It gets like this every year . . .

[Mysticeti]

Wow Robert, way to come through bigtime!!! I'm done whining, I swear.

Even though I have been starved for information all week (lisa), I've never doubted that you lot weren't taking Tucson by storm. If we weren't standing on our tip-toes waiting for news, we most certainly are now. I am so going next year.


Before I hear the great stories, I want to tell my beautiful wife Lisa how proud I am of her; proud of what we're building with our friends in the ISG community, and everyone that seeks positive change in an industry that is hurting worldwide.

Glad you're back Bonky

S

[Gringa Gems]

Originally Posted by BorderReiver

with my photography. Thought I'd post my latest for your review.

Zektzerite mineral specimen sw UV

Benitoite xls sw UV

The Calcite xls on the flourite specimen, from Hardin Co., IL sw UV

hahaha, I love these images. I am from southern Illinois and have even been to Hardin Co., but back then I never thought of getting some nice mineral specimens. 35 years ago, I had some nice fluorite crystals, purple ones, and had no idea that now I would really like to have them to study.

Thanks so much for all these great photos!

[Gringa Gems]

Originally Posted by BorderReiver

Notice the horse tail inclusions

Wow! That is just a perfect horsetail specimen, isn't it!

[Gringa Gems]

BorderReiver, there is a special section on this forum for photos so maybe we should take it to that location, ok?

[Gringa Gems]

Robert, I am absolutely thrilled with this news

My favorite line from Shakespeare is:

THE TRUTH WILL OUT!!!

And a big congratulations to all of the ISG community who worked so hard on this for so long!

[Squeaky]

WooHoo!!!! Dancin' BIG feet!!!

[jchamb]

WOW!
Last time I saw, we were finishing breakfast and Lydia and I hit the road back home.

We should have stayed all day Sunday! Well, we got some of the results and resolution that we were discussing most of the week.

Contratulations Robert!

(and we had a blast ....)

[Crystal Star]

The ISG takes Tucson by storm again!! Congratulations Robert!!! We are eagerly awaiting the rest of the story. Safe home!

[LiliMoM]

Originally Posted by YourGemologist

Hi Everyone,

WOW! What a week! Things took a MAJOR turn here and we ended up trying to put 2 weeks worth of contacts and meetings into one week. Totally had to change our itenerary and plans.

The industry has realized that we have been correct all along on this andesine thing and they have come to us in droves here at the Tucson Gem Show. To the point that it is difficult to walk down the isles of the shows without getting stopped to talk. Mostly congratulations for standing our ground against an avalanche of negativity over the whole issue. Many wanted to know how we did it, what protocol we used, and to express a desire to work with us in the future.

In general here are some of the results:

Immediately after our seminar on Andesine: The Final Chapter there was a lot of activity at Andegem and Litto Gems. Litto ended up having to refund money to some folks as people started confronting them about the true condition of their andesine.

And this Chen fellow at Andegem had the police called on him for his rantings. He started going off on anyone in the isles who he felt was any way connected to this issue. But more important Andegem started admitting that the material could well be treated....and they stopped selling it here at the show.

That was pretty big.

But the bottom line to all of this was the we had to totally change our schedule here for activities and some of the things we planned. Unfortunately one of those was posting up a lot less pictures here this week than we hoped, and having to put off some of the online things we had planned for you all back home. I regret this but it was unavoidable. The things going on here kept me going from early early morning to very late at night. And did not even send Tristan a lot of the images and stories I promised. But this was a VERY important week in the future of the ISG both as a gemology school and as a member of the gemological community. So the change in plans was necessary.

I do have a ton of information and images to share with you all. Its 11pm here and I just finished packing everything up. I leave in 4 hours for San Antonio so I better sign off for now.

We appreciate all of you keeping the home fires burning. I promise you it will be worth it when you hear the rest of the story.

Robert

This sounds fabulous .......... fantastic .......... ferociously good !!! I am so happy for the ISG ......... and OMG .......... the sellers of FranKenStone now have the shoe on the other foot .......... hope they can handle the FIT!!!

[CodyK]

Originally Posted by YourGemologist

Hi Everyone,

Litto ended up having to refund money to some folks as people started confronting them about the true condition of their andesine.

And this Chen fellow at Andegem had the police called on him for his rantings. He started going off on anyone in the isles who he felt was any way connected to this issue. But more important Andegem started admitting that the material could well be treated....and they stopped selling it here at the show.
Robert

Very Very good to hear. Good job ISG and friends.