Tucson mineral show booming

The Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase is drawing huge crowds today, despite unexpected light scattered rain showers.   I stopped in a few locations this morning or tried to.  The Tucson Inn (formerly Inn Suites) has over 400 vendors filling its rooms, ballrooms, and parking lots. But at noon there was no parking open anywhere around it.

The 22nd Street Show has a large number of fossil dealers, especially with Eocene Green River fish from Wyoming. What caught my attention was that so many of the most striking pieces in each booth had 'sold' signs on them.  One dealer told me his flagship specimen sold within 3 hours of opening.  Another dealer said they sold many of their most unique, large, or expensive pieces in the first two days (Thursday-Friday).    Here are some snapshots of fossils and reproductions.