Sunny 70
The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show featured the Mineral Treasures of California this year. Many of these specimens I saw a couple years ago when the show featured the most famous mines and mineral locations from around the U.S. It was great to see them again.
The famous Cullinan Diamond Necklace from the Smithsonian
The priceless Cullinan Diamond Necklace from the Smithsonian was on display. Next to the Hope Diamond that it usually sits next to, it is the most valuable jewelry piece the Smithsonian Museum possesses. Yes it was well guarded. The silver necklace has an elaborate bow motif, the 251 diamonds curving into the loops and then the ribbon-shaped arms. An oval-shaped pendant with a 2.6-carat blue diamond drops from the center of the bow, part of the 5.32-carat total of blues.
One of the other multi million dollar pieces is the Tourmaline below which was closely guarded by Tucson’s finest. This specimen is the Tourmaline on the Tucson Gem Show Official Poster for 2011. It is from the Tourmaline Queen Mine in San Diego County.
One of the finest Elbaite (tourmaline) specimens ever found, worth millions. Notice guard.
Whenever I see a member of the Tucson PD sitting next to a case, I know what is inside is priceless OR worth millions. So I will ID these pieces under each photo. I think California was well represented by fabulous gold nuggets, wonderful gemstones from the pegmatites of San Diego County, and hidden treasures from the mountains. 
California Gold
I took loads of photos and can only show you a small selection in this blog. You just have to be here to take in all the spectacle.
One dealer really went the distance and all their employees dressed in gold rush era costumes.
Gold rush girl
Spodumene beauty
Pink Spudomene
We ran into the Seamen Mineral Museum Director Ted Bornhurst, and had a nice conversation about progress on the new museum building (Houghton, Michigan). After capping the mineshaft they hit while excavating there have been a few more glitches with unexpected expenses. He reported that the museum is on schedule for an August grand opening, but with only partial displays set up. Setting a new place up is a daunting task, and it will take some time to finish it.
Ausrox-Austrailian Gold Nugget
To get back to the displays, the huge AusRox Nugget was on display. This is a gold nugget found by metal detector early in 2010 in the Eastern Gold Fields, Western Australia. It weighs 23.26kg or 748 troy ounces. AMAZING-51 1/4 Pounds if I calculated correctly.
A nice display of California Specimens
Look close at these!
Nothing but Tourmaline.