Author Archives: SnobAppeal

Tucson-You didn’t Think I Was Done; Did You?

69 sunny

I was going to be really depressed today. Tomorrow we head back to snowy northern Michigan. Except for the one I sent out today, all the flat-rate boxes should be awaiting our arrival.

In order to get over this downer I was in, we went to look at some mineral specimens today, and wow, did that turn out to be fun!

This piece of Ray Mine Chrysocolla will make fantastic jewelry.

Close-up of previous specimen.

I was not expecting much when I saw a small classified ad in the paper for two mineral collections for sale. Today we went to see them. What we found was some of the nicest Chrysocolla I’ve seen, from the old Ray Mine. The Ray Mine has not been hunted much in the past few years, but back in the 70’s it produced some of the finest Chrysocolla specimens ever

Drusy (druzy) Chrysocolla on Ray Mine specimen mined in the 70's. The druzy is actually clear quartz over chrysocolla.

A nice selection of Ray Mine specimens.

found, including gem silica, Druzy Chrysocolla, and remarkable cutting and jewelry material. Some of this collection was old material from the 70’s. Joe said he had a friend at the mine, but the last time he (or anyone) was allowed in was a couple years ago. I guess the liability issues came into play as is common in many of the good hunting grounds anymore. I know this will make top-notch chrysocolla pendants.

Joe had many other Arizona specimens that he was weeding from his personal collection, as well as other southwestern and Mexican minerals. Money was exchanged and we left very pleased, but what do you do with approximately 100 pounds of rough rock the day before we leave?

The solution presented itself at a UPS Store nearby that was open, unlike the Post Office today which was on holiday in honor of our Presidents. We wrapped some of the material up with some packaging material Joe had given us, and the store, for a fee, took care of the rest. I carefully explained to them what was valuable, which was not wrapped, and what was not so important (the wrapped stuff). We left the store with a relieved feeling. I now have a good feeling that the valuable druzy will arrive safely.

This striking piece of Peacock Ore (Bornite) is most likely from Zacatecas, Mexico. This particular specimen has amazing colors. Borite is a copper ore.

Bonnie hinted quietly when she spotted a really great piece of Mexican Peacock Ore, so I bought that also.

Man I hate the thought of snow, but we are also eager to get home.

Rock Shops and Nuclear Missile

2-15 Sunny 65

I’ll bet a title like that makes you curious doesn’t it?

Titan Missile Bunker.

THE Titan Missile in the silo.

Sahuarita is a fairly new planned unit development 15 minutes south of Tucson. Our daughter lives in one of the adobe style homes there, but Sahuarita also holds another little secret; A nuclear missile silo. Actually it is the only surviving missile silo from the cold war days (many of you remember “duck & cover”). Duck & Cover was an attempt by our government to make us feel safer in case there was a Russian Missile attack, when in fact the only difference it would make is you would be vaporized in a fetal position instead of standing up. This Titan II silo is now a museum, part of the Pima Air Museum, called the Titan Missile Museum.

Bonnie "Turns the Key"-once that key is turned you have no further control of the missile.

Bonnie (left) "Turns the Key"-once that key is turned you have no further control of the missile.

Official Documentation-As long as it wasn't headed for the Keweenaw, I'm good with it.

I do not want to unduly alarm anyone, but while in the launch control room deep within the hardened bunker, my awesome wife Bonnie “Turned the Key”! We do not know where the Titan went, as this is still classified information. If you are reading this blog right now (not vaporized) it was not programmed to head in your direction. I could give you a bunch of boring statistics that you can find on line about this missile site, but you can read that elsewhere should you choose. I can just tell you it was highly interesting and entertaining; well worth the few bucks for the tour.

This lovely Laguna Shadow Agate was a great find at a rock shop.

The Lace Agate with Cuprite & Chrysocolla was a rare rock shop find.

Since this is a rock related blog, I must tell you that the other day as we headed back and forth to Bisbee I shopped at a couple rock shops. One in Benson produced a collection of Laguna Agates that the owner was selling for someone. I found a real beauty of a shadow agate, about fist size, for a fair price. Watch for upcoming jewelry from this!

On our way back through Tombstone Bonnie spotted a rock shop I had not seen the last time I went to Bisbee. Patty, the owner, recognized us as rockhounds right off and removed (unscrewed) the top from a wooden box on the porch. Lots of Arizona rough rock was inside, and sharp-eyed Bonnie found a crazy lace agate containing Cuprite and Chrysocolla. I have never seen any material like this, so I knew it was quite rare. That piece was bought directly as were several more small specimens.

Patty said that the shop had only been open for a couple months when they moved from Wisconsin. She was knowledgable in minerals from the Lake Superior area, but is still learning about the local rocks. I helped by pointing out a piece of picture petrified wood from Holbrook, Arizona.

After I got back, some research on line produced limited results. It seems that the lace agate containing Cuprite and Chrysocolla is from a secret location in southwest Arizona. I’ll be eager to make jewelry from this unusual agate when I get back home.

Quirky Bisbee & Killer Bees

Sunny 55 in Bisbee/Sunny 65 in Tucson

Would a McDonalds like this appear in other then Benson, Arizona?

Would a McDonalds like this appear in other than Benson, Arizona?

View of "quirky" Bisbee.

The Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum is in the old Copper Queen Mine Headquarters building. The historic Copper Queen Hotel is in the background.

A little day trip was in store for us today. Since it is rock related we will share with you our adventures.

Bisbee, Arizona is considered one of the quirkiest towns in America. I have been there before a few years ago. At that time I was in Tucson by myself while Bonnie taught school. This is a true story: I arrived in Bisbee and got out of my car near a coffee shop downtown. What appeared to be an “Old Hippy’ came up to me and said “You wanna rumble?”. I replied that I had not even had my coffee yet and he just said “OK”, and walked away. That was my introduction to Bisbee.

The 900 foot deep Lavender Pit.

Another view of the Lavender Pit.

In early 1950s, after years of underground copper mining at the Copper Queen Mine and other mines in the area, open pit mining began near the Copper Queen Mine at the “Lavender Pit”, which was a mountain at that time. The Lavender Pit was named after Harrison Lavender, VP and General Manager of Phelps Dodge Cooperation, the owners of the mine. After mining 600,000 tons of copper from 86 million tons of waste, the Lavender Pit closed in 1974. The closure nearly killed Bisbee as most of the residents mined or had service businesses supported by the miners.

Things got so bad that even the largest hotel in town, the Copper Queen, was offered for sale for $1 to any local resident that would take it. There were no takers, so the hotel was sold to outside interests. The town was discovered by hippies after the mines were closed. Many moved there for the cheap houses for sale. I noticed many of the hippies are still there, but with canes and walkers.

I did not take the tour of the Copper Queen Mine, as I have before. I pretty much think if you’ve see one underground copper mine, you’ve seen them all. Unlike the mines in Michigan, native copper was not mined or appreciated, and the miners hated hitting veins of native copper. Their machinery was not equipped to process big chunks of pure copper.

The town is very historic. Many of the houses are right on the sides of the steep slopes with their fronts of backs held up by posts. This makes the town sort of different, with no rhyme or reason for the layout.

The history of the mining operations sort of parallels that of the mines in the Keweenaw. Cornish, Finish, and Serbian miners, among others, were lured with offers of housing and fair pay. They even know what a Pasty is in Bisbee.

Calcite and Malachite on Goethite-Copper Queen Mine-Bisbee Museum

Malachite/Azurite-Czar Mne-Bisbee Museum

Calcite tinted by Cuprite with Copper-Czar Mine-Bisbee Museum

Amazing Bisbee Blue-Lavender Pit-Bisbee Museum

Calcite Crystal Specimen-Museum

Wonderful Malachite, Azurite, Calcite, and other minerals were found in the Copper Queen Mine as well as later at the Lavender Pit. Some of Arizona’s most historical and extraordinary mineral specimens came from the Bisbee area. You can real more about the Copper Queen and the Lavender pit on line.

Sometimes the Copper Queen miners would hit oxidation pockets or “Crystal Caves” with stalactites and stalagmites colored beautifully by copper, somewhat unusual for copper mines. Some of these caves were larger than football fields. The miners used these caves for breaks and scenic underground lunches.

The Lavender Pit as well as the Copper Queen also produced some of the finest Turquoise in the southwest, especially the famous “Bisbee Blue” from the Lavender Pit. Hunting in the pit is only allowed once a year, and only on the spoil piles where chances are slim that any old Bisbee Blue will be found.

Some of the wonderful mineral specimens can be seen at the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, associated with the Smithsonium.

No one wanted to “rumble” today and we had a wonderful walking tour of many of the gift shops. Also we bought some Killer Bee Honey from a guy that travels all over ridding house, properties, and businesses of killer bees. As a reward, he gets to keep the honey. YUM!

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-Dino Reunited with Head

Sunny 65 & breezy

OK: I lied

The "Bead Ladies" were out in droves today.

Dendritic Quartzite from Utah was half off.

I told you yesterday that that would be it for gem shows, but this was before I knew that the activity of the day was to go to a garden center and buy cactus or some other mutant plant that might actually grow in this climate. I opted to hit the Tucson Electric Park Show one last time.

It was obvious that the dealers were ready to go home. Some had been working shows for a month, coming to Tucson from the Quartzite Shows. They went from one dusty show to another. One vendor told me he would be spending a month getting the dust from his products.

I had no goal in mind, nor do I really need anything else, but you never know what you don’t know you need. I chatted with a dealer from Utah who I have purchased Tiffany Stone from in past years. He was willing to part with some Picasso Marble beads at show-end prices, so being a good husband, I bought several strands for Bonnie.

Dragon made from hardware parts.

It WAS windy enough to fly these kites today.

The “bead ladies” were out in full force snatching up those discounted strands, as were other savvy shoppers with a possible good bargain on their minds.

I saw some unusual things today I missed on previous trips. In one tent someone had made dragons, motorcyclists, monsters, and the like from bike chains, nuts, washers, and other hardware store goods. I thought they were weird, but interesting.

"Ugly" Ryolite cat.

This cat was made of Ryolite (the vendor said he owned the mine in Mexico). He wanted me to take it home at half price. I think if I had purchased it there would be no more chocolate chip cookies made for me ever again, and I would get the “That’s ugly” speech that I have heard hundreds of times before.

Dinosaur body without its' head-I can sleep now.

I have to confess something to you guys. Ever since I saw that poor dinosaur’s head looking out of the ground (as seen on my post of February 7th) I have not been able to sleep properly. Where is that poor creature’s body? One of my goals (actually my final goal) was to locate that ill-fated creature’s body. I knew if hunted hard and long enough, my efforts would be rewarded. Today I FOUND THAT BEAST’S BODY! This is why you should always have a lofty goal and endeavor to accomplish it. Now I will finally get the much needed rest I have earned, and I can celebrate with a cold beer and a Tucson Taco.

I cannot say this is the final blog from here, but I do know there are no more shows. Sigh.

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show-Final Day

Sunny 83

Topaz that looks like Watermelon Tourmaline.

Courtyard Rapa River-Stll buyers and vendors.

Chrysocolla Rough

While the girls went shopping, so did I. As you get old it is hard to remember what you forgot. Let me explain. All this show week I could not remember where I acquired facetted Topaz that looks like Watermelon Tourmaline. Bonnie and I combined our brains and believed I got it at the GJX show last year. Since this show was still open until tomorrow I dropped in and found the dealer. He remembered me from last year and fortunately he had the material I was looking for. A great negotiation provided three wonderful facetted stones. He said that this material is quite scarce and will probably not be available next year.

Sugalite & Larimar

Some had glued little miners, tracks, trains and other things to the inside of a large Amethyst geode.

I left the GJX and made one last sweep of the shows on the northern strip. Searching the crevices of the Days Inn-Globe-x show, the Rapa River Show, and the Riverpark-Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show produced some fine photos. My buying was very limited as is my remaining cash. Limited amounts were dispersed for a few cabs. I was educated on Morenci & Bisbee Turquoise as I have some, what I believe is Bisbee at home; but may be Morenci. This knowledgeable dealer told me that they were both demanding the same price right now. He offered to buy my stash, but I am keeping it to create turquoise jewelry for my customers.

Leftover Denim Lapis.

Someone is going to have to take all this Tiger Eye back.

I left these shows early, as we northerners just can’t take anything above 80 this time of year. (you’re not buying that are you?)

Is this for real?

The last thing I saw was a really big Trilobite that had a sign on it “DO NOT TOUCH)” and was being guarded by a Moroccan. I believe that at least some of this trilobite, (namely the spikes), were manufactured. Sometimes you can’t be sure with these guys what is real and what is reproduced. Anyway, he wanted $2000 for the unit if you are interested.

Rainbow Obsidian in the sum.

I can only describe these as "Stick Birds".

I will be very distraut not being able to go look at rocks every day, and may have to get some medication for rock show withdrawl. I really appreciate all you guys following along on our adventures, and all the great comments. We’ll do it again next year. Keep reading the blog and see what I do with all the new stuff we obtained here.

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-Tupac Day

Sunny 79

Arizona Minerals-an artsy picture for you.

Tupac-one of the back streets.

One of the many artsy things we saw in Tupac.

We skipped the show today and drove south to Tupac, a artsy community full of high-end shops. The Tupac art show is underway we decided to beat the weekend crowd and go today.

Were we in for a surprise when we got there and found hundreds and hundreds of cars in all the lots, which were actually dusty fields! We were there so we paid our $6 for parking and checked the town out.

This was a show with perhaps $100-150 vendors. We actually saw one of the vendors we know from Wisconsin that does nice wire-wrapped jewelry of a different style than I do.

There were large crowds and I actually saw a dozen tour buses. Apparently this is a destination for many people. All the show was high quality. We really enjoyed what everyone was creating in the art world.

Today I will post a couple pictures from Tupac, and some more from the Gem & Mineral Show.

Probably the finest piece of Chrysocolla in Quartz I've ever seen. Miami-Globe Mine Az.

These were really amazing wood turnings inlayed withAzurite, Malachite, Chrysocolla,Arizona Turquoise

These were really amazing wood turnings inlayed withAzurite, Malachite, Chrysocolla and Arizona Turquoise

Crinoids from Montgomery County, Indiana

Vanadinite from Arizona belongs to the Apatite group of minerals.

Myrickite Agate/Opal-a rare rock from Napa Valley, California.

Myrickite Agate/Opal Cinnabar-a rare rock from Napa Valley, California.

A great set of Dinosaur eggs! Maybe I should not have put it quite that way.

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-THE BIG SHOW

12-9 Sunny 73

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer opens the show.

129-minerals-of-arizona malachite/Azurite

The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show (The Big Show) sponsored by the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society opened this morning, and we were right up at the front of the line. I expected wonderful displays of the Minerals of Arizona, which was the theme this year. We were not disappointed with the quality or quantity of the exhibits.

Gov. Jan Brewer opened the show and I happened to be right next to all the news cameras for a close-up view of everything. After the opening festivities Bonnie and I took in the whole show.

Hooker Emerald from the Smithsonian

Arizona Meteorites

I cannot begin to describe the wonderful displays we saw. We spent a few dollars on some nice cabochons, and I bought some nice slabs, including some Wingate Plume agate from Death Valley, California. It has great oranges and reds on a black background. The stuff was not cheap, but it drew me right in. I can make some great jewelry out of it.

Wingate Agate from Death Valley

Bonnie bought some great drilled cabs to make necklaces from, but mostly we looked at displays and people. Today I will just show you a small sample of what we saw today.

Geronimo Rifle & Wyatt Earp Revolver

As I have mentioned in previous years, if a Tucson cop is sitting by a case, it is probably quite valuable. Today he was sitting next to a case containing Geronimo’s 1868 Springfield Rifle and Wyatt Earp’s Model P Colt Revolver. Bonnie thought he was there because of the huge royal blue Tanzanite.

A remarkable gem pendant on display was the Hooker Emerald from the Smithsonian museum. The Hooker Emerald is a superb 75.47ct Columbian Emerald dating back to the Ottoman Empire (1876-1909). It is surrounded by 109 round brilliant and 20 baguette cut diamonds totaling 13 carats. Mrs. Janet Annenberg purchased the emerald brooch from Tiffany in 1955, and in 1977 donated it to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

I will post a small portion of the approximately 100 pictures I took today; ENJOY!

Turquoise-colored petrified wood from Washington

Amazing Opal Turtles

Wonderful Obsidian Hearts

Some great Arizona Mineral Cabochons.

This is Mexican Turquoise from the Canana Mine. Owned by Elisabeth's Cottage By The Sea.

Azurite

Malachite from Bisbee

Arizona gold

Quartz Crystal containing Actinolite & Rutile stars

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-Jaw-Dropping Fossils

2-8 partly sunny 70

Tucson’s Mineral & Fossil Coop rivals any museum fossil display you have ever seen.

Mammoth Herd.

12-8-swimmer-dino

Imagine a massive warehouse with perhaps a dozen of the finest Fossil Dealers in the world. Spectacular fossils everywhere; featuring entire Extinct animals to small trilobites.

Cephalopods & Ammonites

TM&FC is a permanent wholesale vendor of fossils to shops, museums, and collectors around the world. The coop is listed as part of the Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show, and is a popular spot for those that are in the market for the finest fossils on earth. If they do not have it at the coop, they can probably get it. The coop is know for authentic fossils, but I did see a few manufactured fossils there. Not even close to some of the fake stuff some Moroccans sell, and if the fossil is manufactured or altered, the coop will tell you, unlike many of the less credible dealers.

Floor to ceiling fossils!

We saw million dollar specimens, dino eggs at $1000 each, and fishplates in excess of $5000. Flats of small fossils abounded, as well as almost any type of fossil-related home décor.

Megalodon Mouth

Meg teeth-Lower jaw detail

We saw a full Megalodon mouth featuring real meg teeth. It was amazing to see how new sets of teeth were ready to rotate in to replace teeth that grew worn or fell out of these giant prehistoric sharks.

Looks like the wild west, but I'd guess much older.

What a great palm frond wall hanging

The TM&FC is not the only thing we did today, but it deserves to be featured all by its self. You deserve to see it in pictures, although we wish all of you were here with us. One of the most amazing things we have seen here.

Huge Ammonite plate

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-Dinosaur Volleyball

Sunny 74

Some Moroccan must have had a load of spare time here. Otodus teeth (50 million year old mackerel shark)

Each of these trilobites was as big as a hand! Hotel Tucson City Center

Laguna Agates and Tiffany Stone display.HTCC

Hunting the deep recesses of the Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Shows is one of our favorite things to do. Today was the last day of the JOGS Show and sometimes the dealers are motivated to sell rather than take merchandise home.

This show, as you may recall, is a wholesale show with an eclectic variety of merchandise from imported buy/sell jewelry, to rough rock, to facetted jewels. If you can imagine it, it is probably at JOGS.

I found a great deal on some facetted Citrine and the same dealer made me an offer I could not refuse on some very nice blue and pink sapphires. I found a Russian guy with some nice Eudialite cabochons different than I had ever seen. These had a dark background with the reds standing out. When I think of Eudalite, I think of bright red ruby slippers shining in the sun. I love this stuff! One pricey opal Bluegill somehow also found its way into the satchel, while Bonnie was not looking.

Dino Bones in the Black Hills Institute Display. HTCC

Now THIS would be a rought volleyball team!

Now THIS would be a rough volleyball team!

If you are not SURE they are dead, they will rise back up!

They FINALLY captured that evil raptor that was checking out Bonnie the other day (see blog).

Would you expect to see this at a fossil show?

From Austrailia a large slab of Obicular Granite. You just can't take a piece like this for granite! (OK so it was a bad pun)b

From Austrailia a large slab of Obicular Granite. You just can't take a piece like this for granite! (OK so it was a bad pun) I know a granite lover that reads this blog. This one is for him.

Hey Deb, how about a new wine rack?

Some great polished wood.

Jas this old guy with one bad leg really got a chance?

Has this old guy with one bad leg really got a chance?

Bonnie bought a few silver charms and enough pewter beads and findings to anchor a small boat! She waited until we were walking out the door to buy them.

I really wasn’t keeping a close eye on her, but she is usually more conservative in her spending than I am. She admits to buying some very fine Turquoise beads from a very reputable dealer.

When we left JOGS it was still early and we decided to skip over to the Hotel Tucson to the Mineral and Fossil Show. We saw Ken Flood from Keweenaw Gem & Gift in Houghton at his booth. He said he had a very good show, and this was evident by his low inventory. Shortly thereafter we saw Bob & Pam Hecht, also from Houghton. Pam saw me first as I was wearing my Keweenaw T-Shirt. You just never know who you will run into so far from our homes! They too were enjoying 75 degrees!

The Hotel Tucson City Center is famous for all the orange trees on the property, and we from up north really appreciate the green trees loaded with orange orbs. The lower branches of these trees usually are barren of oranges (I wonder why?).

A good herd of the ever-popular Fiberglass dinosaurs were scattered about the grounds, even occupying the volleyball court. A great white shark was ready to attack swimmers in the pool.

I did take loads of pictures of fossils for you and I found some very nice Larimar rough I could not pass up, although I could not afford much of it. So let’s just throw some nice pictures, and a little humor, at you so you can get a feel of this place.

We went back to home base early today, which most likely saved us some money. I have no idea where tomorrow may lead us. I’m sure there is a show somewhere we have not seen.

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-Gold Ore and Fossils

Sunny 73

Vendors open before the crowds show up-Howard Johnsons

We found ourselves at the Clarion Gem & Mineral Show this morning. Searching the nooks and crannies of this and other gem shows on “the strip” is often quite rewarding. The weekend crowds were gone and we had no problems navigating this show.

This gold ore looked outstanding-I hope it makes great jewelry.

I stumbled onto the only gold ore at the shows. This ore was from a newer claim in Beaver, Utah. Right now their ore is being sold as specimen pieces and these miners hope to be able to get crushing equipment among other expensive things in order to start making ingots. I thought, by my eye, that this ore was loaded with gold. It’ll be fun to cut and make cabs.

I found some wonderful Opalite cabs, that looked like moonstones, from India. Somehow a couple Sonoran Sunrise cabs appeared in my bag… BONNIE! I have seen some amazing neon blue opal from Cooper Peeby, but never one like I saw today. It is neon blue with green flashy undertones. It was one of those stones I had to have, and it will be one of the first cabs I wrap when I get home. You’ll have to wait until it is sone as I could not even begin to get a good photo of it.

This ammolite insetted into dinosaur bone looks 100% better in person.

The most spectacular items I acquired today were cabochons of Ammolite inset in Dinosaur bone. I wish I were at home to take a photo on my studio setup, but I am hopeful I can take a photo that at least hints at the beauty of these things. Perhaps I overspent on them, but then again perhaps not. They were completely unique.

Smokey Quartz cluster from Brazil looked spectacular in the sun.

We stopped at the Howard Johnson Gem and Mineral Show and Bonnie got some items.

I saw her buying some treated turquoise I would never have bought, but then she does keep me company, and she thought they were pretty. We chatted with interesting people, and my final purchase was a small chunk of rhodochrosite with pyrite from China. Bonnie is a big fan of rhodo, so she’ll be after me to cut when we get home too.

At 13' 4" this giant carnivorous Xiphatinus Audax (85 Million year old) is a steal at $165,000! Fron Lane County, Kansas

I hit the 22nd Street Show again just to get some nice photos for you guys including a Giant Carnivorous fish, and a photo for my buddy Chris.

Morrocan Crock.

Mastadon at Clarion.

I did not ask the price on this piece of Nantan Meteorite that fell in China in May of 1516.

The girls are going to exercise this evening, so I might have to go to one of my favorite spots while they are gone. Stay tuned for the next exciting adventure!