What you should know about the Tucson Gem Shows
- Updated
In a few days, thousands of people from across the world and across the street will converge on the Tucson Convention Center and 44 scattered locations for the massive Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase.
- Stories by Natalia V. Navarro Special to the Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Tucsonans can strike gold soon. And silver and rubies and a whole load of other gems and minerals, too.
Youâll find them at the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase. In a few days, thousands of people from across the world and across the street will converge on the Tucson Convention Center and 44 scattered locations for the massive event.
The so-called Worldâs Greatest Treasure Hunt â now in its 63rd year â will run for two weeks, Jan. 28 through Feb. 12.
When the event started in 1955, the Gem and Mineral Show only hosted about 15 vendors, according to Gloria Quigg of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society. Now, the Gem and Mineral Show is an anchor event within the showcase hosting 244 gem, mineral, fossil and jewelry dealers.
âThis two-week event that has grown up around us, at times, totally overshadows us,â Quigg said. âYou know, you just drive around town and it seems like every hotel and every parking lot has somebody selling something. That has grown up serendipitously and not by any prodding by us.â
The showcase is an umbrella term for all 45 individually promoted shows. This year, 80 percent of the shows are open to the public, including the original event, the Gem and Mineral Show, organized by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, said Jane Roxbury of Visit Tucson.
That show, Feb. 9-12 at the Tucson Convention Center, is a mix of retail shopping destination and a museum, said Quigg. In keeping with this yearâs theme, âMineral Treasures of the Midwest,â 40 display cases of minerals will line the rows of booths. The Smithsonian Institute and the Gemological Institute of America will also be bringing special exhibits.
Among the highlights:
- A 100-ounce gold crystal provided by Kristalle.
- The Alma Rose, a giant rhodochrosite crystal from the Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado.
- Skulls and skeletons of three baby dinosaur fossils from the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota and Montana.
âWe can bring exhibits of minerals and jewelry and gemstones from all over the world and put them in one building for four days creating a very unique, one-of-a-kind show,â Quigg said. âThe displays are always different and they are always great.â
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Experts speaking at the Arizona Daily Star's panel discussion Tuesday evening, January 31, offered some insights.
Don't stay away because you don't have credentials for the wholesale shows. About 80 percent of shows are open to the public. You can find out which ones aren't at tucsongemshow.org and search all of the shows for details at Visit Tucson's complete listings page.
If you want time with an expert, arrive at the show early when there are fewer people and the vendors are fresh.
How can you be sure you're getting a good deal?
- Know what you want before you go. You can do research online at mindat.org and other mineral sites. Find an expert by talking to someone at TGMS.org
- Take your time. Don't be in a hurry to buy. Look around and if you have the time, don't buy the first day. You may find that different vendors have some similar products for different prices.
- Haggling is allowed.
- The worth of an item often depends on how much you like it.
- The old adage applies here: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- On the last day of a particular show, you might get a better deal because the vendors don't want to take their wares back home. However, selection won't be as good as it was in the early days.
- Updated
The Arizona Daily Star hosted a panel discussion to help people navigate the overwhelming options for getting around the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase. This is the complete video that was streamed live at the time of the discussion on the evening of Jan. 31, 2017. Video by Johanna Eubank, Arizona Daily Star.
- Updated
At Tucsonâs newest Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase event, you can pick up a $2 crystal or spring for a 390-carat Burmese ruby crystal.
Tucsonâs New Mineral Show, or TNMS, will start its one-week show on Tuesday, Jan. 31. According to show organizers Marcus Origlieri and Matt Pemberton, itâs the best destination for both buyer and seller.
âItâs a show for vendors put on by vendorsâ Pemberton said. âWe weren't happy with any of the show fees and having to rent out hotel rooms. When you sell at other peopleâs shows it gets really expensive.â
TNMS is charging less than half of what their competitor show is charging to sell, allowing the vendors to pass those overhead savings onto the consumer, Pemberton said.
âIf you can afford a coffee, you can afford a rock at our show,â Origlieri said.
This new show is one of only three shows in the Tucson showcase that specialize exclusively in minerals. Everything at TNMS will be naturally faceted, meaning not cut with a machine.
âThese guys are real purists, you know,â Origlieri said. âThey only want to collect things that are natural. Itâs different than gems and jewelry because we like things in their natural state.â
The 390-carat Burmese ruby crystal featured on the front of TNMSâ flyer is a perfect example of what Origlieri means.
âI think it is beautiful as it is,â Origlieri said. âYou could cut it into some other shape but it is just not the same as mother nature made it.â
Origlieri first attended the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 1985, but he didnât think about starting his own show. That is, until early 2016 when he was driving down Grant Road and spotted the perfect venue: an abandoned movie theater.
Starting a new show to add to the more than 40 existing shows is not an easy task, according to Origlieri. It involves the coordination of a lot of different moving parts. Yes, the process can be hard as a rock.
âYou need to bring so many people together,â Origlieri said. âA show needs vendors so you need to already know some vendors. You need all kinds of help.â
Luckily, itâs not all work for Pemberton and Origlieri. They travelled to gem and mineral shows around the U.S, Germany, and Japan to spread the word about their show.
Origlieri will also be selling some of his own inventory at the show. Over the past 19 years of selling minerals, he has put wear and tear on his passport by searching for items to add to his own collection and to sell to others. Some highlights of his travels include Japan, China, Burma, Thailand and South Africa.
âEvery time I go on a trip Iâm looking for something but you never know what youâre going to find,â Origlieri said.
The TNMS is ideal for casual shoppers and resale experts alike, Origlieri said. Visitors can expect loose crystals and crystal clusters, crystallized copper nuggets from Michigan, intricate quartz and pyrite crystals and rare minerals.
As the final pieces of the showâs logistics come together, the pair are confident in the collection of minerals headed to their show from all over the world.
âI don't know that there is a better place in the world for minerals,â Pemberton said. âTucson is definitely the epicenter. Itâs the biggest show in the world."
If you go:
What: Tucsonâs New Mineral Show
Where: 1055 W. Grant Road
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Jan. 31 to Feb. 6
- Updated
At the 2006 Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, Marcus Origlieri met a dealer from China who was selling some striking red wulfenite crystals. Origlieri struck up a conversation with the man and decided he would like to import the crystals himself. The dealer offered to show him where to buy some and the two exchanged emails. Not long after, Origlieri was on a plane to China. Upon arrival, Origlieri realized the fatal flaw in his plan: he didnât fully remember what his new friend looked like.
âAre you here from America?â a man asked.
âYeah,â Origlieri confirmed as the man led him to his car.
Luckily, Origlieri took the risk on the right man because he ended up at a womanâs house packed with wulfenite. After days of haggling, they landed on a price and Origlieri returned victorious.
âI started to think about that I donât really want to just fly to some foreign country and not know who Iâm getting picked up by or where Iâm really going,â Origlieri said. âI might not do that again.â
- Updated
Gem Ride Shuttle runs within walking distance of 40 out of 45 shows. Download the âOfficial Tucson Gem Show Guideâ app for maps, showtimes, and transportation information. Find it at visittucson.org/gem-show-app
- Updated
1955
Year the first Gem and Mineral Show was held.
45
Number of shows this year.
3000
Schoolchildren attending on field trips.
120 million Â
Dollar impact on the economy.
50,000 Â
Number of visitors expected this year.
3 Â
Number of baby dinosaur skulls and skeletons on display.
- Updated
Gem Show Veterans:Â Experienced attendees should visit the Mineral Treasures of the Midwest display at the Tucson Convention Center to peruse 40 display cases packed with spectacular minerals.
Newbies:Â The Smithsonian Institution display at the TCC is a must-see.
Last-Minute Valentineâs Day Shoppers:Â Check out the anchor show at the Tucson Convention Center where jewelry can range from $25 to $450,000.
College students:Â Take the Gem Ride shuttle from Mercado San Agustin to the Interstate 10 frontage road. Then walk from the Globex Gem and Mineral Show all the way up to the African Art Village.
Everyone:Â Shop around! âDo a little shopping first," says gem and mineral buff Gloria Quigg. "Look around and then decide what you want. There is something there for everybody and when you find that one thing that is calling you, you wonât be able to put it back in the dealerâs hand, guaranteed. Sometimes if you buy the first thing that catches your eye, youâll go three or four booths down and youâll go âI wish I hadn't bought the first one.ââ
- Updated
The hands-on Junior Education exhibit at the TCC is a great spot for educational fun where children can participate in experiments and demonstrations set up by University of Arizona geosciences students.
2-6 p.m., Feb. 10
10 a.m.-6 p.m., Feb. 11
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Feb. 12
- Updated
As a third-generation Arizonan growing up in Tucson, I have always felt a special connection to the geology around me. I grew up hearing stories about my great-grandfather riding with gold in his saddlebags through the Bradshaw Mountains in the late 19th century. It was on a toll road between Prescott and Crown King in the Arizona territory that he met my great-grandmother.
Sometimes, my mother would take me to visit my uncle who manages a ranch in Kearny, north of Tucson. A train carrying ore from the nearby mine ran right across the road to the ranch. On visits, I used to scour the train tracks for bits and pieces that had fallen off the train on its way to who-knows-where. For a time, my Godmother even owned a rock and mineral shop in Phoenix. A highlight of my childhood is the crystallized sugar ârock candyâ with which she used to greet me.
The hustle and bustle of the Gem Show always brings me back to these childhood memories, but the excitement of seeing an amazing natural specimen never fades. Go forth, and explore with childlike wonder!
Natalia V. Navarro
- Updated
1Â
GIGM Show - Globex Gem & Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Days Inn, 222 S.
Freeway Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and Congress Street.
Rapa River Gem and Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 292 S. Freeway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 between Congress and Cushing streets.
2Â
Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 8.
âĸÂ Where:Â Riverpark Inn, 777 W. Cushing St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and Cushing Street.
3Â
GIGM Show - Quality Inn Gem and Mineral Show (formerly Clarion)
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â 750 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Farmington Road and Starr Pass Boulevard.
GIGM Show - Howard Johnson Gem and Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Howard Johnson Inn, 1010 S. Freeway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and 22nd Street.
African Art Village
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1134 S. Farmington Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Farmington Road and Starr Pass Boulevard, behind Waffle House.
Tucson Showplace LLC
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1530 S. Freeway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and Starr Pass Boulevard.
4Â
22nd Street Mineral, Fossil and Gem Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 26 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â Corner of 22nd Street and Interstate 10.
5Â
Sonoran Glass Art Show
âĸÂ When:Â Feb. 1 to Feb. 4.
âĸÂ Also, Flame Off, 7-11 p.m.
Feb. 3 ($20) Torchworking competition, beer, wine and food trucks, live bidding, artist MCs.
âĸÂ Where:Â 633 W. 18th St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and 18th Street.
6Â
JG& M Expo; Simpson Street
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 601 W. Simpson St.
âĸ Cross streets: East of Interstate 10 along frontage road and Simpson Street, near the Tucson Convention Center.
7Â
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Feb. 9-12
âĸÂ Where:Â Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Church Avenue and Congress Street.
8Â
Arizona Mineral and Fossil Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Hotel Tucson City Center InnSuites Conference Suite Resort, 475 N. Granada Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Granada Avenue and St. Mary's Road.
Fine Minerals International Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â 450 N. Granada Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Granada Avenue and St. Mary's Road (next to Hotel Tucson City Center).
Granada Avenue Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 350 N. Granada Ave. next to Hotel Tucson City Center.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Granada Avenue and St. Mary's Road.
âĸÂ Granada Gallery
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 338 N. Granada Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Granada Avenue and St. Mary's Road.
- Updated
1Â
Madagascar Minerals Gem Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 20 to Feb. 13.
âĸÂ Where:Â 201 W. Lester St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â 10th Avenue and Lester Street.
Oracle Road Just Mineral Event
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 29-31.
âĸÂ Where:Â Elks Lodge 385, 1800 N. Oracle Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Oracle Road and Lester Street.
2Â
Arizona Mineral and Fossil Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Mineral and Fossil Marketplace, 1333 N. Oracle
Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Oracle Road and Drachman Street.
Executive Inn Mineral Fossil and Gem Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 25 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â Fortuna Inn & Suites, 333 W. Drachman St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Main Avenue and Drachman Street.
Main Avenue Gem Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 29 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1202 N. Main Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Main Avenue and Drachman Street.
3Â
American Indian Exposition
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 29 to Feb. 13.
âĸÂ Where:Â Flamingo Quality Hotel Ballroom, 1300 N. Stone Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Stone Avenue and Drachman Street.
4Â
Mineral and Fossil Co-op, L.L.C.
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1635 N. Oracle Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Oracle Road and Elm Street.
5Â
Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Ramada Limited Tucson
West, 665 N. Freeway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10Â and St. Mary's Road.
6Â
Tucson's New Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1055 W. Grant Road, in the former Century 16 Theater.
- Updated
1Â
Miners Co-op Rock Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â Mike Jacob Sports Park; Interstate 10 eastbound frontage Road, 6901 N. Casa Grande Highway in Marana.
2Â
Westward Look Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Feb. 3-6.
âĸÂ Where:Â Westward Look Resort, 245 E. Ina Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â East of Oracle Road on Ina Road.
3Â
The Tucson Bead Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 30-Feb. 4.
âĸÂ Where:Â Radisson Suites Tucson, 6555 E. Speedway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Speedway near Wilmot Road.
4Â
To Bead True Blue
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 4.
âĸÂ Where:Â DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Alvernon Way and 22nd Street.
5Â
JCK Tucson
âĸÂ When:Â Feb. 1-4 .
âĸÂ Where:Â JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
6Â
Gem and Bead Mall
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 30 to Feb. 13.
âĸÂ Where:Â 2901 S. Fourth Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Fourth Avenue and Old Vail Road.
7Â
The Best Bead Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan 30-Feb. 4.
âĸÂ Where:Â Kino Veterans Memorial Community Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Ajo Way and Forgeus Avenue.
8Â
Kino Sports Complex Gem and Fossil Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 2500 E. Ajo Way.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Ajo Way and Forgeus Avenue.
9Â
A Bead Carnival
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 17 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â 3301 E. Pennsylvania St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Palo Verde Road and Michigan Street.
JG& M Expo Michigan Street
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 3300 E. Michigan St. next to Holidome.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Palo Verde Road and Michigan Street.
International Gem and Jewelry Show Tucson at the Clarion Palo Verde
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb.5.
âĸ Where: 4550 S. Palo Verde Road
âĸ Cross streets: Palo Verde Road and Michigan Street (register online as buyer or guest at intergem.com)
10Â
JOGS International Exhibits at Tucson Expo Center
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 8.
âĸÂ Where:Â Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E. Irvington Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Alvernon Way and Irvington Road.
KOA Gem & Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 29 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 5151 S. Country Club Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Country Club Road and Benson Highway.
âĸÂ NOTE:Â Information subject to change. Check with individual shows for specific information.
For a complete listing of shows go to www.visittucson.org/visit/events/featured-tucson/ tucson-gem-mineral-fossilshowcase
- Updated
The event, Jan. 28-Feb. 12, features 244 dealers scattered in 44 locations around town.
Maps and descriptions of the various shows at: tucsongemshow.org
- Updated
Where: Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Feb. 9-11; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 12.
Cost: $13.Â
- Stories by Natalia V. Navarro Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Tucsonans can strike gold soon. And silver and rubies and a whole load of other gems and minerals, too.
Youâll find them at the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase. In a few days, thousands of people from across the world and across the street will converge on the Tucson Convention Center and 44 scattered locations for the massive event.
The so-called Worldâs Greatest Treasure Hunt â now in its 63rd year â will run for two weeks, Jan. 28 through Feb. 12.
When the event started in 1955, the Gem and Mineral Show only hosted about 15 vendors, according to Gloria Quigg of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society. Now, the Gem and Mineral Show is an anchor event within the showcase hosting 244 gem, mineral, fossil and jewelry dealers.
âThis two-week event that has grown up around us, at times, totally overshadows us,â Quigg said. âYou know, you just drive around town and it seems like every hotel and every parking lot has somebody selling something. That has grown up serendipitously and not by any prodding by us.â
The showcase is an umbrella term for all 45 individually promoted shows. This year, 80 percent of the shows are open to the public, including the original event, the Gem and Mineral Show, organized by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, said Jane Roxbury of Visit Tucson.
That show, Feb. 9-12 at the Tucson Convention Center, is a mix of retail shopping destination and a museum, said Quigg. In keeping with this yearâs theme, âMineral Treasures of the Midwest,â 40 display cases of minerals will line the rows of booths. The Smithsonian Institute and the Gemological Institute of America will also be bringing special exhibits.
Among the highlights:
- A 100-ounce gold crystal provided by Kristalle.
- The Alma Rose, a giant rhodochrosite crystal from the Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado.
- Skulls and skeletons of three baby dinosaur fossils from the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota and Montana.
âWe can bring exhibits of minerals and jewelry and gemstones from all over the world and put them in one building for four days creating a very unique, one-of-a-kind show,â Quigg said. âThe displays are always different and they are always great.â
- Arizona Daily Star
Experts speaking at the Arizona Daily Star's panel discussion Tuesday evening, January 31, offered some insights.
Don't stay away because you don't have credentials for the wholesale shows. About 80 percent of shows are open to the public. You can find out which ones aren't at tucsongemshow.org and search all of the shows for details at Visit Tucson's complete listings page.
If you want time with an expert, arrive at the show early when there are fewer people and the vendors are fresh.
How can you be sure you're getting a good deal?
- Know what you want before you go. You can do research online at mindat.org and other mineral sites. Find an expert by talking to someone at TGMS.org
- Take your time. Don't be in a hurry to buy. Look around and if you have the time, don't buy the first day. You may find that different vendors have some similar products for different prices.
- Haggling is allowed.
- The worth of an item often depends on how much you like it.
- The old adage applies here: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- On the last day of a particular show, you might get a better deal because the vendors don't want to take their wares back home. However, selection won't be as good as it was in the early days.
The Arizona Daily Star hosted a panel discussion to help people navigate the overwhelming options for getting around the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase. This is the complete video that was streamed live at the time of the discussion on the evening of Jan. 31, 2017. Video by Johanna Eubank, Arizona Daily Star.
At Tucsonâs newest Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase event, you can pick up a $2 crystal or spring for a 390-carat Burmese ruby crystal.
Tucsonâs New Mineral Show, or TNMS, will start its one-week show on Tuesday, Jan. 31. According to show organizers Marcus Origlieri and Matt Pemberton, itâs the best destination for both buyer and seller.
âItâs a show for vendors put on by vendorsâ Pemberton said. âWe weren't happy with any of the show fees and having to rent out hotel rooms. When you sell at other peopleâs shows it gets really expensive.â
TNMS is charging less than half of what their competitor show is charging to sell, allowing the vendors to pass those overhead savings onto the consumer, Pemberton said.
âIf you can afford a coffee, you can afford a rock at our show,â Origlieri said.
This new show is one of only three shows in the Tucson showcase that specialize exclusively in minerals. Everything at TNMS will be naturally faceted, meaning not cut with a machine.
âThese guys are real purists, you know,â Origlieri said. âThey only want to collect things that are natural. Itâs different than gems and jewelry because we like things in their natural state.â
The 390-carat Burmese ruby crystal featured on the front of TNMSâ flyer is a perfect example of what Origlieri means.
âI think it is beautiful as it is,â Origlieri said. âYou could cut it into some other shape but it is just not the same as mother nature made it.â
Origlieri first attended the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 1985, but he didnât think about starting his own show. That is, until early 2016 when he was driving down Grant Road and spotted the perfect venue: an abandoned movie theater.
Starting a new show to add to the more than 40 existing shows is not an easy task, according to Origlieri. It involves the coordination of a lot of different moving parts. Yes, the process can be hard as a rock.
âYou need to bring so many people together,â Origlieri said. âA show needs vendors so you need to already know some vendors. You need all kinds of help.â
Luckily, itâs not all work for Pemberton and Origlieri. They travelled to gem and mineral shows around the U.S, Germany, and Japan to spread the word about their show.
Origlieri will also be selling some of his own inventory at the show. Over the past 19 years of selling minerals, he has put wear and tear on his passport by searching for items to add to his own collection and to sell to others. Some highlights of his travels include Japan, China, Burma, Thailand and South Africa.
âEvery time I go on a trip Iâm looking for something but you never know what youâre going to find,â Origlieri said.
The TNMS is ideal for casual shoppers and resale experts alike, Origlieri said. Visitors can expect loose crystals and crystal clusters, crystallized copper nuggets from Michigan, intricate quartz and pyrite crystals and rare minerals.
As the final pieces of the showâs logistics come together, the pair are confident in the collection of minerals headed to their show from all over the world.
âI don't know that there is a better place in the world for minerals,â Pemberton said. âTucson is definitely the epicenter. Itâs the biggest show in the world."
If you go:
What: Tucsonâs New Mineral Show
Where: 1055 W. Grant Road
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Jan. 31 to Feb. 6
At the 2006 Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, Marcus Origlieri met a dealer from China who was selling some striking red wulfenite crystals. Origlieri struck up a conversation with the man and decided he would like to import the crystals himself. The dealer offered to show him where to buy some and the two exchanged emails. Not long after, Origlieri was on a plane to China. Upon arrival, Origlieri realized the fatal flaw in his plan: he didnât fully remember what his new friend looked like.
âAre you here from America?â a man asked.
âYeah,â Origlieri confirmed as the man led him to his car.
Luckily, Origlieri took the risk on the right man because he ended up at a womanâs house packed with wulfenite. After days of haggling, they landed on a price and Origlieri returned victorious.
âI started to think about that I donât really want to just fly to some foreign country and not know who Iâm getting picked up by or where Iâm really going,â Origlieri said. âI might not do that again.â
Gem Ride Shuttle runs within walking distance of 40 out of 45 shows. Download the âOfficial Tucson Gem Show Guideâ app for maps, showtimes, and transportation information. Find it at visittucson.org/gem-show-app
1955
Year the first Gem and Mineral Show was held.
45
Number of shows this year.
3000
Schoolchildren attending on field trips.
120 million Â
Dollar impact on the economy.
50,000 Â
Number of visitors expected this year.
3 Â
Number of baby dinosaur skulls and skeletons on display.
Gem Show Veterans:Â Experienced attendees should visit the Mineral Treasures of the Midwest display at the Tucson Convention Center to peruse 40 display cases packed with spectacular minerals.
Newbies:Â The Smithsonian Institution display at the TCC is a must-see.
Last-Minute Valentineâs Day Shoppers:Â Check out the anchor show at the Tucson Convention Center where jewelry can range from $25 to $450,000.
College students:Â Take the Gem Ride shuttle from Mercado San Agustin to the Interstate 10 frontage road. Then walk from the Globex Gem and Mineral Show all the way up to the African Art Village.
Everyone:Â Shop around! âDo a little shopping first," says gem and mineral buff Gloria Quigg. "Look around and then decide what you want. There is something there for everybody and when you find that one thing that is calling you, you wonât be able to put it back in the dealerâs hand, guaranteed. Sometimes if you buy the first thing that catches your eye, youâll go three or four booths down and youâll go âI wish I hadn't bought the first one.ââ
The hands-on Junior Education exhibit at the TCC is a great spot for educational fun where children can participate in experiments and demonstrations set up by University of Arizona geosciences students.
2-6 p.m., Feb. 10
10 a.m.-6 p.m., Feb. 11
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Feb. 12
As a third-generation Arizonan growing up in Tucson, I have always felt a special connection to the geology around me. I grew up hearing stories about my great-grandfather riding with gold in his saddlebags through the Bradshaw Mountains in the late 19th century. It was on a toll road between Prescott and Crown King in the Arizona territory that he met my great-grandmother.
Sometimes, my mother would take me to visit my uncle who manages a ranch in Kearny, north of Tucson. A train carrying ore from the nearby mine ran right across the road to the ranch. On visits, I used to scour the train tracks for bits and pieces that had fallen off the train on its way to who-knows-where. For a time, my Godmother even owned a rock and mineral shop in Phoenix. A highlight of my childhood is the crystallized sugar ârock candyâ with which she used to greet me.
The hustle and bustle of the Gem Show always brings me back to these childhood memories, but the excitement of seeing an amazing natural specimen never fades. Go forth, and explore with childlike wonder!
Natalia V. Navarro
1Â
GIGM Show - Globex Gem & Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Days Inn, 222 S.
Freeway Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and Congress Street.
Rapa River Gem and Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 292 S. Freeway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 between Congress and Cushing streets.
2Â
Pueblo Gem & Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 8.
âĸÂ Where:Â Riverpark Inn, 777 W. Cushing St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and Cushing Street.
3Â
GIGM Show - Quality Inn Gem and Mineral Show (formerly Clarion)
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â 750 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Farmington Road and Starr Pass Boulevard.
GIGM Show - Howard Johnson Gem and Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Howard Johnson Inn, 1010 S. Freeway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and 22nd Street.
African Art Village
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1134 S. Farmington Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Farmington Road and Starr Pass Boulevard, behind Waffle House.
Tucson Showplace LLC
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1530 S. Freeway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and Starr Pass Boulevard.
4Â
22nd Street Mineral, Fossil and Gem Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 26 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â Corner of 22nd Street and Interstate 10.
5Â
Sonoran Glass Art Show
âĸÂ When:Â Feb. 1 to Feb. 4.
âĸÂ Also, Flame Off, 7-11 p.m.
Feb. 3 ($20) Torchworking competition, beer, wine and food trucks, live bidding, artist MCs.
âĸÂ Where:Â 633 W. 18th St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10 and 18th Street.
6Â
JG& M Expo; Simpson Street
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 601 W. Simpson St.
âĸ Cross streets: East of Interstate 10 along frontage road and Simpson Street, near the Tucson Convention Center.
7Â
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Feb. 9-12
âĸÂ Where:Â Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Church Avenue and Congress Street.
8Â
Arizona Mineral and Fossil Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Hotel Tucson City Center InnSuites Conference Suite Resort, 475 N. Granada Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Granada Avenue and St. Mary's Road.
Fine Minerals International Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â 450 N. Granada Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Granada Avenue and St. Mary's Road (next to Hotel Tucson City Center).
Granada Avenue Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 350 N. Granada Ave. next to Hotel Tucson City Center.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Granada Avenue and St. Mary's Road.
âĸÂ Granada Gallery
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 338 N. Granada Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Granada Avenue and St. Mary's Road.
1Â
Madagascar Minerals Gem Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 20 to Feb. 13.
âĸÂ Where:Â 201 W. Lester St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â 10th Avenue and Lester Street.
Oracle Road Just Mineral Event
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 29-31.
âĸÂ Where:Â Elks Lodge 385, 1800 N. Oracle Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Oracle Road and Lester Street.
2Â
Arizona Mineral and Fossil Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Mineral and Fossil Marketplace, 1333 N. Oracle
Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Oracle Road and Drachman Street.
Executive Inn Mineral Fossil and Gem Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 25 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â Fortuna Inn & Suites, 333 W. Drachman St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Main Avenue and Drachman Street.
Main Avenue Gem Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 29 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1202 N. Main Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Main Avenue and Drachman Street.
3Â
American Indian Exposition
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 29 to Feb. 13.
âĸÂ Where:Â Flamingo Quality Hotel Ballroom, 1300 N. Stone Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Stone Avenue and Drachman Street.
4Â
Mineral and Fossil Co-op, L.L.C.
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1635 N. Oracle Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Oracle Road and Elm Street.
5Â
Arizona Mineral & Fossil Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â Ramada Limited Tucson
West, 665 N. Freeway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Interstate 10Â and St. Mary's Road.
6Â
Tucson's New Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
âĸÂ Where:Â 1055 W. Grant Road, in the former Century 16 Theater.
1Â
Miners Co-op Rock Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â Mike Jacob Sports Park; Interstate 10 eastbound frontage Road, 6901 N. Casa Grande Highway in Marana.
2Â
Westward Look Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Feb. 3-6.
âĸÂ Where:Â Westward Look Resort, 245 E. Ina Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â East of Oracle Road on Ina Road.
3Â
The Tucson Bead Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 30-Feb. 4.
âĸÂ Where:Â Radisson Suites Tucson, 6555 E. Speedway.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Speedway near Wilmot Road.
4Â
To Bead True Blue
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 4.
âĸÂ Where:Â DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Alvernon Way and 22nd Street.
5Â
JCK Tucson
âĸÂ When:Â Feb. 1-4 .
âĸÂ Where:Â JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
6Â
Gem and Bead Mall
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 30 to Feb. 13.
âĸÂ Where:Â 2901 S. Fourth Ave.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Fourth Avenue and Old Vail Road.
7Â
The Best Bead Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan 30-Feb. 4.
âĸÂ Where:Â Kino Veterans Memorial Community Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Ajo Way and Forgeus Avenue.
8Â
Kino Sports Complex Gem and Fossil Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 27 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 2500 E. Ajo Way.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Ajo Way and Forgeus Avenue.
9Â
A Bead Carnival
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 17 to Feb. 11.
âĸÂ Where:Â 3301 E. Pennsylvania St.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Palo Verde Road and Michigan Street.
JG& M Expo Michigan Street
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 3300 E. Michigan St. next to Holidome.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Palo Verde Road and Michigan Street.
International Gem and Jewelry Show Tucson at the Clarion Palo Verde
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb.5.
âĸ Where: 4550 S. Palo Verde Road
âĸ Cross streets: Palo Verde Road and Michigan Street (register online as buyer or guest at intergem.com)
10Â
JOGS International Exhibits at Tucson Expo Center
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 28 to Feb. 8.
âĸÂ Where:Â Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E. Irvington Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Alvernon Way and Irvington Road.
KOA Gem & Mineral Show
âĸÂ When:Â Jan. 29 to Feb. 12.
âĸÂ Where:Â 5151 S. Country Club Road.
âĸÂ Cross streets:Â Country Club Road and Benson Highway.
âĸÂ NOTE:Â Information subject to change. Check with individual shows for specific information.
For a complete listing of shows go to www.visittucson.org/visit/events/featured-tucson/ tucson-gem-mineral-fossilshowcase
The event, Jan. 28-Feb. 12, features 244 dealers scattered in 44 locations around town.
Maps and descriptions of the various shows at: tucsongemshow.org
As featured on
The Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase is well underway this weekend with tents and vendors popping up all over town.
More information
- Photos: Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase
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- Photos: Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase
- 5 spots to take out-of-towners who want to taste Tucson's best Mexican food
- Six restaurants failed Pima County health inspections in December
- 19 Tucson restaurants that served their last meal in 2016
- National news site raves about Tucson's Gem and Jam Festival
- Trial date set for former Arizona Wildcats running back Orlando Bradford
- Photos: Animals - past, present, imaginary - at the Gem Show
- Seven women, 45 minutes and less than $150 at the Gem Show
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