Natural treasures beckon at gem and mineral show
Northwest Montana Rock Chucks reveal a world of natural treasures at your feet at their club’s upcoming annual gem and mineral show at the Northwest Montana Fairgrounds.
Located in the Expo Building, the show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, and 10 a.m. to 4 p. m., on Sunday, July 24. Club member Judy Pettersen said the $1 admission buys hours of fun watching member demonstrations and enjoying displays along with vendor merchandise such as custom jewelry.
“We’ll have a display of fluorescent minerals and demonstrations like flint knapping,” she said. “That’s the making of arrowheads in the primitive way.”
A family-friendly event, the show has a Kid’s Corner where youngsters can fish for answers to rock-related questions. There will also be metal-detecting information and displays as well as findings — necklace and ring settings – for sale for people interested in trying their own hand at jewelry-making.
“We’ll have a variety of vendors including gold, precious stones, and beads of all kinds,” Pettersen said. “There will be a collection of slabs for people who want to work on their own cabochons.”
The show, which started about six years ago, raises money for club activities like trips to rock and gem shows held in other areas like Spokane. They also have a goal of starting a scholarship fund for students interested in related areas like jewelry making.
Money raised also helps educational efforts of the club such as their work with 4-H youth this spring organized by Kathy Martin.
“We gave nine weekend workshops for them about gems, rocks, minerals,” Pettersen said. “And did those kids ever enjoy themselves. I don’t know who had more fun — the kids, their parents or the club members.”
People who enjoy the show or have an interest in rocks and gems have an open invitation to join Northwest Montana Rock Chucks.
Founded about seven years ago, the club meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the Arts and Technology Building at Flathead Valley Community College. Meetings usually feature an educational presentation.
“We have a rock of the month,” Pettersen said. “It’s everything from agates to fossils to cutting gemstones — all facets of rock hounding.”
She joined the club two years ago, initially tagging along with her husband Rich. He puts on the flint knapping presentation at the show.
“It’s a great bunch of people who enjoy natural beauty,” she said. “It’s just fun to understand the natural processes and I love finding them (gems).”
The couple recently traveled to a star garnet mine located near St. Maries in Idaho not too far from Coeur d’Alene. She said the mine has been producing these unique garnets since 1945.
For the price of a permit, visitors to the state-operated mine receive a pile of dirt to screen and then wash in the water sluice facility. She said they just stopped by on a whim.
“For a $10 permit, we walked away with $200 worth of stones,” Pettersen said. “It was easy pickings and fun.”
Describing the star garnet as exceptional, Pettersen said putting a high polish on the dome of the garnet brings out the star. It isn’t faceted like many gems.
“Polishing makes the star sparkle,” she said.
A benefit of membership is learning about productive adventures like this from other members. Pettersen estimated that they found about 80 garnets at that stop.
She added that children particularly enjoy rock hounding.
“I look at the rock club as really family-oriented. It’s such a learning tool for children,” Pettersen said. “ And it doesn’t take a lot of money.”
Through fund-raising like this month’s mineral show, they subsidize the cost of transportation of field trips to make them affordable.
Pettersen said joining the rock club and learning new things, such as how minerals form, have given her a new perspective on the natural treasures around her.
“It makes you look at the ground a lot closer,” she said.
People interested in learning more may attend the show or call Mila at 844-3560 or Vi at 862-1316.