MONROE - Some of the items seen at the Badger Lapidary and Geological Society's 38th annual Mineral, Gem and Fossil Show are seldom on display for the public.
There will be several speakers and many gems and rocks on display.
Guest speakers include Neal Trickel, Monroe, who will talk about how stones in the ground get turned into gemstones for jewelry. Other speakers include Dr. Richard Slaughter, who will talk about new gem finds out West; Michael Szenchanski, who will talk about how computers have helped map fields; Roger Clark, who has written several books about South Dakota stones; and Greg Fritz, who will talk about advances to determine real gems from fake ones.
The show, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Monroe High School, also features numerous children's activities as well as mineral, fossil, gem and jewelry dealers.
Lamon Flynn, who lives in Kentucky, will be on hand to show people his Kentucky agate collection, as well as how to make jewelry out of the agates.
According to gem show chairman Dave Zimmerman, Kentucky agate is the only agate in the world that has a pitch-black base color with blood-red bands going through it.
Zimmerman said the show tries to focus on children and families.
Different children's activities include the always popular fish pond, in which kids can fish for bags of gems for a quarter. Other activities include a scavenger hunt and a Wheel of Fortune-type game.
The event tries to be a "traveling museum" Zimmerman said.
"Many of the items (on display) can only be seen in the big museums around the country," he said.
The show has become one of the more popular shows for people who enjoy collecting rocks and gems, which is a popular hobby.
It's a good hobby for anyone, whether they want to look for rare gems or look for something that looks pretty, he added.
Zimmerman said collectors have found that Canada is a hotbed of rare gems and rocks.
"People have found diamonds and rubies in Canada," he said. "It's a new frontier of collecting."
There is no cost to attend the gem and fossil show, but freewill donations are accepted.
There will be several speakers and many gems and rocks on display.
Guest speakers include Neal Trickel, Monroe, who will talk about how stones in the ground get turned into gemstones for jewelry. Other speakers include Dr. Richard Slaughter, who will talk about new gem finds out West; Michael Szenchanski, who will talk about how computers have helped map fields; Roger Clark, who has written several books about South Dakota stones; and Greg Fritz, who will talk about advances to determine real gems from fake ones.
The show, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Monroe High School, also features numerous children's activities as well as mineral, fossil, gem and jewelry dealers.
Lamon Flynn, who lives in Kentucky, will be on hand to show people his Kentucky agate collection, as well as how to make jewelry out of the agates.
According to gem show chairman Dave Zimmerman, Kentucky agate is the only agate in the world that has a pitch-black base color with blood-red bands going through it.
Zimmerman said the show tries to focus on children and families.
Different children's activities include the always popular fish pond, in which kids can fish for bags of gems for a quarter. Other activities include a scavenger hunt and a Wheel of Fortune-type game.
The event tries to be a "traveling museum" Zimmerman said.
"Many of the items (on display) can only be seen in the big museums around the country," he said.
The show has become one of the more popular shows for people who enjoy collecting rocks and gems, which is a popular hobby.
It's a good hobby for anyone, whether they want to look for rare gems or look for something that looks pretty, he added.
Zimmerman said collectors have found that Canada is a hotbed of rare gems and rocks.
"People have found diamonds and rubies in Canada," he said. "It's a new frontier of collecting."
There is no cost to attend the gem and fossil show, but freewill donations are accepted.