed, they have the largest permanent selection of rough in Quartzsite. Unlike the snowbirds, they are always there: if you pass through town, you should stop. You can get just about anything there. Bonnie jumped into a cage, dumpster-diving style, to search to the bottom for the best Pink Amethyst Lace Agate. She sent me off to get a spray bottle and a bucket for the finds. Together we sorted, spritzed, pitched and narrowed our choices to the best ones we saw.

I watched an artist, Gary Graham, glueing Kyanite onto a cow skull which was partially decorated with pink howlite and turquoise howlite. We talked about what he might use in the eyes, moonstone, or red coral (simulated). These were carefully crafted, each piece fit closely together, with no grout applied to fill gaps, like we have seen elsewhere. The skulls are sold for $300-$500 at his Metal Sign Shop Booth. Sorry Gary, that Kyanite reflecting light messed with my camera.

These belt buckles were amazing. Will they hold your pans up, or pull them down. I love these. You should buy one.

The biggest highlight of this show was Green Velvet Antiques. The friendly lady, Barbara Levine, showed us two treasured belt buckles. One was 7 pounds of untreated Fox turquoise, surrounded by silver. It was by Roy Buck, Navajo, and was appraised at $24000. It is offered for sale for only $11000. Barbara let Bonnie hold it for the picture, with the admonition, “Don’t drop it”. The other belt buckle was a carved Apache Indian of Red Mountain turquoise, available for $6000. If you decide to buy one, please let her know you saw it here first. And after you buy it let me know, will these hold your pants up, or pull your pants down? Inquiring minds want to know!

Barrels and Pallets of rock

Purple Lapidolite rocks catch Bonnie’s eye.

Wonder what the fronts look like?

Like this

We went to Tyson Wells and Prospector’s Panorama (there are no wells at Tyson Wells). These shows are at the opposite end of the same road as The Desert Garden’s Show. Parking is a major issue at this show. People seem to park everywhere, even in front of exit/entrance gates, where they soon get a ticket and a tow. There are other shows in the area, so there is always a mixture of flea market buyers and rock, bead, and jewelry buyers, all mixed together.

You do know when they cook Amethyst it turns orange, didn’t you

You never know what can be found in the area of these shows. I took many pictures because a picture it worth 1000 words. I mentioned how bizarre these shows can be, so the photos are my proof. Tomorrow I’ll focus on the weirdness of the place: today mostly on rocks.

At Tyson Wells we visited El Paso Rocks, with the largest poundage of rocks at the Quartzsite shows, 50 gallon drums of rough everywhere, as well as the bins of assorted slabs, and various imported goods. Bonnie searched for some bargain beads, but came away with little. You’ll enjoy the huge quartz Arkansas crystals mined by Colemans.

We spent 2-3 hours exploring these shows. I bought a gift t-shirt. and that was about it.

The day wasn’t quite used up, so we went back to Desert Gardens, which is the real rock show, but vendors were not busy. We did find a purple Laguna Agate and we had a great time digging through tumbled bits and pieces, looking for jaspers, dendritic jaspers, and Bonnie even found an opal, which she said, this shouldn’t be here, but I said “Put it in the bucket!” We also saw a remarkable large polished piece of Wingate Pass Agate, free of fractures, and available for $1200. This was a stunning piece that should be in a museum. Bonnie made a last minute run for a few more beads. I’ll show you more stuff tomorrow. The internet is very slow, or I’d show you more.

On our way around town we saw numerous RVs coming to town for a big RV show this weekend. Lots of million dollar rigs around. I’ve been lusting after one, but the jewelry making business just hasn’t been that good yet! And apparently I didn’t win the PowerBall Jackpot, so better be happy with the RV I have!

We Love Rock Shows

Don’t you just love a good rock show? It is a whole lot easier just to visit a rock show than to actually participate in one, but we love doing them.

Whether it be a major show like Tucson or Quartzsite, or just a small local rock club show; we love them all.

Our local club is the Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club (GTARMC) and serves a really large area. Recently we participated in our club’s rock show. We always enjoy the camaraderie of fellow rockhounds, but this year it was a bit different. In the past we have had our shows at the Traverse City History Center where we had been meeting. Recent events challenged our club when the History Center was taken over by the Crooked Tree Arts Council and we were pretty much restricted to one small space in the building’s basement where our Club’s shop is located. Meetings are now at the Traverse City District Library.

We were also excluded from having our annual club show at that venue and moved it to the Travserse City Civic Center. Though this caused some anxiety for various club members (my wife for example) it turned out to be one of the best moves we ever made. The History Center is substantially off the beaten path, while the Civic Center is right on a main thoroughfare. People driving by saw the signs and just dropped in. Consequently we saw uncounted newcomers as well as the normal rock geeks. It was a great opportunity to talk up our hobby and love.

I can only assume that attendance doubled or tripled. There was no slack all weekend as the crowds packed in. The vendor sales, including ours, were all up, the children’s area was busy, and the people were excited. Sometimes changes are good, and sometimes, like this move, the changes were great.

Our neighbor, and fellow club member, Jeff Anderson kept busy “cracking eggs” for kids and adults alike. It’s always a mystery what might be lurking inside those geodes. We got the chance to watch the excitement. Whenever a good one would “pop” open, six more people wanted to try their own geode. Fun, fun, fun!

We are used to what we call “slobbering” over our jewelry. I make a joke of saying I wipe the drool off the top of the cases all day. I do have to keep the fingerprints off them, and little fingerprints and nose prints off the fronts of the cases from small excited kids. They love the shiny jewelry, and I see future customers as their parents shop and gush over our stuff.

I looked down on one occasion and saw a young girl and her brother with their lips and fingers all over the cases. This is one of the reasons, besides security and lighting, we have our stuff under glass! I snatched up my camera and took a couple of pictures of these kids as they did actually did drool on the cases. I did not realize just what great and funny shots I had until I got home and downloaded them. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. The nearly 200 views, likes, and comments were priceless when I posted the pictures up on the Rockhound Group I belong to.

Comments like “Snot Funny”, “Nosy Kids”, “he’s digging something petrified”, and something about “easier to pick one out” made me, and others, crack up. Someone accused me of staging this picture–until I proved it was no set-up by posting the second picture.

Fortunately you cannot tell who these kids are. I can only imagine how much fun it would be later in life it would be when they got married, and showed this picture in one of those wedding slide shows.

As soon as they left, believe me folks, I was on cleaning detail.

There was no rhyme or reason, and no theme for what we sold at this show. Everything from Greenstones to Druzy‘s were making people happy. As a special thanks for my Snob Blog readers, I am posting up a few new show pieces that did not sell. If you are interested, you can call right away. These pieces are not on line and are shown not only at Art Shows, and when I do Jewelry making demos. Remember, Christmas is coming. Get your gifts early for best selections.

Here are a couple Thomsonite’s and a new Greenstone for your viewing pleasure.

Just because you don’t see something on out Website, does not mean we do not have it. The depth and variety of our products is amazing. Please call and ask. If I have the time I can custom make the jewelry dream you have.

Rockhound Roundup-Deming NM

Sparse crowds seen upon opening.

Slab Tubs are always worth a look.

Outside tables were loaded with rocks.

I love Amazonite.

Black Hat Trading's display.

A display featuring a large, rare, Keswick Agate from Iowa.

I love this picture. "How do you make spheres Mr.?").

Rare Earth Treasures. Jeff Anderson has great Agates.

Dwarves Earth Treasures. Jeff Anderson has great Agates.

The Deming Gem & Mineral Society’s 49th Annual Rockhound Roundup opened this morning. Guided field trips began at 8am with hunts at Big Diggings, Baker Ranch, and Fluorite Ridge. The Gem and Mineral Show is at the SW New Mexico Fairgrounds with vendors both inside two permanent fair buildings and outside on the grounds. Vendors sold rough rock, slabs, cabs, beads, jewelry, machinery and other assorted rock-related items. We leisurely browsed the entire show and found a few slabs and rough rocks from which I will make handcrafted jewelry.

Crowd was low, but should pick up for the weekend. There were some great displays sponsored by club members. We had a pleasant time chatting with vendors and learning from veteran rock hounds. One gentleman from whom I purchased slabs said he had been cutting rock since 1946. I don’t think too many people can say that! We saw our friend and fellow club member Jeff Anderson, his business Dwarves Earth Treasures focuses on agates, and seemed to be the busiest booth in the outside area, with a large assortment of agates.

Bonnie bought some pieces of a new stone, Jessite Agate which was recently featured in Lapidary Journal. I talked with a fellow who said he has been cutting stone since 1947. How many people can claim that? i got a few slabs from him. As you might expect several vendors featured turquoise and chrysocolla from this area, and some folks had some very nice jewelry made with them which we admired. I loved a chunk of red dinosaur bone, but passed on it since I have a good supply. A local dealer that we have seen in Quartzsite and Tucson (Black Hat Trading) had one of the biggest displays, and he encouraged us to visit his business before we leave town.

The Rockhound Roundup in a few hours and we really enjoyed the warm New Mexico weather. While we were there a friend sent us a picture of his truck and the snowbanks on either side dwarfing it. Perhaps we will never go home to Michigan! Next weekend is another rock show in Albequerque, and since we are headed that way, can we stand another rock show? Duh…

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-2014-Show Withdrawls

The courtyard at the Riverpark used to be heaped with rocks.

Packing it in

"Where did all the rocks go"?

I recall I could hardly walk down this row during the show. How depressing to not see piles of rocks narrowing the aisle.

Singing Bowls

The metaphysical people had a very impressive looking, bowl filled, tent.

We were down on the strip yesterday. The Rapa River Show was open for one final day. It’s a sad day when we see the shows shutting down, the lots are empty, and aisles that were crowded with rocks and gems, are empty. The beds have to be moved into the rooms so attendees of the Tucson Rodeo can have housing.

We noticed that our metaphysical friends were still at work with singing bowls and performing other treatments on patients. There were some type of mobiles hanging down, and I wondered what that was about, but not curious enough to take my shoes off. For the second time in the show I did not feel any different from the residual power emitted from this tent. Perhaps I should have tried a treatment so I could be more knowledgeable.

I saw a set of Crystal Bowls, the three smaller ones as a set were on sale for $555 (I assume this is a mystical number).

We are suffering withdrawl right now. Every day we woke up and decided what show(s) to attend. Today we are looking at all the new rocks we discovered. You’ll have to wait until I get home, and in my lapidary shop, to see what I hand-crafted jewelry I can make from them.

This is the last Tucson blog. If you have faithfully read the daily blogs, you may also miss them. I post blogs one or two times a month on the Snob Blog on my .com site. You are welcome to check in occasionally. I will be posting up what I do with all the stuff we obtained in Tucson, so you will want to see it. I have far more things than I was able to post, so they will be good fodder for future blogs. Stay tuned.

Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Shows-2014-Big Fossils in Smaller Venues

Triceratops at the Co-op

A few blocks north of downtown are several smaller shows, including 1820 Oracle Wholesale Show, Norcross-Madagascar Gallery, Mineral and Fossil Co-op, and Mineral and Fossil Marketplace, and the Main Avenue Mineral and Fossil Show.These shows are often in parking lots and kind of run together in my mind. We saw several tents selling the same north African fossils, not really of interest to me as a jewelry maker. There were lots of septarian nodules, real fossils and fake fossils (hard for me to tell the difference sometimes) and large fossil plates of trilobites and cephalopods, ammonites, and lots of mineral specimens. These are not my favorite things, so I move pretty quickly through these shows.

Nice security barriers.

Are they real or are they fake..DUH! Bandit Show

I guess it's in the eye of beholder. We did not buy this.

Buy Dino crap by the tray. Co-op

I noticed this T-Rex was posed EXACTLY like the one attacking the vehicle in Jurassic Park. Co-Op

Mammoth at the Co-op

Shelves at the Mineral & Fossil Co-Op bulging with Fossils.

More fossils at the Co-Op, Left front is a wine holder.

You do not realize just how big a Megalodon was until you see a recreated mouth. Co-Op

These were just abnormal, but Funny. Arizona Mineral & Fossil Marketplace.

Rock Bass at Kino (Electric Park)

This is how Chrysoprase is found in Austrailia. Nice seams in matrix. Electric Park.

The Main Avenue Mineral and Fossil show had several major vendors from Australia, China, the US and some other countries. They all seemed to be packing up and were motivated to sell so they would not have to haul and store! There were quality specimens, cutting material, and lots of minerals and fossils. Vendors were a bit tired after 2 weeks of selling.

I expect this Hemimorphite will make great cabs.

I only bought one piece of hemimorphite from a Chinese vendor because I seemed to have a nice look to it.

The Mineral and Fossil Co-op is open year round in a permanent building full of showrooms and dealers of high quality. Many of them deal with museums and sell to discriminating fossil buyers. A few of the dealers are wholesale only. We visit this every year to see the great fossil specimens for sale. A few spare dollars will buy you an aggressive looking T-rex for your front yard, and a great petrified wood table for your living room, or a great fish or palm fossil plate for the front hall.

After a cooling break we returned to the Kino Sports Complex again to look for things we might have missed, or possible bargains. Today folks were very busy here with the local people out for weekend fun. Again we noticed that vendors were responding to the 85 degree temperatures, some liked it, but everyone is surprised by it. (Today was record setting high temperature, sorry for all you folks in the rest of the country). I bought one lone rock, talked to an equipment salesperson, and enjoyed seeing the small piles left at some tents. We also wilted after a bit and returned to our air conditioned RV.

Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Shows-2014-Part 3, The Final Chapter

View from the show. Check out the umbrellas overhead!

It is always disappointing when the Tucson Rock Shows come to an end. We loaded up with fantastic rocks, mineral, and fossils to make into fine new jewelry. In the near future you’ll see some of it on our www.snobappealjewelry.com site, also on the Facebook groups I belong to, (if you haven’t “Liked” us on FB, now would be a good time) and at shows we participate in.

I think I have taken many more photos then I ever have before, and hopefully excited you enough to get here next year. I thank you all for the positive feedback on the blogs. I’ve had record numbers of readers this year.

Here are the final group of photos from the Main Event. You must be here in person to fully appreciate what goes on here, but if you read the blogs you were imbued with some idea.

You may get a couple bonus blogs yet. Are you wanting more?

Some great Scottish Minerals especially for some great people we met from Scotland. They know who they are.

I just liked this a lot.

Wonderful.

Pyrite (Peru)

Pyrite (Peru)

What I think is the best of Tucson-Collectors Edge Display.

The Worlds' largest Matrix Opal-Andamooka 24#. This was treated with sugar water to bring out the colors. This treatment is the norm with this type of Opal.

Bonnie likes this Blue Quartz.

AMEN! A rare sign in Tucson.

Need any specimens? How's your credit card balance? Collector's Edge

A great case from the University of Arizona.

I appreciated the work involved in this map. This is the work of Rockhounds all over the U.S. The stones are not necessarily State Stones, but are stones from the individual states they represent. Alaska and Hawaii are, of course, not to scale. Assembled by Liz & Lou Porter from the Lake Havasu Gem & Mineral Society.Hallaelujah Quartz from the Scepter Mine in Washoe County, Nevada. These are sometimes referred to as elestial crystals. I call them Scepter Crystals, as do most.

Nice Fire Agate-Slaughter Mountain

Discussing rocks with Dave Wilbur. Dave is seen in the "What's Hot in Tucson" video series produced by Brian Swoboda every year. What's hot in Tucson this year. Dave said it was the Collector's Edge Display, and I agree.

Discussing rocks with Dave Wilbur. Dave stars in the "What's Hot in Tucson" video series produced by Bryan Swoboda (Blue Cap Productions) every year. What's hot in Tucson this year. Dave said it was the Collector's Edge Display, and I agree.

Recongnize this slab? It is the exact rock that is on Bonnie's new coffee cup. Sonoran Sunset.

Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Shows-2014-The Main Show(part 2)-Rock Cups

This was so awesome. LMAO.

I continue my exploration of the Main Show at the Tucson Convention Center. If you go on Thursday when the show opens the crowds are far less than on the weekend. We were really not interested in buying anything, but did make one purchase that I will show you later.

I bought a piece of Bulldog Mine ore earlier in the show. Here's some of the same stuff in a display case.

Assorted western minerals.

Collectors Edge display case. Gold, Sweet Home Rhodocrosite, Tourmaline

Aquamarine

Great Tourmaline

Calcite, Flourite, and Celestine

Amazingly, Collectors Edge put LED's under a couple tables. One was 2' x 4' =$6000 of fine Zambian amethyst. The other table was 4' x 8', $18,000.

Another Collectors Edge showcase. I loved the Morganite

Wires of Silver

Silver Ore

Kongsberg Silver

Wires

A patriotic display.

Rhodo/morganite

Gwindels

Alpine Minerals

Colorful Case

Another fine case from Collectors Edge

The vendors are a mix. You see only a small number of beads and this makes the show more upscale. I was very impressed with Collectors Edge. Their display was just amazing. Collectors edge is the premiere specimen preparers in the world. They buy and sell specimens for museums and collectors. They prepare and/or restore specimens for museums world wide. http://www.collectorsedge.com/.

The ongoing joke is Bonnie cannot pass up a Sonoran Sunset pile while I cannot pass up a Pietersite Pile. Here is our Valentine Gifts to each other.

Tomorrow I will continue posting pictures from the show and caption what I know.

Tucson, Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-2014-The Main Event Part #1

The Main Event takes place at the Tucson Convention. A $10 fee gets you in (save a dollar be getting an on-line coupon).

I have been spending a couple hours deciding what pictures to show you from the 60th Annual Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase (The Main Event) sponsored by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society which featured Diamonds, Gems, Silver, and Gold this year.

Posters from this years show and the design for the 2015 Show. Save your money fellow rockheads.

Posters from this years show and the design for the 2015 Show. Save your money fellow rock lovers.

I will share more pictures over the next couple of days.

The displays were beyond words. The cases were updated this year and the LED Lights made the rocks stunning. The show has a different theme they concentrate on each year. Museums from across the country and around the world sent some of their best specimens of diamonds, gemstones, gold and silver, as well as other treasures.

I am going to just let you look at some of my pictures. Be in AWE!

Blueberry Azurite

A very nice display.

Bisbee area--Arizona Malachite specimens from Arizona Mineral Museum

Spessartite over gold

Remarkable Tourmaline colors.

Arizona Native Copper resembles Michigan Native Copper. The miners hated to find this copper as they were processing ore and this stuff gummed everything up.

Summer 2008--This corsage ornament features 39.80 carats of pink topaz and diamonds.

Summer 2006–This Columbian

Emerald and Diamond necklace desinged by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany in the 1950’s. The Three large emeralds are 6.65-7.41 carats. Private collector.

Winter 1988-Rubelite Tourmalines (ring 13.8 carats, necklace 18.5 carats) are from the Queen mine in San Diego County, CA. Designed by Jean Larson, courtesy of The Collector of Fine Jewelry.

A large Herkimer Diamond (Quartz) Specimen

Somewhere in the Rainbow is the name of this Cartier Bandeau piece (1920). 58 carats of diamonds set in hand-carved platinum. It converts to a choker, earrings, bracelet, lapel clip pins, and pendant drop!

This is part of the Smithsonian Institute display about the history of diamonds. Shown here is a small selection of diamonds in the national gem and mineral collection.

Gwindel Quartz from Switzerland

The sales floor pre-opening. We loved the umberella like decorations hanging down from the roof

Get out of the way..The Show is open.

Damascus Steel with a Gold in Quartz handle.

Australian Gold

The Gold is from the Mockingbird Mine Mariposa Co. CA. The Wire Silver came from Himmelsfurst Mine, Germany.

This Marjorie Merriweather Post Tiara was made in France, mid-19th Century with 1198 old mine and rose cut diamonds, made of silver and gold, in a Victorian Style. Springs were incorporated into the design so the diamonds will move as the wearer moves and sparkle more! It is now owned by the Smithsonian. We knew this was high value by the presence of the police.