Does anyone have any suggestions for dealers with good selections of micromounts in the Arizona and New Mexico area? I live in Hawaii where all the rocks look pretty much the same, so my opportunities to expand my collection are limited. I'm going to be travelling around New Mexico and Arizona over the next three weeks and I plan to take the opportunity to enrich my micromount collection substantially. I fully intend to spend an obscene amount of money on this trip (just getting there already qualifies), but I know next to nothing about dealers in the area. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Aloha,
Jesse

Why go to dealers, Jesse, why not just get in contact with some collectors and do some collecting...it is probably some of the best micro collecting in the U.S. ...colourful and easy to find areas in mining sites, make it much easier than finding stuff in the NW where the constant rain washes away all the secondary colour markers...

Hi Jesse,

You can contact me directly at Catalinaminerals@yahoo.com. I may have a few ideas for you. The Tucson Micromount club is meeting in 2 weeks, and I could try and come up with a few localities where you could do your own collecting. I might be up for joining you at a spot or two near Tucson, but I'm trying to get myself up to Utah during this time frame to do some exploring of a few old mines. If you have a route planned, send it along and I'll let you know if I know any dealers along the way that might have what you're looking for.

And Ray-- It was a pleasure to meet you in Tucson this year. Hope to do it again next time!

Michael



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2008 09:25AM by Michael D. Cline.

I wish I had enough time to include some field work on our trip. The problem, as always, is trying to fit in visits with relatives and friends and all the other things. You're right about that part of the country being a paradise for mineral collecting. I grew up in the four corners area (where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah share a common boundary). It was like living in a geology text book. I had an incurable case of gold fever by the time I was 10, inherited from my father who told stories of working in the mines near Rico. Then there was the uranium rush in the 50's when practically every pickup truck had it's obligatory assortment of yellow rocks bouncing around in back. Sadly, I've retained only a few of the specimens from those days. I do almost all my collecting now in shops, especially since moving to Hawaii. There are only two kinds of ricks in Hawaii, red and black, and you don't ever want to pick up one of the red ones.

Aloha,
Jesse

Hello Jesse,
If you get to far South-Central New Mexico (near Las Cruces) You can give me a call.....I'm not a dealer but I've lots of micros from Az, Nv, NM for trade. Just give me a call, come by, pick what you want, send something in return someday.....no hurries, no worries!! email is auagte2@comcast.net and phone is 575 382 3464.....(invite goes for any mindaters in the area!!)

Don S.

Jesse: If you get to Tucson, go to the Tucson Mineral and Gem World shop located at 2801 South Kinney Rd., Tucson (520-883-0682). The original owner Pete collected mm's locally back in the 1960-70's and there should be some items of interest. Happy Hunting. Bruce