[Rockhounds] Tucson, Garza, misc. update

[Alan Goldstein]

I've noticed a dramatic decrease in the general "chatter" by folks on the
Rockhound List. Have we lost a lot of people, or are they all lurkers?
Perhaps they've switched to social media platforms?

I'll post a general news update on several topics and encourage replies.

TUCSON
My third trip to Tucson last month was the longest yet, about two weeks. It
enabled me to visit more shows. My usual include the RMGM Show, Mineral
City, 22nd Street, and the Days Inn Fossil Show. I didn't make the Main
Show last year but did this year. I added the Keno Show and one along the
I-10 frontage road, not far from the 22nd Street show. I don't even recall
the motel names. They are enjoyable, if overwhelming.

I'm amazed at the lack of pricing at many shows. I'm not talking about the
PORs, but shelves and shelves of un-priced specimens. I'm disappointed at
the lack of labels, too. I bought some flats of Devonian horn corals from
West Sahara because I can ID them to the genus level. Talking to the
dealer, it seems the identification or lack thereof isn't essential. I
found online papers describing the geology and some of the coral species.
I've offered to assist and will sell corals that are better labeled.

KY SCIENCE CENTER
I've been working with my former employer AKA the Louisville Museum of
History and Science - turned Louisville Science Center finding new homes
for their collections. The Troost Mineral Collection (ca 1810-1850), the
2nd oldest in the U.S., is now at the Indiana State Museum. The
Tharp/Greenaway collection (ca 1869 - 1980) is now at the Clement Mineral
Museum. Most recently (and not yet transpired), a large collection of
Bisbee copper minerals is being rehomed to the Bisbee Mining & Historical
Museum. They identified the specimens from my photos as coming from the
Holbrook Mine, one of Bisbee's earliest. Don't be surprised to see them
displayed at the Tucson  Show next year.

STEVE GARZA
Steve's been through a lot in the past year, including a broken leg
(tripping over a cat). But when I was there today, he was as active and
talkative as I've seen him in some time. I spent the afternoon rooting
around in the garage, bringing back a variety of specimens to clean, label,
and box for future sales. I brought my UV light to inspect the minerals in
boxes, piles, and sitting on the shelves. I thought I had removed the
radioactive minerals. Nope. I found a 5-gallon bucket 3/4 full with Ruggles
Mine (NH) material. My, oh my! So much green under UV. Some large, rich
specimens - probably meta-torbernite and meta-autunite. They remain in the
Garza garage.

SALE in JUNE
I've held a driveway sale to find new homes for Steve's minerals. It will
probably be in June (after the Clement Museum Show, the first weekend).

RETIRING SOON
I've been the interpretive naturalist and park paleontologist at the Falls
of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana for 31 years. I'm calling it
a career in November. I have a ton of things to do after I retire, many
geologically-related. Also astronomy and writing.

My Website
I have added more calcite photos to my website: alangoldsteinsuniverse.com.
When I retire, adding content will be one of my ongoing projects.

Regards,
Alan Goldstein
Louisville