Sunday, November 27, 5:03 PM
The 2016 Annual Show has come to an end. On behalf of the members of the Mobile Rock & Gem Society and of all the dealer at the show, thank you for coming out this year. We hope you found many treasures, and we look forward to see you again next year.
Sunday, November 27, 4:18 PM
Congratulations to our raffle prize winners!
1st Prize - Sheila Boone
2nd Prize - Crystal Chambers
3rd Prize - Jeff Richardson
4th Prize - P.D. Yemm
5th Prize - Oneika Finkley
Sunday, November 27, 1:53 PM
Labradorite is a feldspar mineral most often found in igneous rocks. Some specimens exhibit a strong play of iridescent blue, green, red, orange, and yellow colors. Labradorite is so well known for these spectacular displays of color that the phenomenon is known as "labradorescence." Specimens with the highest quality labradorescence are often selected for use as gemstones. You can learn more about labradorite here and here.
There are many great examples of labradorite available at the show this year, from rough, to cabochons, to beautiful display pieces.
Sunday, November 27, 1:00 PM
The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite, also known as fool's gold, is an iron sulfide with the chemical formula FeS2. This mineral's metallic luster and pale brass-yellow hue give it a superficial resemblance to gold, hence the well-known nickname of fool's gold.
Pyrite deposits in many different forms. Most commonly occurring in a cube shape, it can also form in association with other minerals (quartz, inclusions in lapis lazuli, etc...). Pyrite can also be the mineral replacement in fossilization.
There are many excellent examples of pyrite at the show this week, from beautiful clusters of cubes, to pyritized (fossilized with pyrite) ammonites, and sand dollars.
Sunday, November 27, 9:15 AM
The doors open for the third, and final, day of the Annual Rock & Gem Show at 10:00. Today's schedule includes:
1:00 PM - Gem Tree making class ($5 fee)
2:00 PM - Flint Knapping demonstration
3:00 PM - Gem Tree making class ($5 fee)
4:00 PM - Raffle prize drawing (you do NOT have to be present to win)
Saturday, November 26, 6:01 PM
Day two of the Annual Show has come to a close. Thank you to the more than 600 people who came out and visited our great dealers today. We hope you found treasure! See you again at 10:00 Sunday for day three.
Saturday, November 26, 4:26 PM
Do you like opals? Opals of all kinds are available from the dealers at the Rock & Gem show. Rough or polished and mounted in jewelry. From Boulder opal to Weblo, its all here.
Saturday, November 26, 4:11 PM
If minerals are of interest to you, the Rock & Gem show has you covered. Dealers at the show have minerals covering every interest and price range. From micro, postage stamp sized samples all the way up to huge display pieces, and priced from $1 up to several thousand.
Saturday, November 26, 3:45 PM
Our last gem tree making class of the day is wrapping up...including one with heart shaped leaves
Saturday, November 26, 12:30 PM
Our first gem tree making class of the day is finishing up. More treasures created! The next class starts at 3:00 PM.
Saturday, November 26, 11:30 AM
Flint napper Guy Meador will be doing a demonstration of ancient flint knapping techniques at 2:00 PM. Guy not only demonstrates ancient stone tool making, he also sells supplies so you can learn to do this yourself. You can learn more about knapping here, here, or here.
Saturday, November 26, 10:25 AM
There is a real, working gem sleuce at the show this year. You can buy a bag of material ($10) and use the sleuce like a real placer miner to find the gems hidden in the sand!
Saturday, November 26, 8:55 AM
Doors open for day 2 in about 5 minutes!
Today's schedule of events:
11:00 AM - Gem Tree making class ($5 fee)
2:00 PM - Flint Knapping Demonstration
3:00 PM - Gem Tree Making class ($5 fee)
6:00 PM - Day 2 closes...
Friday, November 25, 5:01 PM
Day one has come to a close. Thank you to the 464 people who came out to the show today. We hope you found something amazing! See you again in the morning at 9:00 AM for day 2.
Friday,November 25,4:46 PM
Malachite is an copper carbonate hydroxide opaque, green banded mineral that most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses. There are many great example available at the show from $5.00 polished samples all the way up to expensive museum-quality display pieces. If you would like to learn more about malachite, check here or here.
Friday, November 25, 4:14 PM
Our fist gem tree making class of the weekend is wrapping up. Classes will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM and again at 3:00 PM. Here are some pictures from the class:
Friday, November 25, 2:00 PM
Do you like Ammonite fossils? Ammonites are ancient sea creatures very similar to the modern nautilus. Their fossilized shells are amazing. You can learn more about Ammonites here. Rarely the shells will fossilize into a beautiful iridescent gemstone material call Ammolite (info here).
Many of the vendors are the show have Ammonite fossils for sale: ranging from small to very very large, and including some beautiful pyritized (fossilized as pyrite, fools gold) fossils. Several also have Ammolite. Enjoy some pictures from the various vendors:
Friday, November 25, 1:00 PM
Doors are open! Our A-team of greeters is waiting to welcome you to the show. We have demonstrators at the club booth showing how to facet gems, wire wrap jewelry, and how to embosse copper.
Friday, November 25
The doors open at 1:00 PM. Dealers are putting last minute touches on their booths, and there is a bee hive of activity all over the show floor.
Today's planned events:
1:00 PM - Doors open!
3:00 PM - Gem Tree making class ($5 fee)
6:00 PM - Close of day 1
Wednesday, November 23
Wow...two days of set-up for the Annual Rock & Gem Show are done. Almost 300 tables arranged for over 30 vendors and displays. More than half a mile of electrical run. Club booth, Junior's area, a demonstration area, and a gem sleuce in place.
Now the tired volunteers of Mobile Rock & Gem go home to rest and prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving. We wish all of you a happy and safe Thanksgiving. We'll see you Friday at the show opening!
Until then, enjoy the pictures...
First, the trailer of show supplies, including the display cases, electrical cables, and signs, that has to be unloaded...
Then the hundreds of tables have to be set up and all that electrical cable strung...
...and at some point that 900 lb chunk of brilliant petrified wood has to be loaded up, hauled in, and set in place.
Sunday, November 20
Only 5 short days left until the show opens it's doors! Members of MRGS will be busy all this week setting up everything it takes to put on a show of this size. The dealers start arriving Thursday (Thanksgiving) afternoon to set up their booths. Then the doors open on Friday afternoon.
Just like last year, we'll have pictures of the set up coming as the week goes by, and this blog (and the Facebook page for the show) will stay active during the show.
We look forward to seeing you Friday!
Sunday, October 16
It is 5 weeks until show set up starts (the Monday before Thanksgiving), and 6 weeks until show time (Friday, November 25th)!
Until show time, here are some MRGS related activities to keep you occupied:
- You can follow us at the Mobile Rock & Gem Society Facebook page.
- You can keep up with the latest Annual Show happenings at the Mobile Rock & Gem Society Annual Show Facebook page.
- You can see what our Junior Rockhounds are up to on their own Mobile Rock & Gem Society Juniors Facebook page.
- You can get those discount coupons printed out and ready for show time (or just show them on your mobile device at the gate).
- You could check out our website...Hey! You're already here! While you're here, check out our Calendar of Events, or view the photo galleries from previous Annual Shows (bottom of the page).
- ...or you could watch an otter play with rocks!