Tucson Gem Shows-Beads and Bones

55 Rainy, snow sprinkles in the air (No kidding)

Our day started earlier than usual at the International Gems & Minerals location at the Gem Mall. IGM is the largest bead dealer we’ve seen here in Tucson. Strictly a wholesale dealer, they open early, so they can sell to other vendors in town before they have to open at 10. It is really large, and not super well organized, so you might find something at one side, and they later find something similar that you like better several aisles over. And you have to ask for all prices (which is a pet peeve of Bonnie’s). But they had a large team and numerous people assisted us while we were there, and even though we are not a big buyer, they treated us very well.

In the Los Angeles area they have a shop and warehouse, with bead cutters and lapidarists that they employ worldwide. I chatted with Abdel Khattab, the owner of IGM, who has been in business for over 40 years. Bonnie shopped while I discussed products with him. It’s amazing the things you can learn by picking the brain of a someone that is a pioneer in the gem trade.

You recall me speaking “lovingly” of Bead Ladies toting van-sized suitcases so they may deposit all their beads. Because we were such good customers today, IGM gave Bonnie a pull-behind two-wheel cart of her very own. Now she has a small cart like a Bead Lady wanna-be.

After lunch we had time for a quick stop at the Grand Luxe. This has some rocks, but mostly ethnic products, dresses, antiques, dragon sculptures, etc. Dan Lopacki has bead relics as well as hand crafted cabochons. We have often talked Victoria Stone over the years, and he has a pretty selection of them.

This show was so busy that I observed one vendor asleep in his room, apparently equally as excited about this show as we were. With cool temperatures, Bonnie was the only shopper in the courtyard.

We left that excitement, and afterward stopped at the Mineral and Fossil Co-op. We read in the Arizona Daily Star about a rare Triceratops skeleton nicknamed Bob. One of the largest Triceratops skeletons ever assembled with original bones, this is 65% original bones, and was found on private property in North Dakota. It was found, and excavated from 2003-2014, when it went on display at the Barnes County Historical Society in North Dakota. A decline in oil revenue resulted in Bob being put up for sale. Everyone involved hopes Bob can continue to live in the US. It is for sale at GeoDecor inside the Mineral and Fossil Co-op. If you have a spare million plus, please buy him so he can continue his life in the Americas.

Even though this co-op is a wholesale venue, the public can still go in and look at the fossils, including Bob. Other highlights here were wooly mammoth and mastodon fossils, a baby mammoth, a wooly rhino. A wooly mammoth skeleton was rebuilt with added fur, resembling what he probably looked like, as well as a wooly Rhino and a baby Mammoth with fur.

 

The largest pair of Mammoth tusks ever found (around 250 pounds each) is here. They were found by gold miners north of Fairbanks, Alaska, and were carefully preserved over six years before being ready to be shown.

Down the hall is a gallery featuring petrified wood furniture and décor. Most impressive was a 20 feet x 4 feet table slab from the Arizona Petrified Forest. Wall hangings, bright colors, browns, cut table slabs, this place has some real eye candy.

A Megaladon Mouth reproduction with real teeth hangs in one gallery. The real teeth are attached in their respective locations. These teeth were collected over many years with the intent to build an authentic representation. The largest tooth is over 7 inches. Measure that out and be in awe! We have seen this “guy” several times over the last few years. Each time I am reminded of how fortunate we are not to have these fellows filling our seas today. They had a voracious appetite!

If you can, you should stop into this interesting place, and if you can, be sure to buy “Bob”!