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Mineral ShowsOverheard at the Tucson Show

30th Jan 2018 02:45 UTCJim Allen

"Oh look, here are some hermaphrodites!" while checking out a flat of Ojuela Mine hemimorphite at the Kino Sports Park Show.

30th Jan 2018 02:58 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Are you sure you're at the right show, Jim......?? ;-)

30th Jan 2018 03:12 UTCRuss Rizzo Expert

Thanks for the laugh... I needed it today.

30th Jan 2018 12:40 UTCHarald Schillhammer Expert

Made my day! LOL

30th Jan 2018 13:39 UTCKevin Conroy Manager

That's impressive!

It's been a few years ago (the American Mineral Treasures themed main show in 2008), but I was looking at one of the major mineral dealer's fine specimens when a German friend of mine walked up. He looked at the pieces and said: "Are these prices or phone numbers?"...

30th Jan 2018 16:25 UTCMatt Courville

too funny! A few years ago I was looking over minerals at the yearly Ottawa club show and overheard:

'well...they are pretty small, but they are Really Powerfull! '

I don't think they were talking about sling-shot ammo, but I might be worng;)

30th Jan 2018 18:52 UTCRolf Luetcke Expert

Matt,

Bet they were "crystal healing" people, they talk like that. We used to get them in our place too. When they asked me about my point of view, I said I was a scientist and that pretty much ended their questions but didn't offend.

30th Jan 2018 20:14 UTCKeith Wood

Mexico is getting stranger by the year.

31st Jan 2018 17:09 UTCWilliam W. Besse Expert

My favorite, from long ago when the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show had a wholesale section upstairs in the old part of the building, was a fellow (obviously somebody's guest) who asked how we cut "this." He was staring at a 20 kg, cubic, Huanzala pyrite. He would not believe when told it was natural.

1st Apr 2018 16:04 UTCTim Jokela Jr

This thread could be awesome. I occasionally write down stuff I hear at shows, but then invariably lose my notes, lol.

An Asian woman asked me if I carry the stone that "win lottery."

I didn't know what to say.

A sadly common question, always from white women of a certain age, is: "Do you know the properties of this stone?"

I waste my breath expounding upon the chemistry, locality, hardness, cleavage, or whatever, whereupon they say: "No, I mean the healing properties!"

It's taken years for me to learn to simply grit my teeth and walk away.

Two of these crystal power whackos bought Red Cloud wulfenite crystals, and announced that they were just the right shape for them to wear inside their bra... I still feel dirty for selling them... am I a bad person?

If I ever find my notes I'll post them.

Tim Jokela Jr.

tjokela@execulink.com

2nd Apr 2018 22:01 UTCGary Weinstein

Tim, et. al.,

When they ask me which stone will win the lottery (or bring them money) I tell them that if there was one I would have won it years ago and would not be here now (for you to ask the question). And back in the 80s, during the beginnings of the metaphysical movement, a guy purchased from me a fine, half inch, Hotazel Rhodochrosite crystal and after the transaction asked me what the best way was to crush it. I almost swallowed my tongue.

2nd Apr 2018 23:13 UTCNorman King 🌟 Expert

Well, going to a guru or doctor isn't cheap, either. Actually, I think shaman is the right word for practitioners crystallography (isn't that what it's called?).

3rd Apr 2018 02:10 UTCA. M.

It is sad, today, in 21 century... For them the elementary science is dead.

Yes, the rocks are healing - they bring joy and relaxation to eye of beholder, they are like wonders of nature. They are not get crushed, eaten, hung in bra or else.

16th Apr 2018 06:12 UTCEd Richard

Happened a few times at shows.... "Are they still growing?"

Classic one is with my Mesolites.... Can I touch that? , I say NO, , and BANG they do it anyway.

16th Apr 2018 22:00 UTCGary Weinstein

The one I have heard for many years is " do you get all these from the ocean?" Even though they have locations on the tags.

As for the still growing, I simply tell them that it is the same as plucking a flower or chopping down a tree.

Once saw a dealer who had a 12 x 18 inch Pune, India Okenite alone in an allstate case at a show, with 4 signs saying DO NOT TOUCH and he turned around just in time to see a little old lady reaching over the glass to pet it. When he yelled, she jumped and her reasoning was that it looked so soft, like a kitten, and she just wanted to see if it was.

Our school system needs to spend more time on reading!

Ed, One should not use negatives when dealing with these public. Just tell them that when they do touch it and break some of the crystals off that you will charge them for the broken specimen. Too many negatives cause the healing powers to turn off ;>} .

17th Apr 2018 03:47 UTCEd Richard

I do Gary, I tell them how Mesolite needles stay stuck in your fingers for days and keep hurting...

25th Jul 2018 18:05 UTCvictor rzonca

Heard dozens of times over the years. "How do you cut those things like that?" and "Do you have any Super Seven?"

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