Geology Rocks!

As children, finding simple stones with unique colors or patterns is like finding a piece of treasure. For members of the Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society, this magic only continues to grow with age, and the finds more valuable for collecting, or as tools to learn more about our planet and history.

On the weekend of July 13-14, the society will host its annual Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show at the Exchange Center, Tulsa County Fairgrounds, to share their passion with everyone. Saturday the show will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show is open to the public, and will amaze and inspire visitors with gems, beads, fossils, jewelry, crystals and much more! There will be many exhibits to explore, including a kid’s zone with interactive stations and fun activities, such as fossil excavations and growing crystals. A market with over 28 vendors will be on-site, with items available for sale including jewelry, fossils, artifacts, minerals and gems. Working exhibits will provide entertaining education while demonstrating lapidary arts (work involved in cutting, polishing, or engraving stones or gems), jewelry making, stone cutting and much more. Entry is free for children 12 and under with a paid adult. Scouts, Military, Police and Fire are also free in uniform.

General admission is only $6 per adult or $10 for a two-day pass. Door prizes will be given with drawings every 30 minutes over the two-day event. Prizes could include knives, jewelry, fossils artifacts and more!

Event Director, Eric Hamshar, is most excited about the fluorescent room. “There are certain minerals that will fluoresce under UV lights that are special for this activity,” he said. “The rocks don’t look all that special until the room is made dark and the UV lights are turned on. All of the rocks just glow. It’s amazing.”

Eric is an active member with the Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society and is the Curator at the DW Correll Museum in Catoosa. The museum mostly houses the eclectic personal collection of DW Correll and contains countless minerals, gemstones, stones, and fossils from around the world. A collection of ice age bones that were discovered in Oklahoma along the Arkansas River is an exceptional part of the incredible collection. The museum was founded in 1971 by DW Correll. “He was a bit of a Renaissance man,” said Eric. “His collection here at the museum is very diverse.”

The museum was left to The City of Catoosa upon Correll’s death in 1999. The museum is an important place for the Tulsa Rock and Mineral Society. “The show is a big part of what we do,” said Eric. “Coming to the museum or going to the show could be the beginning of a journey. It can all encourage people to learn more.”