Lepidolite
T-Rocks Yard in Quartzsite
I apologize for not posting yesterday. I know you were waiting with baited breath! Someone, (me) forgot the charging plug for the computer, so forgive me and I’ll try to make up for it.
Bonnie diving for Pink Amethyst Lace
A place we never miss in Quartzsite is T-Rocks on West Main Street, a permanent rough rock vendor owned by Theresa and Mike Thompson, friends of ours from Calumet, Michigan. Guaranteed, they have the largest permanent selection of rough in Quartzsite. Unlike the snowbirds, they are always there: if you pass through town, you should stop. You can get just about anything there. Bonnie jumped into a cage, dumpster-diving style, to search to the bottom for the best Pink Amethyst Lace Agate. She sent me off to get a spray bottle and a bucket for the finds. Together we sorted, spritzed, pitched and narrowed our choices to the best ones we saw.
I watched an artist, Gary Graham, glueing Kyanite onto a cow skull which was partially decorated with pink howlite and turquoise howlite. We talked about what he might use in the eyes, moonstone, or red coral (simulated). These were carefully crafted, each piece fit closely together, with no grout applied to fill gaps, like we have seen elsewhere. The skulls are sold for $300-$500 at his Metal Sign Shop Booth. Sorry Gary, that Kyanite reflecting light messed with my camera.
These belt buckles were amazing. Will they hold your pans up, or pull them down. I love these. You should buy one.
The biggest highlight of this show was Green Velvet Antiques. The friendly lady, Barbara Levine, showed us two treasured belt buckles. One was 7 pounds of untreated Fox turquoise, surrounded by silver. It was by Roy Buck, Navajo, and was appraised at $24000. It is offered for sale for only $11000. Barbara let Bonnie hold it for the picture, with the admonition, “Don’t drop it”. The other belt buckle was a carved Apache Indian of Red Mountain turquoise, available for $6000. If you decide to buy one, please let her know you saw it here first. And after you buy it let me know, will these hold your pants up, or pull your pants down? Inquiring minds want to know!
Barrels and Pallets of rock
Purple Lapidolite rocks catch Bonnie’s eye.
Wonder what the fronts look like?
Like this
We went to Tyson Wells and Prospector’s Panorama (there are no wells at Tyson Wells). These shows are at the opposite end of the same road as The Desert Garden’s Show. Parking is a major issue at this show. People seem to park everywhere, even in front of exit/entrance gates, where they soon get a ticket and a tow. There are other shows in the area, so there is always a mixture of flea market buyers and rock, bead, and jewelry buyers, all mixed together.
You do know when they cook Amethyst it turns orange, didn’t you
You never know what can be found in the area of these shows. I took many pictures because a picture it worth 1000 words. I mentioned how bizarre these shows can be, so the photos are my proof. Tomorrow I’ll focus on the weirdness of the place: today mostly on rocks.
At Tyson Wells we visited El Paso Rocks, with the largest poundage of rocks at the Quartzsite shows, 50 gallon drums of rough everywhere, as well as the bins of assorted slabs, and various imported goods. Bonnie searched for some bargain beads, but came away with little. You’ll enjoy the huge quartz Arkansas crystals mined by Colemans.
We spent 2-3 hours exploring these shows. I bought a gift t-shirt. and that was about it.
The day wasn’t quite used up, so we went back to Desert Gardens, which is the real rock show, but vendors were not busy. We did find a purple Laguna Agate and we had a great time digging through tumbled bits and pieces, looking for jaspers, dendritic jaspers, and Bonnie even found an opal, which she said, this shouldn’t be here, but I said “Put it in the bucket!” We also saw a remarkable large polished piece of Wingate Pass Agate, free of fractures, and available for $1200. This was a stunning piece that should be in a museum. Bonnie made a last minute run for a few more beads. I’ll show you more stuff tomorrow. The internet is very slow, or I’d show you more.
On our way around town we saw numerous RVs coming to town for a big RV show this weekend. Lots of million dollar rigs around. I’ve been lusting after one, but the jewelry making business just hasn’t been that good yet! And apparently I didn’t win the PowerBall Jackpot, so better be happy with the RV I have!