Monthly Archives: January 2018

Shopping on Tucson’s Rock Show Strip

Bonnie thought if we won the lottery, this would be a great place to get garden rocks.

I think she likes the Pink one.

Along the frontage road on the west side of I-10 in Tucson are a series of hotels which host gem and mineral shows each year and are collectively known at “The Strip”. Bonnie’s FitBit says she walked over 3 miles today shopping the Tucson’s Rock Show Strip. My bad leg says “yeah you did.”

Anadera, unique clams from northern California

Chunks of colorful Ocean Jasper

These citrine geodes were about 10 foot tall, a nice matched set.

Bonnie with Jeff Anderson at his agate booth at Rapa River

Another fine citrine

Typical of what you see out the back door of hotel rooms

A whole box of rutile stars.

Bonnie, my Bead Lady

Lots of Larimar

We went to four shows today, parking in the middle and walking north then south, stopping at the car to drop off a few things!  Our day started and ended with seeing other rockhounds from Michigan. We always stop to see Jeff Anderson and his agates at the Rapa River Show. Jeff is a talented rockhound and has a very useful website “museum” and source of information. If you love agates or datolites you should definitely check it out.

Emeralds in matrix

Yesterday the wind was really fierce–did a job on her hair.

Tables scattered in the road access between hotels

Crystals and statuary

This might hatch early!

Amazing obsidian shining in the sun.

Obsidian

I don’t know what this is, and neither did the guy working in the booth. It looked like quartz crystals with tiny hairy green growths all over. If you know what it is, let me know!

Singing bowls

A whole chorus of Singing Bowls

A whole tent full of Singing Bowls. The metaphysical energy was exuding from this booth.

Yes, they did hatch early!

As you can see from the photos rocks are not the only things to be had at these shows.   They aim to have something for everyone, I guess.  Some dealers are only wholesale, but there are plenty who will sell to anyone.

The $20 parking lot. Didn’t seem much different than the $5 parking lot.

Nicest Ruby in Zoisite we’ve seen at the show.

Chrysocolla and Rhodochrosite ready for the forklift. The Rhodochrosite was at Riverpark and was asking $3500

I’ll update this with weight later.

Larimar seems to be all over; This is not top grade, but OK,

Always good to look for rough here.

Riverpark

Riverpark.

This is what low-grade Larimar looks like.

Bonnie bought a few beads that she liked and I spent a lot of time talking meteorites and stuff with various vendors.

The shows at the south end tend to be heavy with mineral rough, and metaphysical rooms.  We looked and take pictures but didn’t buy anything.

Bruce selling Keweenaw Gemstones and also some very fine Agate. at Travel Lodge.

Very nice Greenstone Bruce was selling

The highlight of the day came at the end of the day when we saw a sign that said Michigan Greenstones. We found Bruce DeWitt from Grand Rapids with a few of our favorite things–Greenstones and Thomsonites. I was admiring his cabochons and he showed ma a couple copper agates.  He was surprised that I knew what they are, and I introduced myself.  He was even more surprised, since he is an avid follower of the Snob Blog! Our best selling products at Snob Appeal Jewelry are Michigan Greenstone Pendants and cabochons, so we are always happy to talk about them! We had a good chat about how challenging Greenstones are, and how the piles are disappearing. On the way back after we looked around the south end shows we met son Jordan who does silversmithing with Bruce’s greenstone and opals. Best of all, they were familiar with my blog an website, and were happy to meet me.  It was a great way to end our trip down Tucson’s Rock Show Strip!

I have so many pictures that I’ve got to do a two-part blog, lest you get too excited.

Check in tomorrow.

Kino Rock Show, Tucson’s most eclectic show

Loads of rough at the Kino Rock Show

Crowds are thin in the morning then grow as the day goes on.

Insode the show tent at Kino.

One of the boneyards. If you bought one Buffalo it is around $100 and the more you buy the cheaper they are.

The eclectic rock show at the Kino Sports Complex is always one of our top rock shopping venues. From rough rock, Lapidary Equipment, Jewelry, it’s a rock lover’s paradise. It seems on the average there are more unexpected items here than at most other shows around town. Antique Guns, large rock yard art, beautiful, carved statues, wood carvings, rock paintings, Metal Art, and imported bizarre clothing and had made belts and Buffalo Hide wallets are found. I always enjoy the variety at the Kino Rock Show.

Wood and Stone lamps and decorative things at the “Sticks N Stones” booth.

Beads? Where’s Bonnie? I gave her the day off without pay.

Petrified Wood at “Rimrock Gems” at Kino Park.

Lots of Lapis around.

A little pile of rough Lapis.

Pure German Silicon. If I would have stepped two steps to my left that stuff would reflect so bright you could not look at it.

Australian Marra Mamba at “Aradon pty LTD”. Amazing in the sun.

I had to stop back to the JOGS show and saw they brought in petrified wood bathing facilities.

This banded Jasper/Hematite from Australia was so shiny and reflective, I could hardly get a picture.

Australian Printstone at Aridon pty ltd

Printstone in the rough

Bonnie would have liked this Rose Quartz.

I can’t explain this, but it made me laugh.

Let’s just bring in a little Petrified Wood, shall we?

I told you this show was eclectic. Here’s a bear guarding his Buffalo pile.

Heads and Horns, pelts and purses.

Signs anyone?

Nice metal garden.

Antique weapons and western gear.

Diamond Pacific had a new flat lap that is higher up, angled for comfort, and magnetic laps. I liked this unit.

American Frontier Lapidary Supply Company had great rough. Go see my friend Damon Essig; you’ll like his material and prices.

More rocks at Damon’s Booth.

The 22nd Street Show brags that they have the greatest attendance, but by the crowds, you might think that honor goes to Kino. Kino is the place where we go to look for things we didn’t know we needed. Let’s swing through the Kino Show, with lots of pictures and fun. The people and goods are like a giant outdoor Walmart on steroids. I think I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Miner’s Co-op Rock Show and more

Miners Co-op has a new paved lot!

North of Tucson in a Sports Park parking lot is a rock show that resembles the “old” shows that rockhounds recall. Over the years we have found The Miner’s Co-op Rock Show to be an excellent alternative to fighting the crowds at the major shows in Tucson. The Miner’s Coop is more of a tailgating experience than any other show in town.

Happily this year they were bragging about the million-dollar parking lot, which if you had been to the show a few years ago the parking lot was a dusty dirty field, rough to walk on, windy and wild. Pima County has been making upgrades to the whole sports complex, and smooth pavement for walking on was a big plus this year and so much cleaner. Road construction closed a couple of exits by the show, but the website explained the route, signs welcomed us telling us we were on the right route, and it was a simple trip. Since Weatherbug said is was 43 degrees, we put on our sweatshirts and started out.

Dead Camel from Fallon Nevada area was featured in Rock & Gem Magazine not long ago.

Dead Camel Jasper.

Bonnie was interested in some Dead Camel Jasper, a colorful jasper from Fallon, Nevada. A trailer full of buckets had her engaged. She pawed through those buckets looking for just the right pieces and miner Walt Harrison helped her find just what she wanted.

Blue Point Mine, Near Thunder Bay

Seconday deposition causes the rust colored crystals.

I found a slab of Ocean Picture Rock which I know makes great jewelry. Next I dug through some amethyst. Like a beacon sparkling in the sun, I recognized the amethyst as being from the Blue Point Mine at Thunder Bay Ontario. We have friends who have been there and collected. A red iron oxide coating from the secondary mineral coating within the vugs give additional depth to the expected purple color on some of the pieces there.They were glistening in the sun. By the time we left we were all glistening in the sun, without any sweatshirts!

How did the not break crystals, and how will someone get it safely home?

Ammonite at Russian Stones Booth

Russian Ammonites

I went through a lot of cabs at Johnson Brothers close out sale. Bough a good bunch also.

After lunch we went to JGX to check out a “closeout” sale at Ed Johnson’s booth. Even though I usually cut my own cabochons, I sometimes buy cabs cut by others. Quality colorful Dinosaur Bone is becoming scarce, and the cabochons that he had were all exactly what I look for. I bought some sunstone, and assorted agates, but mostly dino bone!

Gemstone Material Interiors

Chevron Amethyst

As usual a large display of amethyst cathedrals, gemstone tables, Moroccan fossils, chevron amethysts and artistic interior design pieces are highlighted at this venue. Sometimes you find little surprises at the shows. It looked like Indian clothing, nothing to do with rocks and minerals. A Russion vendor featured colorful ammonites as well as large more ordinary ammonites. Large citrine geodes were on sale outside. In this case the citrine was heat-treated amethyst. Some amethyst when heat treated turns into citrine. You can research this if you are interested, that’s all I know about it!

I’ll show you our treasures at a later date.

We were pretty fast at our shopping today, doing Miner’s Coop and JGX both.  We might wander back to them another day.

 

 

 

Tucson’s 22nd Street Gem Show, first trip!

looking to one end from the middle of this long hard-sided tent.

entry to the Showcase tent.

The 22nd Street Gem Show has always been a favorite because of the diverse selection of products, and the large interesting displays.  The big tent is @750 feet, and a second fancier tent was added, dubbed the Showcase.

Geoff Notkin and Steve Arnold combine thir meteorites at Aerolite Meteorites.

Lobby Display at Showcase Tent

Not sure what the little critter is in front, but the dog-like creature is a Megafaunal Gray Wolf

The Showcase was not quite full, and some of the vendors had moved there from other shows.  Aerolite Meteorites featuring the collecting work of Geoff Notkin was up front with every location and type of meteorites.  A large display of dinosaurs welcomes you as you enter, and if you turn around you will see a wall of terrific Mexican agates and pottery.

The Showcase tent was light on dealers this 1st year

Just a colorful booth.

There were several wonderful display cases in the Showcase Tent.

Cory Cotter had a large display of Keweenaw copper which was of interest to me.

Pyritized Ammonite in Simbircite at Bright Star Gemstones. Thanks Richard Kocurek.

In the big tent I especially enjoyed pyritized ammonite and agatized calcite from Russia. Jay Goldber of Relics II had this unusual material.  Utah Dump Digger Tyree Lamph had some excellent dinosaur bone, both large and small.  I quickly found a nice color that I was happy to purchase for a future pendant.

Not sure what this is, but I would not like it chasing me.

Stegasaurus

Etched glass and Petrified Wood.

This was in a blog last year….Gold Leaf.

Dinosaurs wandered or hung in some of the booths, tables full of crystals abounded, and sculptures of various things were crafted from gems, metal, wood, and other surprises.   Laser-cut glass dinosaur framed by petrified wood, and onyx box shaped lights were also displayed.

“WIZARDS HAT” Matte Onyx, Tourmaline, Quartz, Moonstone, Amethyst, Glass Beadsand over 200 hours of labor. $6,400

Tourmaline in Muscovite with Quartz.

Malachite Hippo’s

Great Agate Display

We scooted through all this is in a morning.  Parking is $3.00, but vendors may refund it if you make a minimum purchase. The 22nd Street Gem Show continues to evolve, and provides lots of small stuff for young rockhounds to buy and lots to entertain people of all ages.

JOGS Gem and Jewelry Show in Tucson

Approximately 10# of natural Blue Topaz (loc.Minas Gerais)

A small number of shows in Tucson open early, sometimes referred to as the super-start. These include the JOGS Gem and Jewelry Show, the 22nd Street Show and the Hotel Tucson City Center. We attended the JOGS Gem and Jewelry Show today which is wholesale/ retail which requires credentials showing your status as a buyer. The JOGS show is located at the Tucson Expo Center, an easy location to get to. We skipped the initial rush, and the lines to register were not bad.

At African Arts I saw great Shattuckite, Malachite and Azurite.

Tiger Iron

We have favorite vendors there. One is Sunwest Silver, the home of more turquoise than you can imagine. Morenci Turquoise and turquoise prices in general are always surprising.   They had buckets of Campicos, Kingman, Kingston, Pilot Mountain, and Sleeping Beauty. They always have the biggest turquoise jewelry displays and a show-stopping gem. A natural blue topaz (around 10 pounds) could be had for somewhere around $20000. He also had some great opals, but the picture doesn’t show their true glory. They were stunning. (I always ask the vendors if it is OK to take my pictures).

I also enjoyed seeing Cripple Creek turquoise at Burtis Blue Turquoise of Cripple Creek, Co.      He had some great tiger iron slabs as well. The booths are really packed together and it is easy to get turned around.

Excellent assortment of Meteorites.

Fine Opals

Searching the Druzy (Drusy) piles

Here’s something I’ll see every day in Tucson. Bonnie searching the bead piles.

John Higgins of Outer Space Rocks, from Santa Fe had nice assortment of shapes, sizes, and types of meteorites. His comment was that he wished he was in Michigan hunting the recent meteor fall.

We talked with some other shoppers from Ottawa, California, even back home from Leland, Michigan, close to our home in northwest Michigan. Check in tomorrow and see our further adventures at the Tucson Shows.

 

 

Previewing the Tucson Showplace Show

I wonder if that is the new Showcase Tent at 22nd Street?

The shows in Tucson don’t really get rolling until this weekend, but there is one small show we like to check out early. The first show we always check out is the Tucson Showplace Show at 1530 S. Freeway. Checking out the great stuff at “The Gem Shop” and talking to Veronica Woods (The promoter) is always a treat. We bought a couple flats of Laguna’s and other assorted agates at the Gem Shop. They’re all wrapped up, or I would show you.

Colorful Australian Mookaite.

A pallet of Ocean Jasper

2600# of magnesite.

A couple other vendors that were open were Soklich Trading Company from Australia. They’re a large dealer in Aussie Rocks and Bonnie found a small, colorful chunk of Mookaite. They also sold pallets of materials to commercial enterprises. I noted they had some pallets of “Peanut Wood”. For many years this has been scarce, but every once in a while some of this material is washed out in the bush….Good supply there, and many small pieces available to the hobbyist. I also saw pallets of Ocean Jasper. Great cutting material at Soklich and at The Gem Shop.

Pinolith

And I found some wonderful Austrian Pinolith (Pronounced Pin-o-lite). The flower-like combination of white Magnesite on the black Dolomite/Graphite background is just amazing. Direct importers of this uncommon Magnesite Ore is Hausen Rock Treasures Wholesale, across the drive from the Gem Shop.

I called this Bumblebee “Brushfire” for obvious reasons.

Shatuckite from the Congo

I also finished up a few pendants from our trip to Quartzsite last week so here are a couple.

See the Schedule of Tucson Shows.

 

 

 

Changes in 2018 to Tucson Rock and Gem Shows

We’ve noticed a couple changes at the Tucson Rock & Gem Shows this year. The first is that the very popular 22nd Street show at 22nd Street and I-10, has again expanded. Last year the tent expanded to a 750′ long monster, and this year an additional tent they named a “Showcase Tent” will bring a “higher end” experience to buyers and sellers. Featuring modular walls, high end lighting, and dealers the promoters will also be pleased as it is claimed this will be a much quieter venue than the big tent. Thirty spaces are filled and every year the vendors at the showcase will expand until they reach 300! I assume that the tent size will continue to expand.

According to their website this year the parking at 22nd Street is $3.00. It had been free, but $3.00 is still a good price and you can take shuttles to other places.

The 22nd Street Show circa 2014.  Since then the length has doubled, and this year they added the “Showcase” Tent.

2017 22nd Street Show

2018: The Monster 750′ 22nd Street Show as seen from “A” Mountain (Sentinal Peak). The new show tent is on the far left. On the near side of I-10 (West side of I-10) are some of the show venues at the Hotels, along the Freeway, known as “The Strip”. So if I refer to “The Strip Shows”, I am not ogling anything but rocks (most of the time). Notice the new “Showcase” tent to the far right.

Some of the “Strip Shows” are shown in the foreground , while the Large Wholesale Show (GJX) tent across from the Tucson Convention Center (shown center right) hosts the AGTA and the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, the weekend following the AGTA Show.. This years’ theme is Crystals and Crystal Forms.(Feb 8-11), You can find the shows from the links I’ve included in this Blog.

JGX Tent on the right and Convention Center is mid-picture on the left. Anyone can go to JGM as it is a Wholesale/Retail venue.

Two popular vendors have moved from the show at the Hotel Tucson City Center. It was mentioned Aerolite Meteorites and Dinosaur Brokers are two of the exhibitors (they will have a display in the lobby of the Showcase Tent). Michigan Rocks and Arkenstone are two vendors I’m going to check out. For a new venue in 2013 this 22nd Street Gem Show is on the move; The promoters claim the the 22nd Street Show is the most attended show in Tucson. It is open to the public as well as dealers. https://22ndstreetshow.com.

Another change at the Tucson Rocks Shows is shown in this billboard. The sign on the freeway announces the True Bead True Blue Show, Colors of the Stone, and Tucson Bead and Design Show have all moved to the Casino Del Sol out on west Valencia, with a thousand sellers and workshops promised this year. This will be a big change in locations and promises lots of new shopping for the beaders!

We hope you can use these changes at the Tucson Rock & Gem Shows that we have spotted.Here’s a link to the list of dates and places for the Tucson Shows in 2018: http://www.tucsongemshows.net

That’s all for now, but stand by.  Shopping to begin soon!

If you are new to our website we invite you to visit our jewelry pages.  Check out our hand crafted stone jewelry featuring Greenstone (Chlorastrolite) Michigan’s State Gemstone, Petoskey Stone Michigan’s State Stone, Lake Superior Agate Minnesota’s State Gemstone, Gems from the Copper Country of Michigan, and semi-precious stones from around the world.  These are created with wire artistry by Don Reed and make wonderful gifts for stone lovers–Check them out!

 

 

 

Quartzsite Rock Shows: What did we find?

I thought I’d show you some of the things we bought in Quartzsite. I sometimes buy  exceptional Cabochons cut by others, especially Malachite or other minerals that contain hazardous materials. I also often purchase high quality, unusual or exceptional cabs. These might be bargains, but at other times the Cabs are so notable I pay up so our customers can purchase  and enjoy the rare, unusual, and exceptional.

Bonnie helped lure me into the Bumblebee Jasper and the Amethyst rocks. The Malachite was all my pick.  I’ll get them made just in time for St. Patricks Day (or any other day).

Really exceptional Malachite. The large teardrop in the middle is 3″h x 2 1/4″w. Awesome!

I had to make this one within an hour of retuning from the trip to Quartzsite. The pendant size in 3″ x 2 1/4″ and the reason it looks a little odd is because he is a wild guy and the lighting got distorted by the stone which is faceted. I loved it and wore it to dinner to show my friends.

Very nice Bumblebee.

Orange Sodalite

Seraphanite and Sunstone from Russia. This material is awesomely silky.

I can make some great jewelry from this beautiful Amethyst I found in a tub of slabs.

Pink Amethyst Lace of exceptional quality.

Russian Tektites. Tektites are natural glass formed and ejected from a meteorite strike.

Unakite, a stone found in many places including our Great Lakes beaches.

I came home tired from driving, but excited to start making jewelry, and so I did!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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QIA Pow Wow at Quartzsite 2018

The QIA Powwow in Quartzsite

Picking Megalodon Teeth at the Powwow

Vendors located in the QIA Building.

Gem Grade Rainbow Petrified Wood

Bumblebee (not) Jasper

Blue Cornetite in Chrysocolla on Heterogenite from the Congo

I did not know Dino’s wore armor.

Tubs of slabs as far as the eyes can see.

This seemed like Steampunk meeting Punk

About 500 Vendors here at the Powwow

The dealer was proud of his Rainbow Wood. It was nice gem grade stuff.

Picking one of a thousand tubs.

Yep, I’m on it

a great slab of Pink Amethyst Lace; bought this one.

A beautiful desert drive. Between Quartzsite and Parker.

The QIA Pow Wow Rock Show has been operating for almost 50 years, offering rockhounds a down-home type of rock show to find cabs, slabs, stone, and equipment.  A fledgling Quartzsite Improvement Association hosted a small rock show back then which has become a sort of Mecca, with people returning year after year.

Many other locales in Quartzsite have rocks and minerals.  One of the largest sellers of rough rock are T-Rock, at the very west end of Main Street. 50 gallon drums and tables piled high with rough rock of all kinds fill their lot.  The prices are very fair and Mike and Teresa are top notch people (From the U.P. of Michigan).

We walked our legs to exhaustion at the Pow Wow and then a quick stop at T-Rocks, and a trip down one aisle at Desert Gardens.  We bought one rock there and left.  We were tired out!

T-Rock

Lots of Rough at T-Rock

Bonnie looking for rough rock.

Please check out our hand crafted stone jewelry featuring Greenstone (Chlorastrolite) Michigan’s State Gemstone, Petoskey Stone Michigan’s State Stone, Lake Superior Agate Minnesota’s State Gemstone, Gems from the Copper Country of Michigan, and semi-precious stones from around the world.  These are created with wire artistry by Don Reed and make wonderful gifts for stone lovers–Check them out!

Quartzsite Rock Shows 2018

A beautiful desert drive.

Getting to the Quartzsite Rock Shows

It seems like forever driving through the desert from Tucson to Quartzsite, but when you crest the hill on I-10 east of Quartzsite Arizona, and look out at a white desert, you know you’re there, and treasures may soon be found. The white I’m referring to are all the RV’s dry camped on the BLM property surrounding Quartzsite. Quartzsite is the January destination for rockhounds, the home of numerous Quartzsite rock shows. The small town is the last vestige of civilization in western Arizona, 20 or so miles from the California Border on I-10.

We do not take our RV, as its easier to rent a Hotel Room in Parker, 35 miles north. Other rockhounds might spend the entire winter in their RV’s in the Quartzsite area.

Not many people out at the Gardens today, but we found some treasures.

A typical tailgate booth at Desert Gardens.

You can never tell what might be in a tub.

You can not attend all the shows at one time in Quartzsite. This year we decided on dates encompassing the Desert Gardens Show, , and the QIA Pow Wow. The Pow Wow began in 1965 and is sponsored by the QIA (Quartzsite Improvement Association). About 500 vendors sell their goods on the QIA Grounds, making it the largest show in Quartzsite. Plenty of rocks, minerals, jewelry, beads, and lapidary things will make a rockhound happy.  Some of the other shows in town are more of a flea market with all kinds of stuff, so we are looking forward to this rock-themed show.

The Desert Garden Rock Show

One dealer had plenty of Ocean Jasper left.

Some really fine Chrysocolla cabs.

The Desert Gardens show is far from a garden. This show covers a few acres of flat, barren desert where the vendors’ tailgate or sell from tents located near their RVs. Careful haggling might produce some happy bargains here. I also like to pick the brains of the vendors (often miners that have brought their finds to the desert). We always look for things we’ve not seen, are rare, or no longer being mined.

Bonnie and I are rock pickers and love rooting through other collectors slabs, rocks, and discards, to find those hidden treasures. The time it takes is not important when it comes to rock picking, it is the thrill of the hunt! Sometimes we find a new rock, but more often it is a small piece or cabochon of a familiar rock that we know and our customer like.

What we bought so far…

Today we mostly bought cabochons and just a few slabs.  I usually cut my own stones, but malachite is something I don’t like to cut because of the toxic chemicals in it.  And small earring sets are tedious and time consuming, so we bought some of those matched sets today. We got some crazy lace, mookaite jasper, and rhodochrosite.

Enjoy our adventures over the next couple days. They’ll be loads of pictures and exciting bits. I ran out of battery on my camera but I’ll do better tomorrow.