Monthly Archives: February 2016

Superior Amethyst

Amethyst Garden

I’ve been holding close this little story from the Tucson Shows until I had the time to make jewelry from one special cabochon I found in the recesses of the show. I spend every day searching the crevices of the shows for the unusual, rare, and remarkable, and I saw something at DiWolf’s booth that I had to have. Diana and Wolfgang Wolf really had some great Cabochons.

Amethyst; Yes, I know Amethyst at the Tucson Shows is as common as chicken at KFC. No matter where you are, just look around and there it is. In this case my eyes were focused on one of the most beautiful Amethyst Cabochons I’ve seen this year. It was like a garden of crystals growing proudly in one stone. Something about the color and composition made me salivate.

Wolfgang was a very knowledgeable and obviously a skilled Lapidary artist. This particular cabochon was masterfully cut from one special rock he said he found in Superior. When he told me he found it in Superior, I was not surprised. I’ve seen some great Lake Superior Amethyst from Thunder Bay. Even the Keweenaw has Amethyst that sometimes rolls up on the shoreline, and my diver friends say there are some wonderful pockets off shore. He said he wished he had found more, and actually searched for more, but failed to find any,

I bought the cabochon, and already pictured it as a finished pendant for one special Amethyst lover. Here’s the kicker. It sat in my RV patiently awaiting its’ turn to be jewelry, this wonderful piece of Superior Amethyst. I often have dreams of a particular stone, and this was the case with this stone. I got up at 3am one morning (hey, you do this when you are retired), put the coffee on, and began working on this pendant.

Imagine my surprise when I unwrapped this lovely cabochon from its envelope, examined it closely, and noticed a sticker on the back of the gemstone, that said: ” Amethyst, Gila County, Superior, ARIZONA“! I had to laugh out loud. He was talking about Superior Amethyst from Arizona, and I was taking about Lake Superior Amethyst. I am not distressed in the least about this location change, but it’s comical sometimes, based on where you are from, and where you hunt rocks, how you perceive something as the truth, and not even be on the same close!

I told Bonnie when she awoke at the smell of fresh coffee. She got a good chuckle about this also. There is no laughing about the beauty of this piece of jewelry. It came out better than I dreamed it might.

I know also that most of my friends would have assumed the same thing I did. I got a laugh, made a nice piece of jewelry, and had fun telling you this story; a story about things not quite evolving as they are initially expected.

I’m sure you will agree that it matters not whether this Amethyst is from the Big Lake or some other locale called Superior. It is still a very stunning finished pendant, Garden of Amethyst Crystals.

Tucson Shows-OK: One More Blog-Sad You’re Over

Way different than a week ago.

The dealers have moved out, but the rental tents remain to be taken away.

This past Saturday we had a cople hours and decided to see what was still open at the Hotel Strip along I-10.

we found free parking in a lot that is normally $5. Rapa river and some of the Riverpark Inn Vendors were still open, but most were packing up. This is sometimes the best time to find bargains. Vendors would normally want to sell things than move them.

This one did not find a home.

I can imagine this Amethyst Plate saying “Don’t forget me”.

This woman seems to be waiting for the moving to be finished so she could go home.

I took a few pictures of the cleaning out process, sat in the abandoned lobby of the Riverpark Inn. I recall earlier in the week there were big crowds and the excited din of the show. While Bonnie hiked down to the other end of the Strip to find one certain vendor that she needed something from, I sat and reflected (What if I just stay here and wait for next year’s show to open?). it was very sad for me that we could no longer go on our daily search for rocks, minerals and fossils, but I also understand that all the vendors wanted to get home to their various countries and States.

Poor (Literally) Don bumming in the Hotel Lobby.

Bonnie returned after a half hour (It’s a long way to the other end of the strip), and found me moping there in the lobby. She was bumming because the vendor she looked for was closed. We looked around and came upon one bead dealer that was so excited we came, he was deeply discounting his high quality beads, trying to talk Bonnie into buying every one. She picked out a few strands that were priced at 1/4 their earlier show prices.

giant Ruby in Fucshite globe going back to storage for next year.

Some Morrocan’s had a box of Ammonites drilled for beading that they were practically giving way. We dug for some, and they were pleased to take some cash from us.

I can’t recall buying anything, but I probably did; I was happy watching the interaction between Bonnie and that Chinese Bead Dealer; he was really trying to get her to release more cash.

Anyway gang, here are some final images from our last day.

Tucson Rock, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase-The Main Event Part 2

87 and sunny

The display cases boggle the mind at the Main Show, as do the Dealers.

Today I continue with the story, in photos, of our visit to the Main event show at the Tucson Convention Center. This show caps off over two weeks of exploring the 40+ shows in the Tucson Showcase. We are sad to see the show come to an end, but to be honest I am both mentally and physically drained. We had a great time and I’m happy we could tow you along by showing you small bits of the shows.

The G&LW (Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers) was closing up. We have learned from past experience that the last day at this show the dealers are in a hurry to pack up and get out of there. They really don’t want to take goods back to wherever they came from and the beads may sell for 1/4 to 1/3 the costs they were at the beginning of the shows. We sort of grabbed and go’d on one side of the table, while the dealers packed up on the other side. Bonnie was a shopping fool, and made cash offers, you would not believe; that were accepted.

An amazing Amethyst specimen for sale at Collectors Edge.

Columbus Pearls-Yep, Guard stationed nearby.

Show floor.

Turquoise & Diamond Necklace

As we drifted through the Main Show we saw a special display honoring the past Carnegie Award Members including our friend Dr. George Robinson. We sure miss George (and his wife Susan) being around The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum.

Continue reading →

Tucson Rock, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase-The Main Show-Part 1

The floor of the Tucson Convention Center featured the among booth from Collectors Edge, the largest dealer of fine specimen rocks and minerals in Tucson.

Closeup of the Collectors Edge Display that ook up big real estate on the convention floor.

The Main Show heralds the end of the Tucson Shows every year. I am happy to have survived this mega-show, and pleased with all the awesome new things we purchased. I expect over the rest of the month to show you many amazing pieces of jewelry made from the rocks, minerals and fossils acquired as we roamed the 40 plus shows.

Even though the theme of the show was “Shades of Blue” there were many other shades also.

That’s a great Labradorite on the top shelf.

Tourmaline is everywhere.

There’s blue in this case.

Amazing Malachite.

Carved in Rainbow Obsidian by Master Carver Francisco Sotomayor, the gun, pillow, and bullets are one piece! “Peacemaker”

“Skull Dagger #2” (2014). Another Masterwork by Francisco Sotomayor. Obsidian

“Skull Dagger #1” bu Francisco Sotomayor (2014) Obsidian

Amazingly carved from Black Obsidian by Francisco Sotomayor (Obsidian is volcanic GLASS folks). Other carvers would not even attempt these things.

Aquamarine

Quartz on Adventurine

An interesting display-Notice the autographed Babe Ruth Baseball.

Agates for sale..

If you have read the blog each day, and ogled the pictures I have taken, you only begin to understand what goes on in the largest show of its’ kind here in Tucson. You must come here and see for yourself. As usual, we are over-budget on our spending, but we always expect this, as Bonnie and I see many things we never knew we needed.

The main event at the Tucson Convention Center was packed and will be even more packed this weekend as locals, Rockhounds, and those in the gem, jewelry, and fossil trade visit the “Big Show”. The Tucson Gem & Mineral Society have been putting on the largest, oldest, and most prestigious gem and mineral show in the world since the mid-50s. Their stated goal is the promotion of rocks and minerals in every form and including Geology, Mineralology, Lapidary,and Allied earth sciences. They certaining accomplish this goal every year. The TGMS was established in 1946, and Has grown to be the king of Clubs throughout the world.

the Logan Sapphire, at 42.3 cts, the largest mounted gemstone in the National Gem Collection! It is surrounded by diamonds, and mined in Sri Lanka. You will remeber this from my AGTA Post, but this is a better picture of the amazing red tinge in the blue.

I have only brushed the surface of what takes place in Tucson. Today and tomorrow I will post many photos from the Convention Center Show. Some I will have captions on, and some I will not, but you will still enjoy them all.

Check back tomorrow for part 2.

The

Tucson Rock & Gem Shows-The Miner’s Co-op Grew

Sunny and 83

The Miner’s Co-op is a real Rockhound’s treat

A return to the remote Miners Co-op show brought a real surprise. There were three times the vendors than two weeks ago. This show seems more like Quartzsite than Tucson with all the tailgating and rocks, slabs, and cabs on tables right out in an open lot. I love this format.

Bonnie and I found treasures at bargain prices everywhere. I bought cabs, and Bonnie was hauling around a five pound Chrysocolla rock she liked the looks of. I have learned to keep quiet, even though I have a good supply at home already. Good Chrysocolla seems to be in short supply in Tucson this year.

I found a few pieces of quality Dino Bone at one vendor, picked a few slabs at another vendor, and just chatted with the vendors. I love to pick the brains of other Rockhounds and harvest any trivial knowledge they possess.

You can tell when it is warm in Tucson when water in slab tubs is replaced by mister-sprayers. The water actually can get so hot it burns the hands.

This blog actually involves several days and a couple trips to the Co-op. The last tme I was there, I found a fellow Wingate Pass Agate Lover. This stuff is very rare and Kevin cuts a few pieces each year for Tucson Customers.

The main event show started on the 11th, and we attended and will show you tomorrow. I tell you this because one of the rock-related book dealers had a wonderful book I was perusing called, Collecting Agates and Jaspers of North America by Patti Polk. I mentioned to Bonnie this would be a great gift for me sometime. I swear this is a true Kharma story. I saw the same book in a booth at the co-op; the very booth Kevin was in, and there sat Patti Polk, the author. I bought an autographed copy on the spot. I could not believe this coincidence; or was it? (Twilight Zone Music Playing). Get yourself a copy. It’s a wonderful book, and for those that cannot read, there are lots of fine pictures.

Kevin had some Pietersite from Namibia, I had not seen, that was black with yellow in it. I bought rough and will show you when I cut it. The name is “Golden Sky” var. Pietersite. There is a good supply of rough at this booth. It’s very cool stuff.

Patti Polk & Kevin Kessler

If you are a real Rockhound, and not a Bead Lady or jewelry buyer, this is the show for you.

Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase-Return to the Arizona Mineral and Fossil Show

Sunny and 83 (Al Roker said Traverse City Michigan is expecting 10 inches of snow).We interpret this to mean 14-16 inches of snow in our driveway back home. Smile.

Pyrite Crystals from Navajun, Spain. There was a whole room full.

Canadian Ammonites. These are always $5,000 ++.

Today we made a return trip to the Arizona Mineral and Fossil show at the Hotel Tucson City Center. Bonnie had not seen the world record Uruguay amethyst or anything else at this show. The show is coming to an end and many vendors were starting to pack up,.

Moroccan Crocodiles abound in Tucson

Bonnie bought some new display items for our booth, and I enjoyed looking at ammonites. We enjoyed talking with the guys at Agates by Rock of Ages and we rummaged through their extensive bins with many types of agate slabs.. The agates keep drawing us in.

A fine Meteorite mount. I did not get the source.

Mastodon Leg just standing outside a room

I observed a full mastodon leg that still had some skin and hair on it. Check out the picture, if you don’t believe me.

The fiberglass dinosaurs were still fighting in the courtyard, and it looked like those raptors were not making much headway.

Old Collection, unknown what mine in the Keweenaw

I talked to Ken Flood from Keweenaw Gem and Gift, and he showed me a beautiful copper crystal specimen that has been featured in his booth.

Bonnie loves the colors of Australia’s Queensland Agate, or Agate Creek agates. She found some agate treasures there that we will have at the Agate Expo this summer, agate stretch bracelets and cute little rain forest jasper frogs. They look like they would be well camouflaged in a real rain forest.

Sea life at the rock show

We were happy to return to our RV and I even cut some of those agate slabs on my saw, getting ready for the next step on the grinder.

PS-The Internet at the RV Park has been so sporadic it’s difficult to do a whole blog without some sort of getting knocked off, losing data, or not being able to sign on; so frusrating to get a blog done, and have to start all over. I’ve foiled this, what I believe to be a communist plot, by doing the blog at 3am. So I’ve corrected this blog this morning. I know you guys have been checking out this blog, and I really appreciate it after all the effort.

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.

Tucson Gem Shows-JGX

75 and gusty

Steam-punked Water Buffalo was very bizarre.

We began today at an interesting smaller show, the Jewelry, Gem & Mineral Exposition (JGX in the tent you can see from the Interstate) on Simpson Street. Parking is good there, and the crowds are not as thick, there on the weekend, like some other shows. We recommend this show if you have walking issues or handicap issues and want to participate in the gem shows. They have a variety of products here, solid parking, a firm floor, smaller crowds, open to the public, and not such a huge venue.

Happy picking small cabs for earrings.

Good Chrysocolla seems to be in poor supply this year.

Pyrite crystals.

Atocha Treasures

A couple of dealers there always get some of our interest.

Very fine Yowah Opal.

Jeff and Kerry Chappell sell the most beautiful Yowah Opals which they mine and process in Australia. This booth is a marvel with purple, blue, green opal glistening up at you. He knows his work and is helpful and informative, and has lots of eye candy.

Bonnie made the rounds of the whole building, and then settled in with the first things we saw when we entered the tent! She proceeded to spend a long time choosing well-matched gemstone earring sets. Now she has plenty of work to do, but is excited to have such nice items to work with! I talked with a lot of vendors while she was there.

I discovered Lasco Diamond Products. They had a great selection of rotary tool bits. I purchased a couple of new slicer bits that just came out. I will definitely put these to use with my Dremel and Foredom when I get back to my shop. If you need a rotary tool bit, they will have what you need, and I found them to be very friendly and knowledgeable.

Feeding frenzy at one table.

A mechanical Gorilla swingnging a sighn in a circular motion. Hey it’s better and cheaper that a guy dancing in front of a pizza joint!

hese girls are so happy; “Look, we found seed beads”.

Turtle shells in a tub. I don’t explain em, I just sees em.

Bufallo skull pile is shrinking

The whole booth for sale.

My best find of the day was a coffee cup featuring Wingate Pass Agate. I was promised these would be available at the Tucson Gem Shows while at a street fair earlier in December.

We went back to the Kino show again, for some afternoon shopping adventures, with our daughter. Inside the tent, and outside in the vendor areas, we took another look at the normal quirky things there, including a reduced pile of buffalo heads from the last time we were there.

A large tent way in the back had vendors selling slabs of rare rocks. One vendor had slabs of Larimar. He had more Larimar than other vendors I have seen, and of good quality. He advised us that rough Larimar chunks are no longer coming out of the Dominican Republic, but only slabs are being shipped out. I picked out a special piece, and will likely go back to study his pieces further.

I bought a piece of Dinosaur Bone of an unknown color. I plan to cut it tomorrow and will show you the colors after I cut it. I love the gamble.

Ammonite Fossil Plate

A fine fossil plate containing ammonites, probably from Alberta Canada, as many of the fossils had an opalized exterior. I thought this would be a wonderful item to put bright lights on and trip over in your home.

Squid Tree

I saw a tree trunk carved into a giant squid, fish, and what not. I took a picture, since it is hard to explain.

Another quirky thing was a Steam-punked Water Buffalo skull, again hard to explain! We even saw a whole booth for sale for $1800. You could get right into business!

The weather returned to the mid 70s today, sunny, beautiful. It was a Saturday and very crowded and busy at Kino, so we decided to take off and return to shopping after the weekend is over. We like to shop, but not risk our lives doing it. We’ll take the day off tomorrow. We want to do a little work on some of those items we have acquired, so stay tuned!

Tucson Gem Shows-JCK, AGTA, and GJX

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AGTA Show at the Tucson Convention Center

A couple big wholesale shows were on my agenda today. After parking at the Marriott Starr Pass, and checking out a very small JCK show, I took the shuttle bus to the AGTA (America Gem Trade association) Show at the Tucson Convention Center, and also the GJX (Gem & Jewelry Exchange) across the street from the Convention Center.

AGTA is a serious gem trade show with high-end gemstones everywhere. Faceted Gems are not my forte, so I usually just skim this monster show.

I do keep an eye out for a hidden bargain though. As I was strolling the show and sort of doing the fast scan, what should my eyes behold but four small pieces of Rhodochrosite. Not just any Rhodochrosite, but Rhodochrosite from Inakuraisi Mine in Hokkaido, Japan, a mine that I last saw Rhodocrosite from many years ago. This mine closed perhaps 30 years ago. I will attempt to take a picture of the piece I purchased. I think it is solid and pink with an amethyst tinge. Again, the quest for old material made my day.

A couple of special gemstone pieces were on display from Smithsonian. One was the Logan Sapphire, at 42.3 cts, the largest mounted gemstone in the National Gem Collection! It is surrounded by diamonds, and mined in Sri Lanka.

GJX across from the AGTA Show

At GJX, the finished fine jewelry trade and fine faceted gemstones dominates. A highlight was visiting Gary Wilson Lapidary Design where Gary has a large presence. Gary is from Traverse City and Tucson so I have known him for many years. His cabochons are fabulous and many buyers flock to his booths every year. He will also be at the Main Event Show next weekend.

Gary Wison and Amy

I was able to find a couple Datolites with wonderful color from the Keweenaw Peninsula. The colorful Datolites are becoming scarce as waste piles are rapidly being crushed for road fill. Finding good Datolite always makes my day.

On the way back to the RV I stopped at the Tucson Showplace and bought some Purple Passion Agate from the Gem Shop. This a new find from Mexico. I showed you a piece in an earlier blog that Jeff Anderson had, and am hopeful mine will also be good stuff.

I have confusion sometimes identifying Picture Jaspers from the Northwest,

so I was happy to find a new book of that name by Hans Gamma and Lauritz A Jensen. The book has great pictures and loads of information on these Jaspers.

The day ended at JCK with the world premiere of the new documentary film, Shaping the Rough. This movie followed a beautiful Tsavorite Garnet from the mine to a piece of finished jewelry. We enjoyed it and any time I can learn new things, I’m happy. We were wined and dined and treated like we were something. We met many others in the gem trade from around the country. The movie had some Michigan connections as the gemstone was cut in Royal Oak.

I had good fun today, and the evening date with Bonnie was also great.