Downtown Tucsonan - February 2008 - (Page 8)

Vital Signs d i n au r st ia al , one e largest in e of th xis ten ce . an a ta se un cr fo ys 62 ounce gold n ugg et , ta ls, fou nd behind a gl 8. a 10 acie r in no rw a y. GLOBAL AUCTION OF RARE MINERALS Tucson moves to the center stage By Tom Whittingslow ineral collectors and buyers from around the world will be keeping an eye on tucson as selections from the whitmore collection will be auctioned at the tucson convention center on February 15. Presented by the tucson Gem & Mineral society, this sale will be the featured event of the 2008 Gem show. the mineral specimens being offered are from the collection of Robert whitmore of new Hampshire, owner of the Palermo mine. additional specimens from the university of Michigan will be auctioned as well. Live bidding will be accepted from the floor. Internet and satellite phone connections will allow bidders from as far away as Moscow or south africa to participate in real time. according to carole Lee, chairperson of the tucson Gem & Mineral society, this sale is so important that the market rate for certain minerals could be affected by its outcome. the auction will be conducted by stack’s, a team of rare coin and mineral professionals from new York. stack’s has held first position in the american numismatic auction scene since 1935 —in both number of sales concluded and the great rarities it has handled. according to a spokesperson, the firm’s president, christine Karstedt, will be the auctioneer. stack’s mineralogist, Bill Metropolis, is a leading authority in the field and the former curator of the Harvard university mineral collection. He described a few of the unusual pieces that will go on sale. In auction terms individual items are described as a “Lot.” one of Metropolis’ favorites is Lot# 152, a mass of quartz crystals cemented together by brownish clay. a label attached to the original box reads “crystallized quartz from the grave of Jefferson, M Monticello. the unassuming specimen was uncovered from digging the grave site of President thomas Jefferson (april 13, 1743- July 4, 1826) at his home in Monticello, Virginia. other highlights include a 99.45 diamond crystal and an unbelievably large 4.0 x 3.0 anatase crystal from norway, found 20 years ago in a pocket, hidden behind a norwegian glacier. the glacier has begun to grow and the pocket is sealed over by ice and may never be accessible again. the owner, a knowledgeable norwegian collector, says the crystal is the finest ever found. the starting bid is $13,000. one of the largest gold nuggets in existence was found by a prospector in an undisclosed location in australia. the 108.62ounce specimen is one of the largest in existence. when the Perth Mint purchased the piece, the prospector did not want to tell them where he found it. to discourage pilfering, he kept it in the bottom of a fish tank filled with flesh-eating piranhas. It currently has a high bid of $90,000. the show is being sponsored by the tucson Gem and Mineral society. the small non-profit group was founded in 1946 with the intent of advancing the education and appreciation for lapidary and mineral collecting. today, those efforts have grown into the largest gem and mineral show in the nation. Previous shows have exhibited such spectacular pieces as the Hope diamond and original Faberge eggs. the auction will be held in the copper Ballroom of tucson convention center on Friday, February 15th, beginning at 6:30 pm. Bidders may preview the Lots being offered on wednesday, February 13 from 10 am to 6 pm. the event is open to the public; however, those interested in bidding must pre-register. For additional information visit the auctioneer’s website at www.stacks.com. 8 downtown tucsonan.february.08 http://www.downtowntucson.com/lunchtime_music http://www.downtowntucson.com/lunchtime_music http://www.downtowntucson.com/lunchtime_music http://www.tucsonstyle.com http://www.Stacks.com

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Downtown Tucsonan - February 2008 Contents From the Editor Downtown Lowdown Vital Signs Downtown Restaurants & Cafes Downtown Live Arts Galleries Performances Film Events Museums Historic Downtown Downtown Travelogue Billboard Classifieds

Downtown Tucsonan - February 2008

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