The Delaware Mineralogical Society Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show is held annually on the first weekend of March. The show is held in the gymnasium of the Delaware Technical & Community College in Stanton, Delaware right off of Interstate 95. This year 18 dealers set up, with half the spaces being taken by mineral or fossil dealers and the balance taken by jewelry vendors. The quality of the specimens is better than average with four or five of the dealers offering specimens they bought at the Tucson show.

The quality of the mineral displays at this show are outstanding. Club members, many of whom have collected for years, set up displays at the show. The displays, in my opinion, is what sets this show apart from other shows of comparable size and I hope you enjoy the photos I took at the show. This year's show theme was "Metals from Earth & Beyond".

ON THE ROAD! HERE I AM LEAVING OUR DEVELOPMENT ON A RAINY SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2011.





ROLLIN' SOUTH DOWN THE NORTHEAST EXTENSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. SEVERAL MILES DOWN THE ROAD I HAD TO DODGE DEBRIS FROM AN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED MOMENTS EARLIER. SOME PEOPLE WERE DOING OVER 80 IN THE POURING RAIN!





HERE IS THE INSIDE VIEW OF THE SHOW:





MIKE JACOB AND SHANA PARSONS OF MINERALS AMERICA. THEY HAD A NICE VARIETY OF MINERALS FROM RUSSIA.




ERIC MEIER OF BROKEN BACK MINERALS. ERIC ALWAYS HAS A LARGE VARIETY OF INTERESTING SPECIMENS AND IS A VERY ACTIVE FIELD COLLECTOR.



THE DISPLAY CASE OF AFRICAN MINERALS BY ED STRICKLER. ED TOOK FIRST PLACE IN THE COMPETITION.



A CLOSEUP OF ED STRICKLER'S FANTASTIC TSUMEB AZURITE 7CM BY 7CM.



DAVE DINSMORE'S CASE OF VARIED SPECIMENS. DAVE TRAVELS TO TUCSON EVERY YEAR TO GET THAT SPECIAL PIECE.



A LARGE EPIDOTE FROM PAKISTAN IN DAVE'S COLLECTION.





KEN CASEY'S DISPLAY OF THE "METALLICS OF FLUORITE".



THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE PUT ON THIS FINE DISPLAY CASE. BY THE WAY, A VISIT TO THE MINERAL MUSEUM AT THE UNIVERSITY TO SEE THEIR WORLD CLASS MINERAL EXHIBIT IS ALWAYS WORTHWHILE.



HERE IS A CLOSEUP OF A FINE SILVER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE'S COLLECTION.



HERE IS THE FAMOUS "ELVIS" WHO DID A GIG IN CHINA LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE COLLECTORS EDGE DISPLAY. BILL SEVERANCE IS THE PROUD OWNER OF THIS PIECE. I CAN ALMOST HEAR ELVIS SAY "THANK YOU, MAM, THANK YOU"! OR...IS IT BUDDY HOLLY?



THIS IS BILL SEVERANCE'S OTHER DISPLAY CASE OF FINE AND EXCEPTIONAL MINERALS WITH PEDIGREES.



KARISSA HENDERSHOT'S CASE OF SELF-COLLECTED GOETHITE PROVES THIS SPECIES CAN BE FOUND IN ATTRACTIVE (AND DESIRABLE) SPECIMENS.



WAYNE URION, THE SHOW CHAIRMAN, PUT ON THIS EDUCATIONAL DISPLAY OF MINERALS FROM NEW JERSEY'S WATCHUNG MOUNTAINS WHICH IS WORLD FAMOUS FOR ITS ZEOLITES AND ASSOCIATED MINERALS.



THIS IS A BLOWN UP PHOTO OF WAYNE'S GALENA SPECIMEN FROM PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.



THE MOST INTERSTING CASE WAS DAVE ELLIS' DISPLAY OF MINERAL FAKES WHICH SHOWED HOW FAR INDUSTRIOUS CHEATS WILL GO TO SELL THEIR WARES.



CLOSEUPS OF DAVE'S FAKES.





AND...LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS THIS CASE OF ORE MINERALS OF COPPER, LEAD AND ZINC FROM YOUR'S TRULY JOE POLITYKA. I BROUGHT MORE SPECIMENS TO DISPLAY BUT DECIDED TO LEAVE THEM OUT BECAUSE THE CASE GOT TOO CROWDED. AS A RESULT, THERE ARE NO TSUMEB OR FRANKLIN, NEW JERSEY SPECIMENS IN THE CASE.



A CLOSE UP.









Well, another great show with great exhibits, great dealers and great people! I recommend that you make an effort to get to this show next year; it is worth the trip.

Best wishes and happy collecting!