The blue is Paraiba Tourmaline.
Today we started out at the south end of the I-10 strip, at the Clarion and Howard Johnson Gem & Mineral shows. These are both typical hotel shows, with vendors in tents and in the courtyards in addition to all the vendors in the rooms. We bought some beautiful rhodochrosite beads and cabochons (Bonnie likes pink), and I found some great ammonite cabochons with wonderful iridescent reds, greens, and yellows.
Cavansite in Granite. Some call this K2
I purchased some other small slabs including some Cavansite encased in granite. These will be re-cut later. Some call this “K2” for the mountain which this alledgedly is mined near in Pakistan.
Happy me looking for the perfect Brazilian Tourmaline.
Careful searching=Treasure
I was pawing through an inviting tub of rutilated quartz looking for good pieces when I was advised by the vendor that he was looking for a single purchaser. He wanted someone to buy the whole 40 gallon tub for thousands of dollars. That left me out and I wandered on down the line.
Bonnie discovered a large rose quartz sphere that she really liked until she was told that it was $20,000. This exceeded her budget, even with all the spending money I have given her! (LOL)
We saw a man replenishing his tub of watermelon tourmaline. Unfortunately almost the whole tub was bits and pieces without complete green rinds which are so coveted for jewelry. A diligent search down deep in the tub provided a surprising, large watermelon with a full green rind and lovely pink all through it. This was approximately 3 inches long and 1 1/2″ wide. After verifying that we could buy just one piece, and not have to take the whole tub, we became excited. I haven’t seen this much rough anywhere at the show, and after speaking with the vendor, I became the proud owner! I know what your question is: A LOT!
Sphere of Rose. Got an extra 20G?
Tonnage of rocks.
The pictures don't do these Rainbow Obsidian beauties justice. They were just spectacular in the sun.