The Trapiche Gemstones !

Everyone should always keep their eye open for some of the neatest and fairly rare gemstones in existance --- the Trapiche Gemstones ! The Spanish word trapiche was used in Colombia with a literal translation that means 'wagon wheel'.

.
It was and still is applied to a rare form of Emerald that has inclusions aligned along the edges where the crystal faces meet, which causes the stone to literally look like a wagon wheel. The most famous and best known is the 'Trapiche Emerald'.
.

A Trapiche Emerald, found only in Colombia at Coscuez, La Peña in the celebrated Muzo mining district
.
But......the trapiche 'wagon wheel' formations can indeed occur in other types of gemstones, i.e. Ruby, Sapphire, Tourmaline and particularly in a form of Andalusite. So the term 'Trapiche' must be clarified by adding the name of the Gemstone along with it.
.

For insatnce Trapiche Ruby, of which there are two distinct types, one with the carbon 'wheel' from Viet Nam and the second with the lighter colored 'Calcite' or 'Dolomite' wheel' from the Mong Hsu region of Myanmar (Burma).
.

A Trapiche Sapphire, probably of Burmese origin.
.

A Trapiche Tourmaline, of this green variety, can be obtained from the Kavungu mine in the vicinity of Jivunda southeast of Mwinilunga in northwestern Zambia.
.

A Trapiche Andalusite, called Chiastolite, has the same kind carbon spokes as the Emerald and Ruby. This particular form of Chiastolite is found in areas around Georgetown, California. It is also known to many as "The Cross Stone" in religious circles.

.
And I have been told there is a Trapiche Garnet, but have never seen one or even a picture of one, so definitely something to look for.

.

Pictures from own collection and those of some close friends. The locations indicated are where these particular speciems originated from.

.

.

QUARTZSITE - A major prelude to Tucson 2010 !

Welcome to QUARTZSITE and Desert Gardens on the California - Arizona State Line.

.

2010 Calendar of Events

January 01 - February 28, 2010 Desert Gardens-Gem & Mineral Show

January 01 - January 10, 2010 Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show

January 09 - February 24, 2010 Main Event

January 15 - January 24, 2010 Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama

January 16 - January 24, 2010 Sports, Vacation & RV Show

January 27 - January 31. 2010 Hobby Craft & Gem Show

January 29 - February 7, 2010 Tyson Wells Arts & Craft Fair

January 20 - January 24, 2010 Annual Pow Wow

.

Then it is on to the Tucson Gem Fair 2010 during February !

.

When its clear it is beautiful, but then the wind and sand rolls in.
.
but the Show goes on, and the weather clears again.

There is plenty to see, masses of rock and minerals all over the place, inside and out.

Tables of new material, like Imperial Sarah Jasper,

or buckets of everything and anything imaginable,

and hugh slabs of Tigereye and TigerIron,

or maybe even some unknown wierd stuff.

How about a Geode big enough to stand or sit in
.

and a few odd things also.

.

Whatever you want, you could probably find it at QUARTZSITE and for sure at the following Tucson Gem Fair 2010. Many of the vendors at QUARTZSITE will move to Tucson as the various different shows open up there during the month of February.

.

Pictures thanks to Ron, theimage1 and Quartzite.com.

.

Gem Fair Tucson 2010 !

Some additional Pavillions that have been added to the AGTA GemFair Tucson for 2010.

.
MJSA EXPO West:

The Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) brings back the MUSA EXPO Pavilion to the Gem Fair this year. It is your destination in Tucson for tools, equipment, technology, packaging, services and supplies. MUJA will also hold bench jewelry demonstrations every day as part of their 'At the Bench Live' series.

.

COLORED DIAMONDS PAVILION:

As colored diamonds continue to rise in popularity, the AGTA has established a special pavilion to feature AGTA colored diamond dealers. This pavilion will be located in aisle 1600 on the GemHall floor. This pavilion will offer attendees a great selection of loose gemstones and finished settings.

.

Go to the following URL to see a listing of all exhibitors for the AGTA Show only:

http://www.agta.org/tradeshows/gft-exhibitors.html

.

.

AGTA Seminars for Tucson Gem Fest 2010

The Tucson Gem Fest 2010 in coming the last week of Jan and first two weeks of Feb 2010. Each year the AGTA runs many seminars for visitors to the show. Below is a listing of this years Seminars. BUT, you have to sign up early because the size of the Seminar is limited by the seating of the room being used. Once that limit has been met, no addition persons will be allowed in. Some Seminars are Entry until Full. The FREE Seminars run from Wed the 3rd thru Sat the 6th. Live demonstrations run from Tue Feb 2nd thru Sun Feb 7th. There are also several fee based classes presented by the GIA.

.

WEDNESDAY 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
Best Buys in Tucson
Options When You Buy Over the Counter
Visual Display of Color)
Internet Marketing to Drive Local Traffic
.
WEDNESDAY 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
Navigating Counter Space in Colored Gem Sales
Creating Demand for Cultured Pearls
Training Your Staff
Understanding and Using Color Trends
.
WEDNESDAY 6:30 – 7:30 P.M.
Yoga for Jewelers experience. 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
.
THURSDAY 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
Developments in the Chinese Pearl Industry
Colored Gemstone Wardrobe, Fashion Informed
Personal Jewelry Insurance: Service Beyond the Sale
Meet JVC’s All-Star Federal Regulators at a Jewelry Town Hall Meeting
.
THURSDAY 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
Books for Gem Lovers!
Use Social Media to Sell Design
The Andes to the Pantanal – The Story of Bolivia’s Gem Ametrine
Hand-Held Instruments
.
THURSDAY 6:30 – 7:30 P.M.
Yoga for Jewelers
.
FRIDAY 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
Intriguing Gem Stories
Considering CAD-CAM
Strategies for Driving Sales Performance
Capitalizing on Color
.
FRIDAY 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
Country-of-Origin and Gemological Updates
Why On-Premises Services Benefit Retailers
Gem ID – Parts I and II hands-on (3 hour extended session, ends at 4:00)
.
SATURDAY 9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
GIA Research Update
Improve Your Return on Effort with Color
Platinum Bridal – The “Bright Spot”
GIA Pearls Update hands-on (2 hour extended session, ends at 11:00)
.
SATURDAY 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
HPHT Enhanced Colorless, Pink and Yellow Diamonds
The Lost World of the New York Jewelry Industry: 1914-1941
Gem ID – Parts I and II hands-on (3 hour extended session, ends at 4:00)
.
GIA Class & Seminar Descriptions (Fee Based Seminars and Classes)
Gem Identification Lab
Monday – Friday Feb 1-5, 2010 - 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuition: $1,350 + $45 book fee = $1,395 Total
To enroll, call 800-421-7250 ext. 4001 or visit www.gia.edu
Pearls
Saturday - Feb 6, 2010 - 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Tuition: $145.00
To enroll, call 800-421-7250 ext. 4001 or visit www.gia.edu.
Gemstone Treatment Update
Saturday - Feb 6, 2010 - 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tuition: $145.00
To enroll, call 800-421-7250 ext. 4001 or visit www.gia.edu.
.
Full explanations and other courses that may be added can be seen at
http://www.agta.org/tradeshows/gft-seminars.html
.
.

Reclaiming Gold !

Most of us have seen recently an increase on TV of sales pitches for recycling one's old gold. Even some of the TV Gem and Jewelry channels have now gotten into the scene. With gold topping $1000.00 an oz for the second time in 2 years, people are scrambling to sell off their old gold. Recycling of computers and electronics for gold, platinum and silver as well as copper, has also hit an all time high.

.

Since the early Egyptians, jewelers have always recycled gold. It has a specific intrinsic value, so no one simply, unless by accident, tosses this precious metal into the trash bin. Those who wish to part with their old gold jewelry, coins, pieces of gold sell the items to local retailers or metal refiners, who weigh each item and pay cash for the percentage of pure gold present (note: pure gold is 24K, anything less, ie 9K, 10K, 14K, and 18K, is a percentage of pure gold mixed with other, less valuable metals mainly tin and copper for yellow gold and other minerals for various shades from rose, to white to green – these are all called alloy gold).
.
Generally speaking, most consumers are never aware of the origin of the gold in their jewelry. However, lately media attention has been focusing on many harmful effects of the unethical mining on nearby communities and the environment in totality, and the term “dirty” gold gets its moniker from such mining practices. Critics say that a single band of gold leaves behind more than twenty tons of mine waste. Some of this is simply rock, however, mixed with the rock are other toxic metals and the acids that are used to seperate out the gold. The personnel working at the mines are also exposed and the ground is also in danger as these liquids can leach into groundwater creating a dangerous health hazard to wild as well as human life. Concerned jewelry manufacturers and designers are examining their gold sources far more closely these days, and some have joined the “No Dirty Gold” campaign founded and dedicated to protecting communities and the environment from the destructive impacts of mineral development, in the U.S. and worldwide.
.
There are many who now as a marketing tool, market their use of recycled-gold as better for the environment. This permits us, as consumers, to be more responsible for and sensitive to the repercussions of our jewelry purchases. But the fact remains that the use of this recycled gold has relatively no impact on the issues surrounding the problems associated with today's gold mining techniques to find this most elusive and growing scarcer material/mineral/metal.

.

No matter what ones feelings are on the subject, recycling of precious metals is here to stay. Even non-government issued Gold Coins have entered the market for use in barter.
.
.

Las Vegas "Jewelry Show 2009"

Like the Tucson GemFair, the Las Vegas Jewelry Show is not one but a collection of shows taking place at the various area hotels and casinos between May 25th and Jun 2nd. Here is a list of the major ones.
.

AGTA Gem Fair and the JCK Show
Sands Expo & Convention Center/Venetian Hotel Ballroom
May 29 to Jun 2, 2009
Wholesale Credentials Required/pre-registration Suggested
.
Couture
Wynn Las Vegas Resort
May 28 to Jun 2, 2009
Wholesale Buyer Credentials Required
.
Gem & Lapidary Dealers Association
Mirage Casino Hotel

May 25 to May 28, 2009
Wholesale Buyers Credentials Required
.
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
Bally's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
May 28 to Jun 1, 2009
Wholesale Credentials Required
.
International Gem & Jewelry Show
Cashman Center
May 29 to 31, 2009
Open to Public
.
Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers Show
Bally's Las Vegas Hotel
May 29 to 31, 2009
Wholesale Buyers Only
.
The Bead Renaissance Show
Palace Station Hotel & Casino
May 20 to May 31, 2009
Open to Public
.
Additional informations can be found on-line at:
http://www.jewelryshowguide.com/event/guide/las_vegas
.
.

BACK FROM TUCSON 2009 !

A little less for ware and tare, tired feet, sore back and heavy suitcases. But back from the Tucson Gem Fair 2009. It was fun, could definitely move around a lot better this year with the smaller crowds. Several past shows did not come at all, vendors were moving about to find places in other shows, and by mid-week several of the Wholesale Only shows had opened up to the Public also. The lapidary and minerals area seemed to be doing a brisk business, but the faceted gemstone locations were for the most part customer bare. Those that were there were buying, but you did not see the families with children and the tourists wandering about, and the few there were did not seem to be buying at all. Lets take a quick tour of the some of the shows.

.

.

The Days In and Inn Suites set-ups (good buys at both)

.

Electric Park Show and the RV section beside it (best buys)

.

Holidome and the G&LW Shows. (Started out Wholesale Only)

.

The JOGS and GJX Shows. Two of the bigger. (a bit more expensive and JOGS opened from Wholesale Only to the Public after 3 days also)

.

And the grandaddy of all expensive shows, the AGTA.

.

.

And just couldn't pass throwing in a few street scenes from around Tucson.
.

.

Thanks to Ron, theimage1, for some of the pictures, especially the cars.

.

.

TUCSON GEM SHOW 2009 ! - Final Color

It seems appropriate to leave the Tucson Gem Show highlights with a presentation of COLOR. There are so many amazing items to be found, but one thing that stands out among everything is the color. Here are some final pictures showing rock/mineral samples with their amazing colors. Some of these are pictures from earlier posts, but the colors just beg for a repeat.

.

The greens of Maw SitSit -------The oranges of Creedite

.

.

The purples of Fluorite ------ The reds of Corundum

.

.

The yellows of Fluorite--------The blues of Cavansite

.

.

The blue-greens of Amazonite --- The multicolors of Ammonite

.

.

The bright colors of 'Sonora Sunrise' and the 'Peacock Stone'

.

.

Rhodocrosite Crystal on the host stone or Koroit from Australia

.
.

The fluorscents were outstanding as well as the colorful carpets
.

Thanks go to Cascade Scepters for some of the samples and pictures.

.

.

TUCSON GEM SHOW 2009 ! - Real Gemstones for Beaders

Nothing too special today. Providing some pictures for the "Beaders" among you so you can see some of what is very plentiful around and in the various shows. Some of the more unusual material will be shown later on as it is included in completed jewelry pieces as they are finished up over the next several months.

.

.

.....

Carnelian ---------------Chrysoprase

.

.

....

Labradorite---------------Snowflake Obsidian

.

.

....

Lapis-------------------------Mahogany Obsidian

.

.

....

Kyanite----------------------Wild Horse Magnesite

.

.

And the ever popular Baroque Tahitian Pearls

.

.