GEMS AND MINERALS

 

This information should suffice for most exhibits entered into competition.  When you enter competition, you accept the rules established by the Pima County Fair and Southwestern Fair Commission, Inc. rules as they are written. 

Judges are limited and bound by the rules in exactly the same way, as are exhibitors. 

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL DIVISIONS:

You may furnish your own display case, otherwise each display will be in a glass-covered case provided by the Fair.  Exhibitors are encouraged to decorate their case.   BE SURE AND INDICATE ON YOUR ENTRY FORM THE SIZE OF SPACE REQUIRED.  Do not put your name on any visible portion of your display.  After judging, your entry is fully identified on the Pima County Fair Tag. 

Thumbnail collections may be displayed in a thumbnail box.  State how you will display.

GENERAL RULES

1.      All entrants must be residents of Southern

         Arizona, or winter visitors.

2.       All articles must be work of entrant.

3.       Articles that are stained, soiled or

          unsanitary will not be accepted.

4.      THE PIMA COUNTY FAIR AND ITS

         AGENTS ASSUME NO 

RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS, THEFT 

OR DAMAGE TO ANY EXHIBIT

DURING THE PERIODS OF

RECEIVING, JUDGING, EXHIBITION,

OR RETURN.  EVERY PRECAUTION

WILL BE TAKEN TO GUARD

AGAINST SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE.

5.       The exhibitor is solely responsible for

          deciding on the proper class and lot

 number for each entry.  We will do our

 best to reclassify improperly classified

 entries.

6.       When you fill out the form be sure to list

 important information about your entry

 that the judge may need to know under

 “name of entry”.  Example: Original 

 design.

 7.      Entries may be video taped to use in

           promotions for the Home & Fine Arts

           Department of the Pima County Fair.

8.       Certified Southern Arizona School Teachers

 may enter their students projects in the Youth

 Division for $1.00 per entry.  Students

 5-17 years old.  Type a list with students names 

 and entries.

EXHIBITOR PASSES

Two passes per exhibitor will only be available for purchase with your entry form by mail or at receiving.  Passes purchased through the mail with your entry fee will be picked up on receiving day when you bring in your entries.  Exhibitor Passes are good for all eleven days of the fair.  All Exhibitor Passes are for parking out in the main parking lot.  Only one parking pass per family.  There will be no parking available at Brekke Gate.   

All tickets are $10.00 for the 11 days.  Exhibitor passes cannot be purchased if you do not have a paid entry in the fair. Entering contests does not qualify.   If passes are not picked up, money will not be refunded.

RECEIVING

Exhibits will be received at Old Pueblo Hall, Pima County Fairgrounds:

 

Groups/Schools:  

Saturday, April 4th    10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Monday, April 6th          4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

ALL OTHER ENTRIES

Entries:   Friday, April 10, 2009         3 pm – 8 pm

Food/Entries:  Saturday, April 11, 2009

                                                10 am –  4 pm  

You may furnish your own display case, otherwise each display will be in a glass-covered case provided by the Fair.  Exhibitors are encouraged to decorate their case.  BE SURE AND INDICATE ON YOUR ENTRY THE SIZE OF SPACE REQUIRED.  Do not put your name on any visible portion of your display.  Your entry is fully identified on the Pima County Fair Tag. 

Thumbnail collections may be displayed in a thumbnail box.  State how you will display.

ENTRIES

Dealers or Professional exhibits will be judged separately from amateur exhibits.

 Students & youth are encouraged to enter their own collections.

PLEASE SPECIFY ON ENTRY FORM IF

AMATEUR, PROFESSIONAL, DEALER

OR YOUTH.

PREMIUM AND RIBBONS:

No more than one 1st, one 2nd, and one 3rd award will be made in any lot.

DEFINITIONS:

DEALER:  Refers to a person who regularly buys, sells or advertises for sale mineral specimens, gem material, etc and who earns a substantial portion of his or her livelihood from the sale of such materials.

PROFESIONAL:  Refers to a person who regularly sells or advertises for sale materials or services and/or who earns a substantial portion of his or her livelihood from the sale of such materials or services. 

MINERAL:  Naturally occurring inorganic substance having definite limits of chemical composition, atomic structure and physical properties.  Once a stone is cut or polished in can no longer be entered as a mineral specimen. 

JEWELRY:  Refers only to articles intended for personal ornamentation and wear.  Examples:  rings, bracelets, buckles, belts and earrings.

CHANNEL INLAY JEWELRY:  Shaped materials (stone, shell, wood, ivory, etc.) placed in a design ornament and separated (generally) by metal (sterling silver, gold, brass, etc.) in such a way that the metal becomes (usually) the major lines of design.

METALCRAFT:  Refers only to articles intended for general ornamentation and/or service.  Examples:  vases, desk service, boxes, cigarette boxes, vanity chests, etc.

THUMBNAIL:  A mineral specimen that can be fitted into a 1” cube, vanity chests, etc.

THUMBNAIL COLLECTION:  Limited to 35 specimens.

MINIATURE:  A mineral specimen that can be fitted into a 2” cube, but larger than a thumbnail.

CABINET SPECIMEN:  A mineral specimen larger than a miniature, but the largest dimensions not to exceed 5”.

SINGLE SPECIMEN:  Larger than a miniature, but not to exceed 8” in height, or 12” at base.

VARIETY:  The number of different species; or if all the same mineral, the number of different forms.  In lapidary, the number of different materials, types of cut, shapes of stones and patterns (if all one material).

RARITY:  Scarcity of the occurrence of the species, of association, of crystal form or habit.  World, rather than local occurrence will be considered.

QUALITY:  Excellence of the specimens as perceived by the judges.

MICROMOUNT:  Permanently mounted minerals requiring magnification and illumination for proper observation.

GROUP (MICROMOUNT):  garnet group, Mica group, Zeolite group, etc.

CLASS (MICROMOUNT):  Phosphates, arsenates, sulfates, single chain silicates, etc.

 LABELS:  Labels for cabinet, miniature and thumbnail specimens must show the name of the mineral, the location and either the chemical compound or the chemical formula.  Lapidary pieces must be labeled as to mineral name.  Faceted stones must be labeled as to mineral name and cut.  Stones used in jewelry and metal craft shall be identified.  Technique and stones used in jewelry and metal craft shall be identified.

THE SOUTHWESTERN FAIR COMMISSION, INC, WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE, BUT ALL POSSIBLE PRECAUTIONS WILL BE TAKEN TO INSURE SAFETY.  INSURANCE, IF DESIRED, MUST BE ARRANGED BY THE EXHIBITOR.