Posted by VBS on 8/5/2012 to
Miscellaneous
We spent the day at the San Francisco Gem and Mineral Society Show with the 4 grandchildren. I believe there's a little rock hound in most of us and since our days of exhibiting at Tucson Gem Shows, we've been adding to the children's collection. We had been anxiously awaiting the show.
And what better location than on Treasure Island. The best part was the choosing geodes and having them cut right in front of you, noisy and a bit dangerous but a bit thrill to kids of all ages.
There's a local Gem and Mineral Society in most areas of the US. For a complete listing you can visit the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (amfed.org). They teach everything related to the gems, some clubs own mines and have field trips to search for your own stones. Their shows are highly educational, with authentic gems and minerals, a lot of information. They are all passionate about their hobby, well informed and willing to share. It's a great way to get your youngsters interested in geology and learn about the earth's treasures.
A bit about Treasure Island:
Treasure Island is the man made island between San Francisco and Oakland. The view is spectacular gazing back on the waterfront of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. It was originally created in 1936-37 for the Golden Gate International Exposition and named after the the book by Robert Louis Stevenson, who lived in San Francisco for a brief period in 1880. It was the site of the 1939-40 World's Fair and has been the location for numerous films & TV shows in addition to serving as a Navy station.