Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Shows

Sunny 65

The tallest of the many amethyst geodes at this years show.  This one I estimated at 20' tall with a large while quartz crystal inside it at the top.  I did not bother to ask how much it was.

The tallest of the many amethyst geodes at this years show. This one I estimated at 20' tall with a large white quartz crystal inside it at the top. I did not bother to ask how much it was.

Starting at the south end of “the strip” along I-10 we walked the shows from South to North. Starting at the LaQuinta, then Howard Johnson’s, the Riverpark Inn, Rapa River Show, and finally Days Inn. This is a lot of shops to see and ground to cover. The dumb move was buying 4 pounds of Ocean Jasper first thing and having to carry it over two miles down the strip, then back to our parking spot. Ocean Jasper has so many colors and neat patterns, it is easy to want more. At least I didn’t get the 60 pound box I was thinking about…

Sorting Ocean Jasper.

Sorting Ocean Jasper.

Nice finds!

Nice finds!

We found a dealer with some really nice facetted gems at a reasonable price. Bonnie bought some beads, and she finished off with a copper roadrunner to hang in our daughter’s garden.

We just mostly looked and took some pictures for you. Not a big crowd today. We went in the afternoon and I expect many of them were consuming adult beverages and watching the Superbowl.

Tons of rough rock.

Tons of rough rock.

No shortage of Ocean Jasper.

No shortage of Ocean Jasper.

Dyed Brazilian Agate Slabs.

Dyed Brazilian Agate Slabs.

Dragon Carving.

Dragon Carving.

Amazing detail in dragon carving.

Amazing detail in dragon carving.

More amazing carvings.  Notice the snake on the skull and the ruby/zoisite face on the lion.

More amazing carvings. Notice the snake on the skull and the ruby/zoisite face on the lion.

What happen to the poor cactus during last week's freeze.

What happened to the poor cactus during last week's freeze.