janety
Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 434
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| | 02/04/10 at 09:51 PM | Reply with quote | #1 |
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Just got back from the International Gem and Mineral Show in Tucson Arizona. I could not do both Quartzsite and Tucson so did just the one. It has been 4-5 years since I have been there and what a change. Not as many vendors as I was use to. HOWEVER, I was amazed at how many vendors had cabrochons and lovely freeform rocks, minerals and the like for sale. We kept finding such great prices and such lovely items to wire wrap I almost had to buy another suitcase - giggle. Prices were exceptional and even then many were willing to drop the price if you bought just a few more.
Yes, I did that too! The big hot new items seem to be Red Creek Jasper from China, lovely warm tones and such character. Another was Sonora Sunset Jasper, oh my cabs and rough material as very good prices. You are meeting the people who are digging, polishing and bringing it up from Mexico to Tucson for sale. Sonora Sunset Jasper is lovely. Now, all I have to do is make time to wrap. giggle.
That's my report, any questions, happy to ask.
Oh, also found the hotels a lot cheaper too.
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gypse
Moderator
Registered: 12/05/04
Posts: 2,082
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| | 02/05/10 at 01:30 AM | Reply with quote | #2 |
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 That's the closest smilie I could find to being green with envy. This is the first year I haven't been able to go out to the desert at this time of year since I started making jewelry 
Are you sure the Sonora Sunset is a Jasper? The rage the last 2 years out there was Sonora Sunrise / Sonoran Sunrise / Sonora Sunset / Sonoran Sunset - just depending on the dealer - from the Millpillas Mine in Sonora, Mexico. Combination of chrysocolla (green, blue-green), cuprite (red), tile ore (orangey red), and tenorite (black).
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janety
Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 434
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| | 02/05/10 at 10:24 AM | Reply with quote | #3 |
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 Sue you are soooooo correct. Must be more tired than I thought. Also, correct that depending on who you are talking to it becomes an agate or Jasper. But everyone called it a Jasper. How about I just say a lovely stone.
Don't feel too bad about Quartzsite, I was told that the last rain and winds make it very muddy, messy to get around.
Anyone go, how was your experience? At Quartzsite that is.
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ladyfisher
Registered: 12/01/08
Posts: 187
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| | 02/05/10 at 11:33 PM | Reply with quote | #4 |
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Our rock club prez came back early from Quartzsite due to weather. Three days shut down at Pow Wow due to rain.
Love the Sonoran Sunrise, have several wrapped pieces on my site. Prices were good? Last year at Tucson it seemed like I paid premium for everything, no deals.
I picked up a lovely slab of a compressed dyed turquoise with bronze, imagine blue and purple with gold veins. The guy I bought it from said he bought in in Tucson this year, not sure what it's called.
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janety
Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 434
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| | 02/06/10 at 10:58 AM | Reply with quote | #5 |
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The most pricy piece was an Ammolite for $80 from the manufacturer/distributor. Calgary Canada. The Sonoran Sunrise my most expensive piece was $30, but, highly polished and large. I was totally amazed at the prices. Most of the pieces I picked up averaged $5 or less. |
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ladyfisher
Registered: 12/01/08
Posts: 187
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| | 02/06/10 at 08:10 PM | Reply with quote | #6 |
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I take it you were buying cabs as opposed to slabs or rough?
We opted for a longer vacation later this year instead of Arizona now. We made it to the Electric Park RV show last year, and I got to meet KittKatt.
Going to four corners area to scout out the Anasazi ruins, do some 'hounding (found great agate near Moab last fall) and seek out whatever rock shops we can find. And get some freakin' sun! LOL
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janety
Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 434
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| | 02/08/10 at 08:04 PM | Reply with quote | #7 |
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Correct, I search for finished cabs. I can do it myself and have the equipment, but rather spend the time wrapping than cutting. I also happen to belong to the local Gem and Mineral Club and get a lot of rough material from the elders who are getting rid of their 40-50 year old collections.
Janet
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