Search the Community

So this happened back in late March and I’m just now getting around to posting (or boasting?) about it. At this years gem and mineral show in Loveland, Colorado I entered a display case of White River Formation fossils which I have collected mostly in Colorado over the last few years. I emphasized diversity, attempting to show the diversity of the organisms (or at least prominent organisms) in the ecosystem while aiming to educate show visitors about the under-appreciated Eocene to Oligocene transition. Over 4,000 people came to the show, and at the end of the weekend the judges selected my case for first place in the fossils category, which I was very happy with because there were some other really awesome fossil displays people had put together. For the win I received a trophy and blue ribbon. I definitely intend to display again next year at the same show!

Hello Everyone, It feels like Deja Vu .. but it is that time of year again .. again. Wait, have I posted this already. A photo dump, of the few photos I snapped, of some of my more interesting finds. The Crowne Plaza had some enourmous mineral specimens and some fantastic fossils on offer this year. Though most were way outside of my budget. But photos are FREE ! The cutest fake fossil ? Yes ... and I almost bought one. I kick myself still for not pulling the trigger. Selfies with minerals anyone ?? .. yes please. Children for scale. I like it and I'm sticking with it, because I'm a rebel. Who needs a proper scale anyway. 1 FINN Height Unit (well, you can't see his feet) My daughter found her favorite, but alas we could not roll this one home. Moroccan tooth. Most likely Auriculatus. Fantastic price for such a nice tooth. They are normally quite beaten up. My other Moroccan finds. I love these for stocking stuffers The dealer I frequent from South Carolina. They are black water divers and have the best cetacean teeth and other bits and pieces. Great for school visits etc ... this stuff is sold by the pound. A sloth tooth partial. Mastadon (or Gomphothere ? .. probably a Gomph tooth) Tooth Cusp Extinct Billfish Vertebra Cheers, Brett

Has anyone heard anything about this year's Denver show? I haven't been in 5 years and am planning on attending this year.

I'm flying out to the Denver show on Tuesday, can't wait! What's everyone's impressions of it who has been there so far? What memebers of TFF have booths there?

This weekend is the NY/NJ Gem and Mineral Show. I went on Friday and Saturday and was impressed by the amount of fossils at the show. This show claims to be the largest on the east coast, with 350-400 vendors. My estimate is that there were around two dozen or so high quality fossil dealers. The largest displays by fossil dealers seemed to be from Trans-Union Fossils and Indiana 9, both with some impressive specimens for sale. Indiana 9 has a few nice Sclerocephaluses (one being two feet long!) and a nice juvenile ichthyosaur. Trans-Union has a nice Xiphactinus head that was taken out of the matrix and reconstructed on a stand. Highland rock had some nice plates with local dino tracks. A nice selection of T-Rex teeth ($600 - $8900 for the complete ones) and dino claws from Bryan Clarke Fossils and I think Dinoland Plus. The show space had a large area in the center with display casts- full T-Rex and Triceratops, Mosasaur, Plesiosaur, many egg nests, T-Rex tracks, etc. I was a little confused by the section as there were a few genuine specimens mixed in with the casts. All of this material was also for sale or rent. There were some nice mineral display cases and a dark room with an ultraviolet mineral display which was interesting to see. I saw two Triceratops horns for sale, a complete with a lot of restoration and a partial, and a nice selection of Green River fish, and even a Tully Monster. Overall a great show that is worth a trip to see. Fossils for everyone ranging from $1 to $50,000. Lots of activities for kids, too. It was fun for me to recognize some fossils that I saw for sale in Tucson (one that I was very much considering purchasing) being sold by different dealers here! Most of the fossils and dealers seemed authentic, but there was one Moroccan dealer I will not mention who had the typical fakes mixed in with some real stuff. I was surprised by the amount of material there that I was told I wouldn't see any longer- Argentinian pine cones and a good number of eggs and nests being sold by different dealers- full Hadrosaur, Oviraptor, Tarbosaur, Saltasaurus and Segnosaurus eggs, a partial french egg, and nests of Hadrosaur, Oviraptor and Segnosaurus eggs. Most dealers keep this under the table and you had to ask to see, but a few kept them out on their tables. Everyone said the eggs were collected and imported legally prior to the ban. I thought I took more pictures than I did, but here is what I have: