Welcome to the 2002 Sainte-Marie aux Mines Show!
 
 

June 25th Report
June 26th Report
June 27th Report
June 28th Report
June 29th & 30th
Trinity Mineral Co
Rare Minerals
Mineral Books
Tsumeb
Mineral Shows.com

All specimens are from this show are now Sold though not necessarily marked as such

June 29th & 30th

I decided to combine these last two days together since there was not much of anything left to see that would be new in terms of minerals.  Instead I thought I would focus a bit more on the ambiance of the show.    This show is mostly outdoors with the downtown section blocked off and open only to pedestrian traffic.  The map below is a reproduction from the show guide.
 
 

CE Edler Park
CJ  Judo building exterior
CL  School Playground
CT  Theatre exterior
CV  Lehmann Park 
" Passion Area "
PP  Carpark " Perception "
PR  Restaurant Carpark
RK  Rue Kroeber (Kroeber Street)
RN  Rue Normalu (Normalu Street)
RO  Rue Osmont (Osmont Street)
RP  Park Street

Tent 1  : Gems, Jewels, Cut Stones
Tent 2  : Fossil Section
Tent 3  : International Mineralogy
Tent 4  : Passion Section
Tent 5  : Jewelry and Creations
Gymnasium  : Gem Section

School (School Courtyard - Crystals and health workshops - "Amateur" section - Customs Office)

Swimming pool (Mini Meetings - Change)

Theatre (Prestigious Stones section - Administration, Information - Crystals and health conferences) 

The following are snap shots and mpgs of the show  to help give one a sense of being here.
 
 


Here's Righi Umberto who saw me taking pictures and was
waiting for that moment when I trained the camera his way.

Here's a candid photo of French dealer Francois Lietard (with
the glasses on) with a customer.

 

This is the floor of the Theater.  Thankfully the weather cooled
considerably in the last 3 days as it can get quite warm in here
with all of the lights on.  Click here to see a pan of the 
Theater floor from this perspective.

Here's British dealer Ian Bruce (left) of Crystal Classics and
fellow Californian Wayne Leicht of Kristalle in a candid 
discussion.

 

This is the Fossil & Mineral tent.   Most of the fossils at the 
show are found here.  Also inside were a half dozen or so
dealers with mineral specimens - mostly Chinese and Peruvian
material

This fellow from the Italian mineral company called Minersul
was decked out in a large Mexican sombrero keeping the
crowd in stitches with his "snake oil" sales pitches. 
(Where does this poetry of mine come from?)

 

When there are this many people in one place the temptation 
for the criminal element is enhanced.  The conspicuous 
presence of uniformed police does a lot to dissuade the pick
pocket or purse snatcher. 

 

Here are two shots of the Theater from the outside.  The steps
in the picture on the left is the place where most people set to 
rest or meet up with other folks.  This short mpg is a stationary
view of the steps

 

These three fellows were seen walking about the show in the 
traditional garb of a miner. 

Here are two musicians playing music that is unmistakably 
French.  Click here to see and hear them play in a short mpg
file.

 

I have prepared a short mpg file panning from left to right in the
Lycee Court.

Here are two shots of the Lycee Court from different 
perspectives.  The red tent is the sandwich and beverage tent 
for this part of the show.  There are 6 or 7 similar stations all 
over the show area. 

 

This photo was taken about where the guy in the blue striped 
shirt is in the photo on the right looking into the Lycee Court 
area. 

This shot was taken from the top of the steps of the Theater
looking in the direction of the Lycee Court.

 

This photo was taken from the center looking down Rue 
Osmont. 

This one was taken from middle of Rue Osmont looking back
towards the center of the show area. 

 

This photo was taken from the center looking down Rue 
Kroeber.  Click here to take a stroll with me along Rue 
Kroeber.

This is a view from the center looking up Rue vers la Parc. 

 

This is the area marked "PP" on the show are map at the top
of this page.  It is where Danny Trinchillo's wholesale tent was
set up as well as Mikon Minerals tent.

This is a view from opposite direction of the photo on the left.

 

This is Theater Court area.  Alain Martaud was set up in this 
part of the show area. 

This is a view inside the Theater hall between the lobby and the
main floor area.  No waste of space inside this building!

The inside of the Theater from four different perspectives.



I have prepared an mpg file from this perspective of the Theater.

 

Here is my rod, my stick, my wheels, my ride.  This buggy and
I have been all over eastern France and a chunk of Germany 
together. Click any of the short mpg files below to cruise 
through the narrow streets of Sainte-Marie!
cruise un
cruise deux
cruise trois

This is a view looking south along the road on 
the east side of the show area.

 
 
View of the countryside just south of Lapoutroie.
 

 

Finally, the end.   This was a good show over all.  I was able to find some good specimens at reasonable prices and look forward to my next trip Sainte-Marie.  This year as in the previous years I stayed at the Hotel du Faude located in the small town of Lapoutroie.   Unfortunately, Colleen was not with me for this trip but she and I will be back here again in 2003.  This year it was pleasant surprise for me to be joined by several friends at the hotel including Jesse Fisher and his wife Joan from San Francisco, Kiyoshi and Eriko Kiikuni from Japan, Mark and Christian Wrigley from England and Laurent and Christine Leisi from Switzerland.  For a week the Hotel du Faude became a small international mineral community tucked away in the Voges region of France.   We were all able to enjoy a couple of very fine meals together in the excellent restaurant here at the hotel.

There was a lot of new material here including new Pentagonites from India, deep blue Fluorite from Afghanistan, demantoid from Afghanistan, new fluorite from China, new specimens of Bronchantite and Cuprosklodowskite from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a new find of spessartine from Nigeria, a new find of Indicolite and Topaz from Pakistan, fine Bisthmuthenites from Bolivia, Huebnerites from Peru, a new find of blue Fluorite from Bermocin, Siberia, Russia, a number of fine Chinese Kermesites, Amethyst from a new find in South Africa, new specimens of fluorite from France and many fine specimens from known localities from around the globe - especially the well know species from Morocco such as Vanadinite, Erythrite and Anglesite.  Also the quantity and quality of Chinese material continues to improve.  It is sort of overwhelming to imagine just how much great material there is yet to surface from that country and Morocco!

The show was very well attended with more people here than ever. I saw well over 50 familiar faces from the United States where just three years ago there were less than a dozen.   While here I saw the dollars in my pocket shrink in value almost 8% thanks to the "fine" management skills of World Com.  Regardless it was a very pleasant experience here and the minerals have never been collectively better.

Finally, I have to thank Michel Schwab who is the show organizer here.  He graciously allotted a few precious minutes of his time to visit with me and convey his welcome.  Also Claude Pellison who is the webmaster for the official Sainte-Marie pages generously provided a link from the Minerapole.com site to my humble efforts.
 

 

Follow the links below to catch up on the latest from Sainte-Marie 2002


June 25th Report
June 26th Report
June 27th Report
June 28th Report
June 29th & 30th
Trinity Mineral Co
Rare Minerals
Mineral Books
Tsumeb
Mineral Shows.com

 
The 2000 Sainte-Marie aux Mines Show Report

The 2001 Sainte-Marie aux Mines Show Report

The Official Sainte-Marie aux Mines Show Website