Tucson Gem and Mineral Show – Guide for First Time Visitors, Part 1

Tucson Gem Show

The American Geode team just returned from 4 days at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, and here are some tips, hints, and tricks to make your visit to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show FUN, EFFICIENT, and FANTASTIC!

This is Part 1 of a series about how to enjoy the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, and related gem and mineral shows:

1. Fly in and out of Phoenix. The airfares in and out of Phoenix are much more affordable than flying to Tucson.
2. A car is a requirement, as the Tucson shows are spread out over town. Albeit all the pockets where shows are set up are about 15 minutes apart from one another, a car is needed for the chance you buy a large mineral or work of art, or a heavy quantity of stones, gems, or minerals.
3. The drive from Phoenix to Tucson is about two hours.
4. We stayed at one of the affordable hotels near the Phoenix Airport. The benefit was that the price was affordable. The negative is that there are no shows at the airport hotels, and there are no bars or restaurants, or anything else to do near the airport. So if you stay near the airport for the price point, consider that you will be driving or taking Uber to eat out, or to have some drinks in the evening.
5. The shows are up and down I-10, right where I-10 East turns into I-10 West. At the very first show you attend, grab a magazine, they are readily available, as the magazine published for the shows lists ALL the shows, with maps, and dates.
6. Take cash with you. We have read other articles about using Traveler’s Checks, or other forms of payment, but we simply did not see how that would be better than cash. If you keep your cash safe, don’t flash it, you will be fine. You will be able to negotiate a better price with cash. The same rules about having cash on vacation apply to having cash at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, and related shows. Don’t flash it!

That is all for this installment of “Tucson Gem and Mineral Show – Guide for First Time Visitors.” Please read our other articles that cover where to eat, drink, what to do at the shows, and what to do after the shows.

American Geode posted some laughable quips about our experience at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show over Twitter.
Read American Geode’s live Twitter updates for some real laughs:
https://twitter.com/AmericanGeode

Got questions about Tucson Gem and Mineral Show? Contact American Geode through the “Contact Us” button on the American Geode homepage: http://www.americangeode.com.

Flea Market Memories from the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market

Flea Market

With December 30, 2018 closing of the Hell Kitchen Flea Market, American Geode wanted to share some stories about our time at the famous flea market.

The buyers, early birds really, start arriving at the flea market around 6am, just as the flea market dealers are unloading. This way the buyers can get good deals, and ask for a discount in return for buying a piece before the dealer ever has to set up their table. One time American Geode was setting up, and a dude dressed all in black, who looked like he was returning from being at one of the clubs all night, walked by our table. I think the guy was tripping, or wigging, or rolling by the looks of his eyes, and his acute fascination with geodes.

He asked dozens of questions, and followed our answers by replying “Cool!” Finally, he said “How much?” We said $20, and he grabs a wadded up, rolled up $20 out of his pocket, hands it to us, picks up a golf ball sized Indiana geode, and continued down 39th street, to 10th avenue. I am fairly certain that when he woke up early that evening, and he found a round rock in his pocket, and a missing $20, he is going to wonder what the hell happened.

At another flea market day, we had something special in addition to our classic Indiana geodes for the crowds. We had a large taxidermy bear, intact from the waist up, with both paws extended in “attack form,” and a growl on the face of the Cinnamon Bear from Canada. A gentleman came by, interested in it, and started telling us that he recently broke up with his boyfriend, and he wanted to complete remodel his apartment to look like a Victorian England parlor. The Victorian England parlor style is filled with many different objects of curiosity and rarity. Think the parlors where Sherlock Holmes lived and worked on cases!

The gentleman had no way to carry it back to his apartment however, so we figured we had shared a fun, and funny conversation with a nice New Yorker, and left it at that. About an hour later however, the gentleman returns with one of those giant blue plastic and fabric bags from Ikea. He was able to fit the bear halfway through the bag, enough to sling it over his shoulder, and we watched him proceed to walk down 39th, toward 9th, with a growling bear sticking out of his bag over his shoulder!

American Geode will always remember our time at the famous Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market, a memorable, historic institution that we are sad to see close down, but thankful for the memories, and the help getting American Geode’s gem, mineral, geode, fossil, and curiosity business off the ground!

On-line mineral dealer American Geode

American Geode

Welcome on-line mineral dealer American Geode!

American Geode are explorers, prospectors and fair traders who bring to market masterpiece geodes, museum quality minerals, rare fossils and one-of-a-kind collectibles. Pennsylvania fossils, Indiana geodes, and Herkimer Diamonds are specialties.

With an office in Midtown, Manhattan, by appointment only, American Geode is an on-line mineral dealer that brings rare natural geodes, museum quality minerals, and superb fossils to the New York market and clients who include serious collectors, academics, and interior design professionals.

American Geode’s marketplace on eBay

Read what clients have to say about American Geode!

Giant Geode
Giant Geode

By appointment only! You have many choices when you seek a mineral dealer, and American Geode hopes you choose American Geode!

We are a source of geodes, minerals, gems, and fossils for collectors, academics in geology and paleontology, museums, and even interior design professionals. Rockhounding for unusual geodes, beautiful minerals, rare gems, and beautiful exotic crystals with positive energy keep us motivated. Some of our favorite finds are Indiana Geodes, NY Herkimer Diamonds, Connecticut Garnets, Kyanite, and Apache Peridot. We use a variety of tools for rockhounding including crack hammers, sledge hammers, demolition hammers, and 65lb jackhammers (lots of rockhound hammers) as well as diamond saws and soil pipe cutters. We enjoy researching and mining rocks and roadtrips while rockhounding across the USA.

Houston Gem, Mineral, Jewelry, Fossil Show is Nov 9-11!

Houston Gem Show

Houston Gem, Mineral, Jewelry, Fossil Show is Nov 9-11!

Houston Gem Show
Houston Gem Show


Please join us for the 65th Annual Houston Gem, Mineral, Jewelry and Fossil Show, November 9 -11 at the Humble Civic Center! Our show features 45 dealers showing minerals, fossils, jewelry and gemstones, demos of lapidary skills, and many special exhibit cases. We have our School Daze program on Friday for elementary school kids, and a program Saturday for Boy Scouts. Bargain hunters should visit the Swap Area. There is something to thrill and amaze everyone. Convenient for Christmas shopping and as always parking is free.

Tickets are $8.00. For more information visit www.hgms.org or www.facebook.com/hgms.org.

Friday 9 AM – 6 PM
Saturday 9 AM – 6 PM
Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM
The Show will include:
Jewelry making, beading, and lapidary demonstrations
Expert identification of gemstones, minerals, and fossils
Children’s activities such as the “School Daze” Earth Science Program, the Scout Merit Badge, and the “Dino Dig”
Displays of gem, mineral, and fossil specimens, and astounding fluorescent rocks
Get your picture taken with a 7 foot tall “live” dinosaur, which will be roaming our halls!
Free Expert fossil and mineral identification!
Shop at dozens of vendors from across the US for unique and ancient items including fossils, minerals, gemstones, handmade jewelry and more from around the world.
Watch our live demonstrations including geode cracking, silver smithing, fine detail painting of stone slabs, and much more!
Get a gem at a Bargain at our popular Silent Auctions occurring throughout the show!
Enter to win our Free Grand Door Prize!
Tickets for the show are $8 for adults.
Parking is FREE!


If you would like more info on local Mineral shows and rockhound clubs click on our News page for up to date listings and links to Gem Show, Mineral Show, and Fossil Show announcements. We update our rockhound news twice an hour and showcase the top mineral shows and rockhound news in the USA and the World. Also, follow us on Twitter for even more rockhound events, commentary, and laughable quips from American Geode.

Lake Havasu Gem and Mineral Show

Lake Havasu Gem and Mineral Show

Lake Havasu Gem and Mineral Show is Nov. 10-11, 2018 and the gem and mineral show offers the following for the entire family:
Raffle and Hourly Door Prizes.
Games and Prizes (Education Room) For Children.
Food And Beverage Service.
Displays Of Handcrafted Jewelry Designs And Collections Of Unusual Minerals, Fossils, Geodes And Rocks.
Working Demonstrations By Professionals.
Sales Booths Featuring Faceted and Cabochon Jewels, Fossils, Geodes, Tools, Findings, Slabs, Finished Jewelry And Gifts.
Scavenger Hunt
Silent Auction
Gem and Mineral Show

Nov. 10th-11th 2018

Sat. 9-5 & Sun. 9-4
Price: $2.00 per person

(Children under 12) Free
Lake Havasu Community Center
Rods and Relics Hall
100 Park Avenue
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

http://lakehavasugms.org/index.html
About the sponsors of the gem and mineral show:
The Lake Havasu Gem & Mineral Society of Lake Havasu City, Arizona is a non-profit organization, dedicated to educating our members and the community about gems, minerals, and fossils. Our objective and purpose are to:
Increase our appreciation of the beauty and value of the land in which we live.
Foster good fellowship among its members.
Host an annual Gem and Mineral Show for the community.
Foster awareness of the earth sciences by:
a. Increasing knowledge pertaining to minerals, gems, and rocks.
b. Disseminating knowledge of collecting and classification of minerals, fossils and rock through collection and classification.
c. Improving the practical knowledge of cutting, grinding and polishing materials touse in the design and creation of jewelry and other useful objects.
Provide educational scholarships in the scientific fields.
Procure and improve the Society’s property.


If you would like more info on local Mineral shows and rockhound clubs click on our News page for up to date listings and links to Gem Show, Mineral Show, and Fossil Show announcements. We update our rockhound news twice an hour and showcase the top mineral shows and rockhound news in the USA and the World. Also, follow us on Twitter for even more rockhound events, commentary, and laughable quips from American Geode.