KOFA  National Wildlife Refuge - February 2010 - photo by John Veevaert
John Veevaert    PO BOX 2182   Weaverville, California  96093  USA  (888) 689-8402



 

Return to the 2012 Tucson Show Homepage  

Show Reports
Report 1    Report 2    Report 3    Report 4    Report 5     Report 6

 
 
 

Tucson 2012 Report 4

T here is a bit of a lull in the shows between the first weekend and the start of the Westward Look Show so I ventured to the GJX Gem Show with Steve Perry (my first time there ever) to see what that was all about.  First, there are precious few people selling minerals of any kind.  Steve pointed me to one dealer though stuck in a corner selling specimens from Pakistan.  Syed Nafees Ali was set up with many fine crystals of tourmaline and kunzite. What most impressed me, however were some very nice richly colored crystals of imperial topaz from Shigar Valley.

Here is Syed behind the counter. 
 

a 5 cm specimen with a doubly terminated crystal of imperial topaz - Steve Perry bought that one.
 
Also at GJX was Mike Gray of Coast to Coast gemstones.  These folks facet anything!
 
Gorgeous faceted cuprite from Onganja, Namibia at Coast to Coast. 
 
 

This is the typical view of Tucson for about an hour each day - show venues are all over the town and driving is the only option...

The Westward Look show is always much anticipated as the highest quality minerals are presented by dealers there. The prices are also stunning but then the best of the best tend to be in that realm... 


A 25 cm specimen from Olinghouse with large flat crystals of gold in Miner's Lunchbox room - $100,000 will get you this rock...
 
 

An unusual specimen of pyromorphite from China in Scott's room.
 

An old classic from Tintic - a 6 cm specimen of clinoclase - the best I have ever seen from that mine!
 
 

Scott also had this remarkable chain of amazonite crystals from Colorado.
 
Colorado dealer Dave Bunk had the creme de la creme of the Minette Borate Collection and sold the top pieces to the Smithsonian.  Here are a few of the best.
 

Probably the finest specimen of hydroboracite in existence.
 
 

A superb crystal of colemanite. The Death Valley NP museum has better specimens but this one is a killer!
 
 

Cotton ball ulexite from Ryan, near Death Valley N.P.
 
 
This is the first scorodite I have ever seen from Brazil!  Ex - Univ. of Arizona collection.
 
 

Contrast in the weather from last year to this year. Sorry rest of the world but the weather in Tucson this year is INCREDIBLY NICE !!!
 
 
 

A quick check of the motel sign shows the current rate...
 
Each year one of the top events that I attend is the party hosted by Wayne & Dona Leicht and Ian Bruce.  This year the theme was "Roaring Twenties".  Great food, live music and great fun for all.
 

 
 One of the vehicles driven to the event.
 
I
 

Ian and Lois were in full costume. Gotta love that pink tommy gun! 
 
 

Brandi and Justin Zzyzx were decked out.
 
 
A couple of real thugs - Steve Perry (right) and Jerry Rosenthal.
 
 
Newly engaged Jolyon Ralph doing what he does best...  
 
 
 
Tomas Praskier (Spirifer Minerals) and his girl friend Asia. 
 
 
Dona Leicht looking like someone out of 1927.
 
 
Tana in a vintage 1920's mink stole.
 
 
Bugsy Malone (Doug Wallace) trying to make a deal on some bootleg whiskey.
 
 
 
A couple of sorry looking chaps from the UK - Ian Jones and David Lloyd.
 
 
Dancing the night away to live music.
 
 
Many thanks again to Dona, Wayne and Ian for the fabulous time.
 
More to come over the next 12 days.


Past Shows & Reports
PLEASE NOTE: The minerals that were offered on these pages are all sold
1999
Munich Show
2000
Sainte Marie Show
Munich Show
2001
Sainte Marie Show
Munich Show
2002
Tucson Show
Sainte Marie Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2003
Tucson Show
Sainte Marie Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2004
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2005
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2006
Tucson Show
Bologna Show
Sainte Marie Show
East Coast Show
Munich Show
2007
Tucson Show
Dallas Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2008
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2009
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show

2010
Tucson Show
San Francisco Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show

Munich Show

2011
Tucson Show
San Francisco Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show

2012
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show 
Munich Show

2013
Tucson Show
Sainte Marie Show
Crystal Days (Poland)
Munich Show  

 

 
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