Diamonds in the rough: Rockhounds gathering for Idaho Falls Gem and Mineral Society sale next Saturday
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IDAHO FALLS — The annual membership sale for the Idaho Falls Gem and Mineral Society (IFG&MS) will be held next Saturday, October 5, at the Bonneville County Fairgrounds. This will be the third sale held just south of Sandy Downs Racetrack on Woodruff Avenue with the door opening at 9 a.m. and closing at 5 p.m. There will be a $3 admission fee with children 12 and under getting in free.
Members of the IFG&MS have been collecting, cutting, polishing stones, handcrafting items, and finishing jewelry items to sell to the public next Saturday. Idaho is known as the “gem” state and some of the finest gemstones in the world are found in the state. Many of these items come from several claims filed by the IFG&MS and are made from rocks picked up on field trips sponsored by the society.
Agate, opal and jasper are some of the coveted rocks which make some of the most beautiful items. The society has artisans that are talented silversmiths that make their own settings for these beautiful stones. There is also a group of members that knap knives, arrowheads and spear points from obsidian and glass.
At the sale, rock collections from all over the world will be displayed, as some of the members own or have access to gems from across the planet. Many of the members spend the winters in Utah and Arizona, where they buy or trade for materials from other locals, and will bring some of their collections to the sale.
If you have any interest in rocks of any kind, the sale will be a good place to visit as each rockhound has a specialty. Spencer fire opal is always a popular item for discussion, and there will be several members with their special creations to look at.
Recent discoveries of seam agate, plume agate and black agate have drawn a lot of attention to Central Idaho. Several members will bring specimens and jewelry made from those collections.
For non-members of the society looking for rough stones or slabs, there will be plenty of those specimens to buy at the sale. If you have an interest in minerals, fossils and odd specimens, or you have a rock that you would like to be identified, there will be plenty of knowledgeable rock enthusiasts to visit with. There will also be a tool company specializing in jewelry manufacturing tools at the sale.
At the Bonneville County Fairgrounds, there will also be a gun show next weekend as well as food available for visitors to enjoy. It may be a great place to start your shopping for that person on your list that is hard to find the perfect gift. Or it may inspire a new hobby for your future.
