Clackamette Gem and Rock Show

Cracking open a geode.

One of Jasper's homeschooling friends has recently become very interested in rocks and minerals, and this seems to have inspired Jasper to become super excited about them as well.  I knew I had to take him to the Clackamette Gem and Rock Show happening this weekend in Canby.  A very enthusiastic crowd was gathered there.  It's easy to see how so many people could become  passionate about seeking out the beauty in nature by becoming rock collectors.  The Clackamette Mineral and Gem Club, sponsors of the show, invite rockhounds of all ages to join them and participate in rock hunting field trips.  Several of their member displays were put together by kids who are rockhounds.

Jasper's favorite vendor by far was The 3rd Rock, a Gaston OR business specializing in minerals and fossils.  DeWayne Lundmark, one of the owners, helped Jasper crack open his own geode.  He took the time to tell Jasper all about the small rocks that Jasper had picked out to add to his collection, and wrote down for him the name of each one and its origin.  

If you attend, you should not miss the fluorescent rock show!  A generous rockhound has put his astonishing collection on display in a room that has been specially prepared to block out white light when the lights are turned off.  He gives a wonderful talk explaining how fluorescence and phosphorescence works and where it can be found in nature.  It was fascinating to see how rocks that look perfectly ordinary in regular light can become dramatically colorful under short or long wave ultraviolet lights. He showed us examples of other things that he found to contain fluorescent minerals, including seashells and his son's baby teeth!