Jim & Gail Spann Talk for the Tucson Gem & Fine Mineral Show 2026

Jim and Gail Spann realized early in their journey of collecting fine minerals – which includes both classic and worldwide specimens – that they couldn’t resist the lure of “side collections”!

Having ventured into fossils, carvings, petrified wood and mining figurines, to name a few, they discovered that there are truly marvelous things to be found.

The Spanns reside near Dallas, Texas, and own over 20,000 minerals, displayed in 73 well-lit cabinets. Gail is an avid teapot collector, while Jim has a passion for antique mineral letters and books. They live with five poodles, two parrots, five cats, and – out in the barn – three pot-bellied pigs – it seems they collect animals too!