Friday is the first open day of the show, namely for dealers and professionals.
As usual footfall is usually up along with the protective film on the carpets!
Our job today was to help with Christian Rewitzer on his booth, plus meet with customers to catch up on all things e-Rocks
Entrance Hall after opening, much busier and tidied up
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We had a short meeting with e-Rockers Siegbert and Karin Zecha on the way up the Hall. The Zecha's have a real interest in historic minerals and mining artefacts.
The Zecha's booth replete with interesting ephemera!
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I spotted these well crystallised sixling twinned alexandrite crystals in A6.
Coming from Mashvingo in Zimbabwe, these are pretty scarce as exporting from this country is pretty difficult.
Usually only available from old collections - so good to see these.
Natural crystals usually do not look lustrous, often with a grey hue depending on how well prepared these are. This is due to the inclusion of the mica schist matrix formed around the crystals
Alexandrite (Chrysoberyl) - Mashvingo, Zimbabawe
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Also close by were minerals from Tanzania. Last year Munich seemed to be awash with tanzanite crystals; this year there did seem to be fewer about of all qualities, even the large high end pieces - just a feeling.
A lot of Loliando spessartine and diopside/tsavorite from Merelani were around.
A "new" find of blue tipped tourmaline also featured on a number of tables. This material is from a locality Mwajanga, Simanjiro, Manyara, Tanzania.
George tells me that this material is not so new and indeed our database has pieces from as far back as Spring 2016. The database and Mindat records this as dravite, the elongated crystals with flat termnations do make an interesting habit for dravite; the natrolite from this locality is pretty interesting too.
Blue tipped Dravite from Mwajanga, Tanzania
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On arrival at Christian's booth we were needed to do some work for most of the morning, dealing with customers and restocking gaps as minerals sold.
Every year "the Boss" receives a stream of visitors with interesting things to offer.
This morning some gudmundtite turned up from Slovakia.
Minerals arriving at A6.271 as well as leaving!
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As the morning went on George and I set about our other task of meeting with customers.
The show has been a good opportunity for us to demonstrate the new e-Rocks software and features coming out shortly.
George in a training session with new seller Thomas Proegler
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Generally there was a much greater buzz about the place today, and we took an hour or so to view the Mine to Mine displays with quite a crowd of other people.
Getting clear access for a photograph was fun at times!
I added a separate thread for the display - linked below.
Hall A5
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A Fine Corinish Specimen - Ex Bement Collection (is not captured well) - Ex Ralph Sutcliffe - Rob Lavinsky's stand
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Later in the afternoon we came across Liz and David Hacker looking after the newly mined Weardale fluorite at Crystal Classics.
We have some history with the Hackers!
At our first ever show at Kempton Park (when we stalled at shows) we were side by side and benefited greatly from their experience.
We also bought a fair portion of minerals from their collection and dealer stock when they downsized.
Liz Hacker
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Taking a very late lunch in the refrectory in A4 it was so much busier than yesterday
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Our Friday at the show was nearly done, and we headed back to the hotel for more e-Rocks work.
Saturday will be our last day at Munich Show 2017, we will be heading back to the UK in the late afternoon.
I will endeavour to complete a final blog en route
Liddicoatite Slices- Madagascar
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