This show continues to be THE venue for the finest minerals and fossils from around the world! Vendors from Russia, Morocco, Germany, Brazil, Madagascar, Spain and more…
You enter through a display of some of the most magnificent Uraguayan Amethyst in every form – individual crystals, crystal clusters and my favorite the Geodes.
In the photo you can see why – they slice the top of the geode to expose the crystals (usually the Amethyst has a few Calcite crystals growing with it) – then assemble them in this clamshell manner – wouldn’t this be the coolest water feature on a patio???
First stop my favorite mineral dealer – Fabre Minerals – Jordi Fabre is a familiar name in the Mineral Collecting community – his forum has come to be as well respected as his reputation as a dealer of fine minerals.
Fabre Minerals – Room 164
Fine Mineral Specimens for the Quality Collector
http://www.fabreminerals.com/
Take a minute to check out his website and to join the forum (available in a Spanish or English version)…I have learned so much from the collectors, miners and museum curators that frequent the site! The forum has a Tucson Gem Show thread – click the link on the home page.
Agates From Argentina
Ricardo & Claudia Birnie
Room 223
http://agatesfromargentina.com/
Beautiful Agates and really lovely people!!!
Upstairs in the Lobby area is a really special display in the “Artists Gallery” – artists like Kirk Norlin – Greg Wooten and the lovely man in the hat Leo Atkinson.
Leo is a self taught lapidary artist turned sculptor.
The geometric lines of the pseudomorph in the lighted piece shown obviously impressed a collector – as it SOLD!!!
Leo Atkinson
The sculpure was also continued around the pool with amazing sculpture by Damien Jones (http://damienjonesart.net/) and there was an artist that did Tiffany – Style Agate Lamps!
These smiling faces greeted me at the door for Maxilla & Mandible – Rooms 404-406
http://maxillaandmandible.com/
The work is by CM Studio http://cmstudio.com/
The ballroom was Fossil Central with full dinosaurs for sale – it was a paleo dream!!!!
Canadian Ammonlite from:
Canada Fossils
http://canadafossils.com/
…and the lovely Robin (with her face obscured by the lamp) with the vendor Terry Williams – Native Northwest Designs – carvings, art and jewelry – I love the carved figure of Ganesh.
Robyn Hawk
