KOFA  National Wildlife Refuge - February 2010 - photo by John Veevaert
John Veevaert    PO BOX 2182   Weaverville, California  96093  USA  (888) 689-8402



 

Return to the 2012 Tucson Show Homepage  

Show Reports
Report 1    Report 2    Report 3    Report 4    Report 5     Report 6

 
 
 

Tucson 2012 Report 1

I have been here in Tucson since the 18th of January.  The drive down took three days going from Weaverville to Davis, to Reno to Mojave to San Diego to El Centro and finally to Tucson.  1400 miles in all.  As with recent years first reports I will share some of the scenery along the way...



Once I got on I-5 I headed south towards Davis, California.  This is just south of Red Bluff in the Central valley and flat as a billiard table.
 

A bit further south on I-5 near Williams and it is still flat as billiard table.  I might as well be in Kansas .
 

First stop is Steve Perry's home (large redwood trees).  We have a lot of new benitoite mine specimens
 to offer during the Tucson Show and wanted to do a little prework on some of them.

 


Now on 1-80 and a shot of the American River with Sacramento in the back ground.


Gaining some elevation finally east of Auburn on I-80.
 

Near the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mts.  The Donner party would have been able to cross the mountains
 in t-shirts this year. ZERO snow as of January 15. This has since changed in the last few days.

 


Entering Reno.  That is Circus circus near the center of the somewhat blurry image.
 
 

The next day I drove south on 395.  A few days later this exact area was ablaze due to some dimwit dumping stove ashes outside in 80 mph winds in Washoe City...
 
 

Just about to drop into Carson City - the Nevada state capital.
 

Later in the afternoon near Lone Pine and the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mts.  13,000 feet plus in this area.
 
 

On Hwy 14 headed to visit my friend in Chino Hills and 20 mph traffic reminds me why I live 600 miles to the north...
 
 

Later that day on I-15 I drive past the off ramp for Pala. I am glad I had my fair
share of days at mines when it was possible to back in the 1970s. 
 
 

Another common site in northern San Diego county are the numerous avocado groves.
 
 

Finally the junction of I-15 and I-8.  Next stop tonight is El Centro.
 
 

On I-8 the mountains east of San Diego are visible.
 
 

Mexico is just a few miles south of I-8 and it is rather scenic the majority of the way.
 
 

The largest pile of sand in North America are the Glamis Sand Dunes stretching about 80+ miles.
 
 

Finally in Arizona Gila zips by quickly at 75 mph.
 
 

East of Gila Bend on I-8 - the gorgeous Sonoran Desert scenery seemingly extends forever...
 

Just entering Tucson after 3 days in a car.... Man that is some road ugly!
 

 
After getting set up in my rental home I finally made the annual trek to see Marshall Sussman.  He has lots of interesting things as usual but what really rang my bell were some of the best effenbergerite specimens I have EVER seen.  This mineral has only been found from the Wessels mine and has historically been represented in collections as small smears and otherwise unremarkable crystals.  He had three flats of this new find and they are the best that I have ever seen. Exceedingly rich and well crystallized even though all of the crystals are micros.  I scoured what he had and pulled out the best 7 that I saw.  Evidently Bill Pinch was there the day before and he was responsible for the holes I saw in the flats.

 


A close up of one of the new effenbergerite specimens showing the crystals. 

 
Ok, this is the first taste of what's new here in Tucson.  Much more to come over the next couple weeks. 


Past Shows & Reports
PLEASE NOTE: The minerals that were offered on these pages are all sold
1999
Munich Show
2000
Sainte Marie Show
Munich Show
2001
Sainte Marie Show
Munich Show
2002
Tucson Show
Sainte Marie Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2003
Tucson Show
Sainte Marie Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2004
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2005
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2006
Tucson Show
Bologna Show
Sainte Marie Show
East Coast Show
Munich Show
2007
Tucson Show
Dallas Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2008
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show
2009
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show

2010
Tucson Show
San Francisco Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show

Munich Show

2011
Tucson Show
San Francisco Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show
Munich Show

2012
Tucson Show
West Coast Show
East Coast Show
Denver Show 
Munich Show

2013
Tucson Show
Sainte Marie Show
Crystal Days (Poland)
Munich Show  

 

 
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