Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Club Assists Geology Program At WNMU

At the regular meeting of the Rolling Stones Gem & Mineral Society in 
September a check for $500.00 was presented to Dr Mary Dowse, Professor 
of Geology at Western New Mexico University.  The recent Gem&  Mineral 
Show at the Business & Conference Center is held each year to raise 
funds to provide scholarships for Geology Students at WNMU and other 
educational projects in Silver City and New Mexico.  The Rolling Stones 
are committed to helping students, faculty and the general public learn 
more about geology and the earth sciences. 
Dr. Dowse stated after she was presented with the check by Marcia Fisch, 
Rolling Stones Treasurer, "The recent donation from the Rolling Stones 
Gem and Mineral Society will help to defray some of the extra costs of 
field trips for students.  This fall's donation will cover some of the 
costs of a joint trip with faculty and students from the School of 
Education.  The goal is to strengthen future teachers knowledge and 
interest in geology and encourage them to consider including activities 
related to geology when they begin teaching.  I am deeply grateful for 
the continuing support of the Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society for 
students in the Geology Program at WNMU."
Club Treasurer Marcia Fisch presents check to Dr. Dowse

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Great Vendors At Show

By Karen Blisard - Club member and Vendor Manager

An exciting array of rocks, minerals, fossils, gems and jewelry will be on display at the Grant County Business and Conference Center Labor Day weekend.  The occasion is the 28th Annual Grant County Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Show.  There will be a total of 45 vendors, 13 of whom are new to the show.   Twelve of the vendors are from the Silver City area, and six are from Deming.  Vendors are coming from all over New Mexico, as well as from Texas, Arizona, California, Arkansas, and even from China.

Mineral and fossil specimens are an important part of every gem and mineral show.   Veteran dealer John Scully of Scully’s Minerals in Albuquerque offers a variety of specimens from New Mexico such as azurite, rainbow fluorite and Triassic cycad wood replaced by copper minerals.  He and his wife Laurie travel to places like Brazil, Namibia, Madagascar, Morocco, and the Dominican Republic to purchase specimens at the source.   Specimens include topaz, tourmaline, dioptase, Brandberg amethyst quartz, as well as many others.

One of the new vendors is Tom Hales of Tom Hales Minerals in Deming.  He features minerals and cutting rough from the USA, Mexico, Canada and many worldwide locations.   The minerals range in size from thumbnail specimens (over 2,000 in stock) to large cabinet specimens.  He specializes in Mexican minerals and has many rare and beautiful examples.

In addition, a group of mineral dealers from Jinan, China will provide a new source of exotic specimens.  The Jinan Chinese Mineral Trading Company specializes in gathering minerals directly from mines all over China.

A large selection of jewelry, both silver and gold, and featuring cabochons and faceted stones, will be on display.  Karen Blisard, of Radiant Gemstones in Silver City, is primarily a facetor of gemstones, and displays jewelry made with gemstones she has cut herself.  She also has a wide variety of rings and earrings featuring commercially faceted stones set in silver.

Another long-time vendor, Sharon Szymanski from SanTan, AZ, will be selling jewelry (fine as well as costume).  She also offers rock carvings from around the world, wood carvings from Bali, as well as collectibles for the home. 

For the lapidary enthusiasts, there will be rough material for cutting, as well as lapidary equipment and supplies.   For those who like to make their own jewelry, there will be all kinds of beads and pearls, and of course, faceted stones and finished cabochons.  

An exciting addition to the show is wildlife artist Tony Zenan from Cottonwood, AZ.  Tony paints beautiful portraits of animals and birds on slabs of agate and petrified wood.  Local artist Barbara Nance will be displaying rock carvings and sculptures.  

The show this year should be bigger and better than ever.  The show is open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday September 3rd and 4th, and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday September 5th.

The members of the Grant County Rolling Stones look forward to seeing you there.