New show addition!

The Rolling Stones welcomes an exciting new addition to this year's Gem and Mineral Show. Everyone will want to make a special visit to the exhibit from NMSU's Zuhl Collection of petrified wood. Curator Matt Dawkins will be there to discuss the displays and answer your questions.

Don't miss our SHOW!

Show field trips schedule

A free field trip is offered each day of the Show, September 4,5, and 6. Everyone is welcome! The trips depart each day at 9:00 AM from the Grant County Business and Conference Center. Some areas require a high-clearance vehicle, and car-pooling is encouraged. Be sure to bring plenty of water, hats, sunscreen, a bag or bucket, and perhaps a small rock hammer or shovel. Perhaps a light snack as well.

Saturday’s trip is Bear Mountain, not far from Silver City, to look for fortification (banded) agate in rhyolite nodules and fossils

Sunday's trip is to Fluorite Ridge, south of Silver City near Deming for a variety of minerals such as botryoidal psilomelane, beautiful conglomerates and breccia and occasional carnelian chips.

Monday's trip is to Saddlerock Canyon in the nearby Burro Mountains to search for dark gray limestone nodules that occur with golden iron sulfide crystals embedded inside that can be cut and polished into impressive cabochons, as well as perhaps fossils and other interesting minerals.

Displays in the works

Josh, Kyle, and Alan meet to discuss the components
of our ever-popular club displays for the Show.

A Full House for the Show!

All of our vendor slots have been filled for this year's show, and we have several vendors already on our waiting list. Here's our first draft.

July Field Trip

Report prepared by Club Member Kyle Meredith. This trip will also be provided free of charge during the upcoming Gem and Mineral Show.

“Ammonites” was the word of the day for our field trip to Saddlerock Canyon. Oh, I’ve found a couple of ammonites before—from one whole tiny impression to a segment from one that was probably a foot or more in diameter—but several people found ammonites in many different forms, including Denise’s rock that seemed to be a kind of ammonite jam with many sizes all jumbled together.

We also found the limestone with the iron sulfide crystals. The piece I brought home has a rusty-looking nodule about the size of a golf ball that I’m going to try to release with a bath in muriatic acid. If it’s any good, I’ll be sure to bring it to the next meeting. I also picked up a pretty yard rock. Whether it’s tuff or rhyolite or something else altogether is beyond me, but it has some dramatic banding.

I hope everyone found something worthwhile, but if what you took home was a disappointment, we’ll be going back on Labor Day at the Rock and Gem Show. Of course, you’re always welcome to revisit any of our field trips on your own. That is, if you can find your way there!