The Prescott Gem and Mineral Club will host its annual show August 2-4 in Prescott Valley and is accepting members year ‘round.
A handful of dedicated rockhounds started the Prescott Gem and Mineral Club in 2003. Today it’s one of the largest gem clubs in Arizona, boasting a membership of more than 300 people.
Monthly meetings occur at the Community Center in Chino Valley. The club invites guests to attend and learn more. Most months meetings include a program on various subjects ranging from rockhounding field trips to beading to local geology.
The Club held its first show in 2004. It wasn’t much more than a tailgate party for the members. Over the years the show has grown from its meager beginnings in the livestock building at the Yavapai County Fairgrounds, where the flies outnumbered the patrons, to what it is today, the largest indoor show in Northern Arizona. In 2024, the show will again take over the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley for three days of rockin’ fun!
Friday, August 2, through Sunday, August 4, folks can find anything their heart desires related to rocks and minerals, including finished one-of-a-kind jewelry, rough rock, slabs, fossils, cabochons, mineral specimens, tools, equipment, beads, findings and so much more. Featuring more than 65 vendors from around the Western United States, the show will not disappoint.
In addition to various vendors, club members show off their collections and talents in display cases. This year Les Presmyk, an Arizona native and long-time collector, will be a vendor and have a display featuring a group of his fine Arizona copper minerals. David R. Freeland, Jr., will also be a vendor and have a display booth in the show. Our fluorescent mineral booth, more than a simple display, is a kinetic educational show including lasers and two different ultraviolet illuminators. A fluorescent mineral experience like no other in the world, it is a unique feature of the Prescott Show.
If that’s not enough, there is a kids’ area where young and young at heart can spin the wheel for prizes and hold some dinosaur bone or coprolite (yup, that’s fossilized dino poop) in their hands.
Every paying entrant gets a free raffle ticket for the great daily prizes. If you think this club and hobby is something for you, there is a club table manned by volunteer members who are happy to answer your questions and sign you up.
The Prescott Gem and Mineral Club will also be busy for the rest of the year. The club offers several Yavapai College scholarships. Information concerning scholarships can be found on the club website. There are monthly field trips to rock-hounding spots around the state and at least one out-of-state field trip each year. And don’t be afraid if you’re a newbie. Members are always glad to help you identify what treasures you’ve found.
The club also has a workshop with instructors to help you learn the art of lapidary or to slab that rock you brought home from the last field trip.
Prescott Gem and Mineral Club is dedicated to increasing scientific knowledge about minerals, gems, rocks, and fossils. Membership in the club is open to all ages and levels, from the dedicated fossil collector to folks who love the beautiful stones and minerals available around us.
Learn more at https://www.prescottgemmineral.org.