[Rockhounds] TUCSON!

[John & Gloria Cornish]

Hi Everyone,

It's been busy these last several days and it's been a fun time too! Last night was a hoot! I was among a wonderful group of folks all meeting for a Mindat dinner arranged by friend Roy Lee. Gathered among these wonderful folks were our very own Everett Harrington and Jim Beam. It was a terrific evening and I had a great time while there. These types of after hours get-togethers are among my most memorable moments each show!

This morning, I visited the Tucson Convention Center and attended the Main Show of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society. Mineral Oddities is the theme for this years show and I was looking forward to seeing the displays. Among the treasures generously shown by collectors and institutions alike, were some truly mind-blowing specimens. A rather unique calcite after banana "pseudomorph" was a special favorite (recovered from dump material dating to the Great San Francisco fire of the early 1900's). Another favorite was a mineral whose name was new to me. It began with an "S" and unfortunately, I can't recall it right now. If I remember the information from the display correctly, it is a mineral that forms from "us" after we've passed away. The display featured a eerie grave yard back drop. Definitely a mineral oddity!

While taking in the other displays, I enjoyed... fantastic silver crystals in wonderful branching groups featured within one theme case. A tourmaline scepter and a malachite Christmas tree (from the collection of Jim and Gail Spann, attendees of the Mindat dinner), wonderful smoky and clear, open and closed qwindel quartz's and a rhodochrosite pseudomorph replaced by red andradite garnet. There were pegmatite monster gems such as a 10 inch light pink colored morganite crystal on matrix and an approximately 30 pound gem purply-pink kunzite spodumene crystal! There were japan-law twins and twinned feldspars and there were even "alien" fluorites with bright glowing green eyes (more later when I add photos!). There were so many awesome specimens, I love coming to and being a part of Tucson!

While I walked, it was my good fortune to tour the displays with Everett and Jim until all to soon, I had to get back and open the room. I bid them and several other friends good-bye and then hit the road.

Back at the room, I've been busy. I've had the pleasure of meeting so many nice folks. With some, I've shared story's of their/my collecting or of our newest acquisitions. For some, the viewing and the visiting were enough, for others, some times they'd find a little treasure to take home. Among this group of folks is the newest Museum I can add to the list of institutions housing and displaying specimens which I've collected and this one, the prestigious Museum of Natural History located in London. Curators Alan Hart and Mike Rumsey acquired a stunning pair of Rat's Nest specimens and I feel especially thrilled for this honor (Alan and Mike were also participants at the previously mentioned Mindat dinner I'd just attended).

As I mentioned, it's been a busy fun time! 

Well, it's going on 11:00 pm here and I'm starting to get tired. I think I'll call it quits for the time being. Tomorrow will be another busy day. I'll visit the Main Show again and then I'll repeat today and will make tracks back to the room after-wards. I'll look forward to seeing more friends and more killer rocks... I can't wait!!!

>From Tucson, all the very best, take care,

John

 

 
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