The Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase kicked off officially yesterday with tens of thousands of buyers and sellers filling the tent cities that have been erected all around town. But there are also a lot of fascinating lectures and other events going on during the two weeks leading up to the big Tucson Gem & Mineral Show at the Convention Center, Feb. 10-13.
Here are a few of the talks, etc I've noted:
"Collector Day": Wayne Sorensen of the Wayne R. Sorensen Family Trust Collection, in the lobby of Westward Look Resort, 10am-4pm, Saturday, Feb 5
"Demantoid and Tourmaline, Mineral Adventures from Madagascar": by Dr. Federico Pezzota, Curator of Mineralology at the Museum of Natural History, Milan, Italy, Westward Look Resort, Sunday, Feb. 6 (no time listed - www.finemineralshow.com)
Book signing - "Meteorite Hunting: How to Find Treasure from Space," by Geoff Notkin and Steve Arnold, stars of the Science Channel's tv series "Meteorite Men," Sunday, Feb. 6, 11am-1pm, Hotel Tucson City Center Copper Ballroom [right, credit www.meteoritemen.com]
"Time Bandits: Fossil Fakes, Frauds, and Copyright Infringements": Peter Lawson, Black Hills Institute and George Winters, AAPS, Thursday, Feb. 3, 7pm, International Wildlife Museum (4800 W. Gates Pass Rd - about 3-4 miles west of downtown). Free admission but tickets must be obtained from the AAPS booth a the Hotel Tucson City Center Copper Ballroom