Sunny mid-60s
Tables of possibilities
There may be some treasures here.
Sunny mid 60’s
The first weekend of the Tucson Shows is crazy busy; everyone flying in and power shopping the weekend, going to the AGTA Wholesale Show at the Convention Center, The Arizona Mineral and Fossil Shows, the G&LW/Holidome wholesale shows in giant hard-sided tents trolling for beads.
One dealer had some nice Smithsonite reasonably priced.
Some of the Smithsonite from his private Collection fooled me; I though is was druzy Chrysocolla.
I like a more leisurely pace and don’t like being trampled or run over by a “Bead Lady” towing a suitcase the size of a small condo, blocking the aisles, nor watching where they’re going. I have fought this frenzy in the past, but this year we decided we don’t need the stress and got out of town. The Miner’s Co-Op Show is the most remote of the Tucson shows, way north off I-10.
We spent an hour going through these slab tubs at Ray’s Rocks.
More Smithsonite specimen pieces.
The show is only a few years old, and there has been improvement in it every year. Their first year they were in a wind-blown parking lot on the east side of the freeway. The last couple years they were located on an acre of dusty windy flat ground, but this year are on a paved lot next to last year’s location. Next year the promoter told me they expect to be twice the size. I’m sure a sizable show could attract more buyers from downtown.
Colorful Buffalo skulls at Melas Magickal Gifts.
Some of our treasures from the Miner’s Co-Op Show
The Co-Op is mostly a collection of rockhounds, rock cutters, and miners, most staying in tents or RV’s on site. It reminds me of the Desert Gardens Show in Tucson; lots of rough rock, slabs, and some finished jewelry. This is the type of show a Lapidarist loves.
We spent a leisurely hour sorting through trays of slabs at Rays Rocks and found loads of inexpensive but nice stuff. He also had some find Pink Amethyst Lace that found its’ way into our pick tray. An eclectic mix from collections he had purchased, this was fun and not a whole lot of cash outflow.
Oregon Opal-unknown location old stock. There may be some fire under the red.
Silver Ore from Creede, Co.
Bonnie was attracted to what appeared to be a fine piece of Opal Rough from Oregon (location was unknown for this old stock. I found a dealer that has provided nice Creede Colorado Silver ore from the renowned Bulldog Mine (Now closed for many years). he had some left and a couple slabs are now mine.
I noticed one vendor selling Isle Royal Greenstone rough or dubious quality. I thought “Did this guy pick my throwaways?” Some of the stuff wasn’t even Greenstone. So my advise to any buying at these shows is to know what you are buying.
We happily quit around lunch time to go home and look over the purchases and are resting up for tomorrow. I am certainly glad I avoided being run over by a Bead Lady.