West Coast
Mineral Show
May 2010, Pomona
page 2 of 3
A very fine cluster
of complex Mexican Gypsum crystals brought in by Benny Fenn (bennyfenn@zianet.com).
Benny Fenn also had Mexican Labradorite as gem rough and as beautiful
cut gems. It looks like the yellow gem Orthoclase from Madagascar,
not at all like most Labradorite, but he had it tested to be sure.
Tom and
Steve Wolfe (http://tomwolfeminerals.com)
had several new petrified woods including India Wood (above) and ...
chromium-infused petrified wood from Navajo County, Arizona, sort of
a holy grail for
petrified wood collectors.
This Neptunite has a natural border made of ... Neptunite, of course.
We've all seen so many combo pieces that seeing the Benitoite
and Neptunite separately is a bit odd. But Earth's Treasures (http://earthstreas.com/)
is THE place to find either mineral in abundance.
Rick Kennedy of Earth's Treasures was being helped at the Pomona show
by ...
... itinerant mineral dealer and cartoon aficionado, Carl Acosta.
Cal Neva Mineral Company (http://cnmineral.com,
Russ Rizzo) had this large cabinet pink Dolomite flecked with bright
green Malachite from Touissit, Morocco, unlike any Dolomite I've ever
seen before.
Yes, we've all seen the clear green Chinese Fluorites with their sharp
phantoms, but I swear this one is so clear, it looks like a Jello dessert! I
had trouble taking my eyes off it, which I really wanted to do, since
John Seibel (johnseibel@hotmail.com)
had been doing some collecting in Nevada right before the show, and
I wanted to acquire some of his new finds.
Mr. & Mrs. Seibel of Seibel Minerals, where I never walk away empty-handed.
In the center of the hall, were several display cases of mostly not-for-sale
items. This astounding Amethyst from Uruguay - a cast, inside
a cast, inside a cast - is in Rock Currier's collection. The
next 5 photos are also from the display cases in the center of the hall.
Another amazing piece from Rock Currier's collection is this Uruguayan
Calcite striped with Amethyst. Below it are trays of Amethyst
stalactite sections. One (that I was going to return to photograph)
had over 30 core spots. But sadly, I forgot my camera the last
day of the show.
Some interesting Quartz from the collection of William Besse.
A really nice petrified wood display from Tom & Steve Wolfe that
is hard to photograph with the mirror reflections, but you get the idea.
Argentine Rhodochrosite stalactite sections, Tourmalines, & polished
and carved zebra stone.
Tanzanian
treasures: orange Spessartine Garnets and purple Tanzanite.
Pomona
Show May 2010, page 3