READY TO BUY; READY TO SELL: DENVER 2023

I had the opportunity to attend one day, a very loooong day, of the Spring Denver show at the Crown Plaza DIA. My initial impressions were: 1) it was a very large show and I counted over 100 dealers; 2) prices continue to move upwards, just as groceries and my home utility bill; 3)  the Friday show attracted a large crowd. 

I came home with only a few specimens and will post them in the near future. However, I did want to throw out a few photos of the show.

Ready to buy at the opening bell!!!!

Ready to sell, let them in!!!!

Boxes of attractive shattuckite, a copper silicate [Cu₅(Si₂)₆)₂(OH)₂ ] from Democratic Republic of Congo (boxes are labeled Zaire). Most are in the $200 range.

Not many minerals to excite here, just playing tunes on the metal bowls. Not for me as I flunked finger cymbals in the grade school rhythm band.

Hematite included quartz from Morocco, Dan & Barb Stephens. 

$100.

Halite from Searls Lake, CA.  Dan & Barb Stephens. 

$125.

Dennis Beals of Colorado (Denver area)  had this beautiful specimen of calcite from Santa Eulalia, Mexico. Dennis is always good for a wild tale or two about his southern collecting trips. 

Binghamite  is a lapidary term referring to a rock consisting of fibrous amphiboles intergrown with quartz. The amphiboles are mostly altered to a complex mix of quartz, siderite, and various iron and manganese oxides such as hematite and goethite. Rough material comes from the iron range mines in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Info from MinDat.

Phil from Persson Rare Minerals (Denver area) sorting out his display case. Nice specimens.

Do you like earrings? I saw several displays such as these faceted  minerals (maybe some synthetics?)

 

Nice displays of fossils. Read an interesting article about selling vertebrate fossils collected in China at https://www.fossilhunters.xyz/ (updated April 15th, 2023).

Boxes and boxes of pretty minerals flooded the floor.

Maybe the most reasonable price all day on faceted stones.

Tourmaline Group (mostly elbaite) specimens for sale at many booths.

I always like polished labradorite with the iridescent effects. Usually out of my price range!

As usual, the "guard" at the gate would not let me sweet talk my way into the Wholesale Section of the Show where Dan's Used Rocks was hiding.

Colorado Springs dealers Joe Dorris (Pinnacle 5 Minerals) and Leonard Himes never miss a show. My photo of Austin and Kevin from the Springs turned into a big blur. Sorry.

And if all those faceted gems and semi-gems did not get you excited, there were always magic minerals to peruse. External of the show one might be able to buy magic weed and perhaps scrounge up some magic shrooms--after all this is Colorado, a pretty magic place to live. Travelers, just remember to clean out your luggage before flying home 😁😁😁