COLORADO MINERAL AND FOSSIL SHOW: DENVER

The annual Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show (Spring 2018) opened at the Denver Crowne Plaza DIA on Friday April 13 and closed a couple of days later.  I was able to make the opening day and the opening hour and perused all of the booths (~60) picking up a few minerals within my price range and enjoying some of the fantastic specimens. 

I did manage to see a couple of CSMS leaders who had picked up some nice minerals.  President Sharon had purchased a flat, for CSMS, of well-formed and hoppered bismuth crystals grown in a lab, or maybe even a home kitchen (bismuth melts at ~ 271 F).  Mr. Rockhounding the Rockies had a nice slab of Vera Cruz (Mexico) amethyst. 

There is not much else to say about a rock show without exhibits (except CSM) and display cases.  So, the following photos represent a few of the booths and specimens.  

The Spring Show previously was held in a traditional motel where vendors displayed their wares in individual rooms.  All vendors now have booths in a very large ballroom.  Although I could not get past "security" a nice space was reserved for "Wholesale Only."

What would a rock and mineral show be without beads?

Or without amethyst crystals and cathedrals for display?

Or for healing?  

Evidently Dr. Marcus K. Johnson had a very nice mineral collection, but it is now up for sale.  The tourmaline (below), with minor quartz and lepidolite, can be seen near the upper left corner in the case.

Stones of Worth had this nice fluorite from China.

The Sunnywood Collection had some nice amethyst from Vera Cruz.  Without a displayed price tag I am certain it was out of my budget.

I thought this was a nifty idea.  terra persona is using thin section photos to imprint on clothing, bags, etc.  This wins my first place prize for most innovative display and product.

These hoppered halite crystals from Searles Lake, California, may win my first place price for nicest specimen.  Also from Stones of Worth.

John Garsow and his minerals came all the way from California.

This beauty was not for sale but part of the Colorado School of Mines collection.

What a gorgeous carved and polished brecciated piece of jasper  from "Africa."  Displayed by Michigan Rocks and Minerals.

A polished copper nugget from the UP of Michigan courtesy of Michigan Rocks and Minerals.

Of course I ogled at the gold.

Like to facet?  See New Era Gems.

Do you like dead jasper?  Take your pick.

Investments from Earth had a nice showcase of minerals. including one of my favorite gemstones--kunzite a variety of spodumene.  Unfortunately I can never photograph the true pick color of the mineral, especially thru a glass covering.  You could take this specimen home for $35,900!

The Show also advertised fossils and a few were present including Green River Formation fish from Wyoming and mosasaur teeth from Morocco.  
  
Don’t forget the  annual shows of the: 1) Colorado Springs Mineralogical  Society (www.csms1936.com) on June 1-3; and 2) the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies (www.rmfms.org) meeting and show in Rapid City, South Dakota, on July 20-22.