QUARTZSITE - A major prelude to Tucson 2010 !

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

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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

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

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When its clear it is beautiful, but then the wind and sand rolls in.
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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
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and a few odd things also.

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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.

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Pictures thanks to Ron, theimage1 and Quartzite.com.

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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.

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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).
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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.
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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.

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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.
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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.

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

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

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

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

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And the ever popular Baroque Tahitian Pearls

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TUCSON GEM SHOW 2009 ! - Material for Jewelry

The following material found during Gem Fair 2009 should make into quite nice jewelry. Most of the material shown in these pictures would be for Pendants, but matching smaller pieces cut as chips and beads would make into necklaces and earrings.

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Pietersite -------- Lodolite ------------ Zebra Jasper

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Todolite --------Indian Paint Rock -------Psilomelane

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Green Spiderweb Turquoise ----- Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

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Orbicular Rhyolite

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A couple local favorites from the area.

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Chalcopyrite (Peacock Stone) ------------------ Opalite

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TUCSON GEM SHOW 2009 ! - The Fine Pieces

Today we look at some of the more pricer items that can be found a plenty around Tucson. Actually one needs to look no further than the showfloor at the AGTA Show at the Tucson Convention Center. Pictures are off-limits on the floor but an overall shot from the viewing balacony is possible and you are looking at millions of dollars in gems and finished jewelry.

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You can find beautiful pieces from artist like King

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Australian Black Opal jewelry always draws a crowd.

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And since the ban on the importation of the Burma Ruby, the king of the show has become the Red Spessarite Garnet, like this piece from Andre'.

Only 16ct mounted in a 22k gold pendant setting.

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And least we not forget the bazaar, a Triebold Paleontology Turtle to hang in ones den.

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If you get bored looking at expensive items inside, you can go outside and spend you time looking at expensive items inside the GJX Show Tent.

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TUCSON GEM FAIR 2009 ! - Another Day

Every corner you turn you find something new, something bigger and of course something pricer. I am convinced you can find anything you might be looking for somewhere in Tucson during this time period.

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There are some beautiful hand made carpets and baskets.

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Silver and Turquoise inlay statues really stand out as one walks bye.

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Take your pick of the extreme and interesting. Carved crystal skulls in all sizes and price ranges up to $25,000.

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TUCSON GEM FAIR 2009 ! - More Rocks & Minerals

Depending on which show you visit, you can find individually identified items, trays of all the same item, or trays and tables of mixed items.

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Pegmatite ------ Cavansite ------- Pyromorphite

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Whole table of Rhodocrosite

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Trays of stones and minerals

If you look close enough you can find almost anything you want, from rough to polished to finished and mounted. Impossible to decide which one wants, but most of the time the pocketbook does the dictating.

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