Dozens of gem, mineral and fossil shows are held in Tucson every winter. They attract tens of thousands of vendors, buyers and tourists from all over world, who make a significant contribution to the region's economy each year.
This photo is at the 2025 Tucson Kino Gem & Mineral Show.
Tens of thousands of people will travel to Tucson to exhibit, sell or buy precious items from around the world, giving locals a chance to meet and greet an international array of visitors.
The shows- Edition 2025 - will officially end on Sunday February 16 so we decided to visit one of the many options to talk with exhibitors at random from different nations.
Here is a sampling of the different countries:
Australia
Glenn Archer flew in from Perth, Australia.
He owns Australian Outback Mining, and while his country is known for opals, he focuses on a range of interesting colored stones that are alternatives to opals in jewelry and lapidary.
Archer used to attend a show in Berlin, Germany but says it got too expensive so now he focuses on Arizona: Quartzsite, and then Tucson.
"Collecting rocks has been my hobby since childhood," Archer says.
"And I'm just fortunate to be have made a business from it. And, yeah, that's my life."
Glenn Archer flew to Tucson from Perth, Australia.
China
Orginally from China, Susan Luo owns Lucky Handicrafts LLC, based in California.
She has a few assistants including Jacob Dunayr, who is originally from Montana but has worked for Luo for several years.
"We are wholesalers of gems and minerals to the public, as well as a variety of world imports from all around the world," Dunayr says.
"We got it as far as gems are concerned. And then we have world imports, statues, textiles, we have beads, tapestries, eclectic knickknacks from all around the world."
Dunayr says he's loved traveling to Tucson and meeting people from multiple countries and states. And what about Tucsonans show don't go to the show?
"Just because you live in Orlando doesn't mean Disneyland isn't still fun. It's right in your backyard. Come on down. Be a good host and see all the see your guests. See the people that made the pilgrimage to Tucson, to stand in the desert with you," Dunayr adds.
Susan Luo is originally from China but lives in California now. Jacob Dunayr, who was born in Montana, has been working with her for several years.
Madagascar
Wilfried Rakotohavana is originally from Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, but now he's living in Los Angeles, California.
"We have almost 20 different kind of crystals and gems here, not including the precious stones like sapphires, gold, rubies and stuff. But I'm specifically doing the sulfur semi-precious, which is the indigenous stones," he says.
Those include rose quartz, Jasper polychrome, and green opal.
Rakotohavana used to work in another profession, but he says this one has opened new doors and opportunities to meet people from around the world and Arizona.
"I just want to say thank you to the City of Tucson for allowing us to come and represent our country and give the international community an opportunity to make a living. And also showcase what they have from their own country."
Wilfried Rakotohavana (center) is originally from Madagascar but lives in Los Angeles, California now. In this photo he is accompanied by assistants at his exhibit.
Mexico
Juan José Virgen has been traveling to Tucson from Magdalena, Jalisco, Mexico for more than 20 years. He works for Opalos Lara which is owned by his close friends.
"We have whatever we can do or you can do in opals. We have Mexican opal and cabochon in the natural stone, what we call matrix opal loose stones," he says.
Virgen, who is also an accomplished athlete, has been working with precious minerals since he was a child, in an industry that is taught from one generation to the next.
"It's very exciting when you do the cutting of the stones. So that keeps you, like it gives you a new life. You feel alive," Virgen says.
"We say in Mexico, we were born in the stones and we live off the stones."
Juan José Virgen has been traveling from Magdalena, Jalisco, Mexico to Tucson for more than a couple of decades.
Morocco
Yassine Rahmoun was born in Morocco but has made Tucson his home since 2011 where he runs "Natural Treasures of Morocco."
He's following a long family tradition of working with items from his native homeland.
"In Morocco they have a lot of minerals from different mines. From the north, south and deserts and everywhere in Morocco. They have nice stuff," Rahmoun says.
Even though he lives in Tucson now, he began visiting in the 1990s where he's been meeting people from all over the world.
"I know a lot of a lot of vendors from everywhere. From Africa, from Brazil, from Mexico, Peru. A lot of people, yeah."
Yassine Rahmoun, who was born in Morocco, has the advantage of living in Tucson when it comes to selling here every year.
As soon as these shows finish, vendors say they begin preparing for 2026.
Dozens of gem, mineral and fossil shows are held in Tucson each year. They attract tens of thousands of vendors, buyers and tourists from all over world, who make a significant contribution to the region's economy each year.
Dozens of gem, mineral and fossil shows are held in Tucson every winter. They attract tens of thousands of vendors, buyers and tourists from all over world, who make a significant contribution to the region's economy each year.
This photo is at the 2025 Kino Gem & Mineral Show.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.