Denver Mineral, Fossil, Gem & Mineral Show 2023

[Top Trilo]

It’s that time of year again, Denver Fossil Show time, still open ‘til the 17th. This being my 3rd time visiting, I felt I had a better idea of where all the dealers are, and what I wanted to see most. I go mostly to look at all the interesting fossils from all over the world, I saw dealers from every continent other than Antarctica. The show contains a lot of polished minerals and gems although it seemed like there was an ammonite at every table. The majority of the fossils available came from the United States and Morocco.

 

There were plenty of stunning dinosaur bones and trilobites, fish and ammonites but as always there were many, many, fakes, composites, and poor resto jobs and whatever the weird scorpion things in the first image are considered.

[Top Trilo]

And a few more.

I thought it was cool how the Amethyst Geode in the first image roughly resembled the shape of the African continent.

 

[Top Trilo]

And still there’s more I didn’t have room for.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Thanks for sharing these. 

I don't think I've ever seen so many fakes and frankenfossils! 

Some really nice pieces as well. 

Those dreadful scorpions in the first photo can be found in the medinas all over Morocco. Apparently, they are a top seller! 

Would love that geode shaped like Africa. 

 

Did you purchase anything, Alex? 

 

[Bobby Rico]

Wow some Good, a lot of bad and the ugly.

 

 so did treat yourself.  

[Top Trilo]

Hey Adam and Bobby, there are indeed many Frankenfossils which is the only thing I decided to purchase. I got this really cheap intermediate Otodus tooth, looks to me like O. auriculatus, from Morocco, I didn’t have one from this location and it’s pretty large, just over 3 inches, so I didn’t mind that the entire left side was composited. At least the right side has nice serrations, an intact cusp and perfect tip.

[Tidgy's Dad]

1 minute ago, Top Trilo said:

Hey Adam and Bobby, there are indeed many Frankenfossils which is the only thing I decided to purchase. I got this really cheap intermediate Otodus tooth, looks to me like O. auriculatus, from Morocco, I didn’t have one from this location and it’s pretty large, just over 3 inches, so I didn’t mind that the entire left side was composited. At least the right side has nice serrations, an intact cusp and perfect tip.

Nice! 

Nothing wrong with composites or restoration as long as you know about it. 

[Bobby Rico]

Yeah I would add that one to my collection.

Edited September 16, 2023 by Bobby Rico

[Bobby Rico]

The horseshoe crab looks good at least on my phone. 

[SPrice]

Stunning pictures...in a way I can't wrap my head around, yet. All those Mosasaurus jaws looked like they were baked in a backyard brick kiln.  And the boxes of "cookie cutter" perfect Trilobites, scorpions, starfish, whatever under the table - ready to sell. Whew! Lot to take in for a noob. Scary - came to mind. 

 

The Green River Formation fossils for most part looked the best to me. Some of the composites of fish inlaid over a palm leaf were a bit much. And I'm aware that some GRF fish, leaves, etc. get painted in. 

 

 As was said as long as the buyer is aware of resto/repair work is done...then okay.  I appreciate the "baptism by fire" of seeing a photographic walkthrough of a gem and fossil show. I'm a bit gobsmacked, if that's the right word. 

[Top Trilo]

49 minutes ago, SPrice said:

Stunning pictures...in a way I can't wrap my head around, yet. All those Mosasaurus jaws looked like they were baked in a backyard brick kiln.  And the boxes of "cookie cutter" perfect Trilobites, scorpions, starfish, whatever under the table - ready to sell. Whew! Lot to take in for a noob. Scary - came to mind. 

 

The Green River Formation fossils for most part looked the best to me. Some of the composites of fish inlaid over a palm leaf were a bit much. And I'm aware that some GRF fish, leaves, etc. get painted in. 

 

 As was said as long as the buyer is aware of resto/repair work is done...then okay.  I appreciate the "baptism by fire" of seeing a photographic walkthrough of a gem and fossil show. I'm a bit gobsmacked, if that's the right word. 

There are quite a lot of fakes mixed in with the real ones and looking for one of those real ones can seem like you're fossil hunting. Unfortunately many people are unaware of what they are buying, some don't really care and will never look into what they purchased but others do care. However, there isn't much of a solution, having every fossil checked before the show is both unwanted and unrealistic as there are hundreds of vendors, thousands of square feet, and at least tens of thousands of fossils. Therefore its up to the buyers to try and authenticate items they're interested in. This makes the forum a priceless resource, for authenticating, IDing, learning about and just growing people's interest in fossils. Still, the fakes don't tarnish the beauty of the real fossils at the rest of the show.

[Nimravis]

Thanks for the tour- great pics.

[Ludwigia]

Thanks for the walk-through. I never cease to be amazed at the amount of mass produced Moroccan constructions on the market. But I suppose as long as gullible customers keep on buying them, they'll keep on coming.

[SPrice]

Thanks, Top Trilo for the informative intel on Mineral, Gem and Fossil shows. I've yet to attend one, but now I have some tools in my belt when I do.