If you’re interested in fossils, minerals, gems, or just plain ‘ol earth science education you might want to mark your calendar for the 2007 Contin-Tail (short for Continental Tailgate) Gem and Mineral Show. You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting than the rodeo grounds just outside Buena Vista, Colorado. The stunning Collegiate Peaks provide a 14-thousand-foot backdrop to some of the most spectacular minerals the earth has to offer. Rock, mineral, fossil and gem dealers from around the western United States come here year after year to trade among themselves and offer some fantastic deals to the appreciative public.
The dealers were friendly and incredibly well versed about the rocks, minerals, and fossils they had for sale.
It was our first time at the show and we were astonished at the volume of beautiful specimens. Many of the dealers specialized in one or two particular types of minerals. We’d never seen such a display of the fragile Desert Rose! The sizes were magnificent; some of the specimens as large as several feet across. The rounded “pillows” of barite and gypsum formed an infinite array of patterns to delight your eyes.
Another dealer had tons-literally-of agate of every variety. His particular specialty was the polished slabs that could become beautiful cabochons under the expertise of a skilled gem cutter.
Our “next-door-neighbor” had exceptional red jasper she had gathered herself. We enjoyed listening to the stories she shared about each acquisition. She had met some amazing people along the way.
In fact, shared stories were the fare of the weekend. Each dealer seemed to have fantastic tales of their finds. Ex-miners shared stores of time spent in the depths of the earth and the treasures held in the mines. Speculation about the gems still hidden in closed mines always seemed to enter the conversation. Of course, there were fish tales, not of the “one that got away” variety, but of the mountains of gems still being pulled out of well-hidden mines. One wonders…, but then there were the exceptional specimens that were right there to see. Of particular note were the new specimens of Arkansas Quartz. One lucky person came through and bought every piece the owner had.
We picked up some really nice dinosaur bone and coprolite (fossilized dino poop). It will soon be for sale at www.fossilicious.com. I need to get pictures taken. Look for it later this week.
For more information on this event visit: http://www.coloradorocks.org/
If you’ve ever attended the Contin-Tail or other gem and mineral show, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to write your impressions, comments and recommendations for our readers.
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