Annual Gem and Mineral Show brings in record crowd, highlights natures wonders for attendees

The Gem and Mineral Show continued a tradition that started 51 years ago. The show was held at the Howard County Fair Barn on March 6 and 7. As one of the first community events this year, the attendance was marked a success.

“We feel the show is important because it brings the world of gems and minerals from around the world into one place so the public has the opportunity to view natures wonders,” Lola Lamb, Gem and Mineral Show representative said. “This year's attendance was the most we have ever had at one of our shows.”

The magic began in 1969 with the first Gem and Mineral Show, just one year after the Big Spring Prospector's Club got its start. This year, there were 1,464 attendees at the show to view the displays created by local club members.

“The club formed in 1968 with six men who were interested in artifacts and old bottles and metal detecting.

Hence the name ‘prospector's,'” Lamb said. “The first show was held in 1969 in the Highland Shopping Center. They just brought the bottles and the treasures that they'd found with their metal detectors. Then in 1970, a meeting was called because there was a lot of people who were interested in that, too, but they were more interested in the lapidary, cutting the rocks and things. So it was decided to add a lapidary section to the original club. By 1971, the club had

Courtesy photos/Kim Long The annual Gem and Mineral Show was marked as a success, as the crowd was the largest one since the show began. Plans for next year’s show have already begun.