Denver Gem and Mineral Show 2023

The Original Denver Gem and Mineral Show – August 2023 Update

The 2023 Denver Gem & Mineral Show (DGMS) in conjunction with the Hardrock Summit will be held at the Colorado Convention Center from September 15-18, 2023. The Hardrock Summit has 4 shows at the Convention Center this year, including the Evolution Show, Sparkle & Joy Jewelry and Gemstone Show, DGMS, and AGTA Gem Fair.

Visit https://hardrocksummit.com/#summit and https://denvermineralshow.com/ for more information.

The DGMS will occupy the same space as last year on the upper, entry level of the Convention Center. The DGMS 2023 show will include about 30 dealers, fluorescent room, club tables, speakers (see list below), display exhibits, education and public sector tables, gold planning, Mr. Bones, and grab bags. The theme of the 2023 DGMS is Gem Minerals: Nature’s Bling.

Hours for the Show are Friday through Sunday 10:00am to 6:00 pm and Monday 10:00am to 3:00pm. Admission for Hardrock Summit this year is FREE; however, everyone is required to register to obtain a visitor ticket, which allows you to enter all the shows all 4 days. If you plan to attend the show, you can pre-register before the show to skip the registration lines by going to the following link https://tickets.hardrocksummit.com/en/shop/tickets, enter your information, and a ticket will be emailed to you that you can print out and bring with you. You can enter up to 5 tickets under one registration. Lanyards will be available at the show if you want to wear your ticket as a badge.

Volunteers Needed

The non-profit DGMS is put on by the area Denver gem, mineral, and fossil clubs. Your participation as a volunteer is the life blood of a successful show and we need about 200 volunteers. Volunteers should work a minimum of 4 hours and will get a volunteer badge and be reimbursed for parking/public transit reimbursement (up to $12 per day) on the day(s) you actually volunteer. The Convention Center parking garage is $12 per day. We encourage you to take public transportation and there is a light rail station across the street from the Convention Center. An online volunteer sign up is located at the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D45A5AD2EA2F94-2023

If you are volunteering for a club table, put in which club table in the comments. You do not need to register with an account for Signup Genius, unless you want to be able to edit your entries. If you can’t get signed up online, please send Joe Walkowich an email at joewcai@yahoo.com with days and hours you want to volunteer, email address, phone number, and City and State that you live in and he will add you to the online database. Starting about two weeks before the show, the volunteer spreadsheet will be uploaded to Hardrock Summit’s system and an automated email with your volunteer badge will be emailed to you and you can print out in color. If you don’t have a color printer, the registration desk at the DGMS can print it out for you. Lanyards will be available at the registration booth. General admission badges/tickets are gray, so the color print will help the people with the scanners identify the volunteer and VIP badges (speakers and exhibitors).

Here is a list of volunteers and duties:
Display Case Set-up and Tear Down – About 30 wooden display cases to put together and take down – Wednesday 10am-4pm (lunch will be provided) and Monday 3pm-7pm.
Information Booth – Sitting position to answer questions and direct people to the shows.
Registration Booth – Sitting position to collect attendee/visitor information in a laptop and print out visitor badges.
Scanners – Sitting or standing position to scan volunteer and visitor badges to get into the DGMS.
Dealer Unloading Drop-Off Area – Direct dealers/exhibitors to drop-off and unloading area, manage parking areas, help dealers and exhibitors as needed. Thursday 8am-7pm and Monday 3pm-7pm.
Grab Bags/Pins – Sell to attendees.
Club Table –Sitting at club table to answer questions, do demonstrations, and recruit for your club.
Fluorescent Room – Answer questions.

Speakers List

Here is the list of speakers so far as part of the Hardrock Summit and DGMS. All Speakers will be located in Room 401 near the entrance to the Hardrock Show. A schedule for the speakers is forthcoming.

Bill Larson, San Diego County Tourmalines, and recent finds at the Tourmaline King
Jeff Scovil, The Drehers, A Legacy of Beauty
Stephen Nash, The Enchanted Gem Carvings of Vasily Konovalenko
Kim Vagnar, Gem Minerals of the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
Laura McCall, Lizzadro Museum Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art–Sharing the beauty of hard stone carvings for over 60 years.
Mark Jacobson, Spodumene–An Exotic Gemstone
Kimberly Collins,Niklai Israileff, Robyn Dufty, John Bradshaw; Moderator: John W. Ford AGTA Shares It’s Love of Colored Stones and Cultured Pearls
Jenna White (Mines), Kimberly Collins, John W. Ford AGTA and Colorado School of Mines, Update on the Transparent and Traceable Gemstone Supply initiative
Ed Raines, Fun for Curators: validating gem minerals or precious metals and encounters with fakes and frauds
John Rhodes, Colorado Faceted Gemstones
Renata Lafler, Crowns and Cleavage–Gems from the Mines Museum of Earth Science
Brain Walko and Conrad North, Silver Foxes of Fluorescence
Albert O’Ray, Unearthing the beauty of Chihuahua, Mexico

Request for Club Members Display Exhibits and Competitive Exhibit Options

Another outlet for your support for the DGMS would be to enter an exhibit in the show for the enjoyment of our visitors. For over 50 years, these displays have set us apart as unique from the rest of the area shows. We encourage exhibits that feature the show theme of “Gem Minerals: Nature’s Bling”, but any display is appreciated like fossils, mining history, collections, and educational/hobby topics. Exhibited material need NOT be self-collected. Contact Larry Havens at lwrnchavens@comcast.net or 303-757-6577 if you are interested in putting together a display case in the DGMS. Setup for the display cases will be Thursday, September 14th.

In addition, we are offering the following competitive exhibit options with awards:
• Both Adult and Junior (ages 6 through 14) Prospector Competitions – The collecting period for eligible personally-collected specimens is September 12, 2022 to August 25, 2023.
• The Species Competition – Entries are mineral specimens (one per category) in the following categories: thumbnail, toenail, miniature, cabinet, oversize cabinet, self-collected, best of Colorado, lapidary/jewelry, gem fossil, and organic gem. You may enter one, some, or all the categories.
• The Best Fossil Personally Collected in the Field Competition – Up to three specimens can be entered.

For full information and entry forms contact Larry Havens at lwrnchavens@comcast.net or 303-757-6577. The link for the forms is located at https://www.denvermineralshow.com/copy-of-exhibits-exhibitors. Deadline for the competitive entries is September 1st. We will provide display cases and liners (if requested).

If you have any questions, please contact Amber Brenzikofer, 2023 DGMS Chairperson, at amberbrenzikofer@gmail.com or 720-480-5234.
Thanks and let’s have a successful show this year!

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Hot Springs Arkansas 2023

Thursday, October 19 – Monday, October 24, 2023, Hot Springs Arkansas

“Crystal Capital of the World”

Trip Leaders:

Ed and Susan Wakefield, (720 613 0545, ewakefield2626@gmail.com)

Exciting opportunity to join Ed, and other LGMC members, to collect world-famous quartz crystals, and other minerals. Places planned to dig: Ron Coleman Crystal Mine, Wegher Crystal Ranch, and Crystal Vista. Also, Crater of Diamonds State Park where you can find, besides a possible diamond, amethyst, agate, jasper, garnet and more. Hope to make it to Ron Coleman twice, and Crater of Diamond once. The other dates are open in case of bad weather, and to visit possible other locations.

If interested, or want additional information, contact Ed. He can discuss lodging and associated fees for each area.

Ed Wakefield, 720 613-0545, ewakefield2626@gmail.com

Crawford, Nebraska Agates and Chalcedony 2023

Saturday, September 30 – Sunday, October 1, 2023, Fairburn Agates & Fluorescent Chalcedony

Locale:

Crawford, Nebraska

Trip Leader:

Brian Walko, (Cell: 303 931-4283, earthextractions@gmail.com)

Limit:

40 people

Flatirons Mineral Club in conjunction with other Denver Area Clubs.

Meeting Location:

Toadstool Geologic Park & Campground, approximately 20 miles north of Crawford. Please meet at 9:00 AM, Saturday. There may be a $3/day use fee.

Driving Directions:

Denver/Boulder area to Crawford, NE: On the northeast side of Crawford, turn left onto NE-2 W/NE-71 N; Continue to follow NE-2 W/NE-71 N (4.6 mi); Turn left onto Toadstool Rd (1.9 mi); Turn right to stay on Toadstool Rd (10.1 mi), Toadstool Rd parallels BNSF railroad tracks; Turn left at Toadstool Park sign, cross railroad tracks (1.4 mi) to Toadstool Geologic Park & Campground. Please exercise caution while crossing railroad tracks. Dual tracks with coal trains traveling 60 mph in both directions.

Trip Agenda:

Saturday morning we will briefly explore the Brule Formation around Toadstool Park. World famous for Oligocene fossils. Please note, fossil collecting is strictly prohibited by Federal Law. However, photographs are allowed. Then we will drive east of Toadstool Park and explore the lower Chadron Formation and chalcedony beds. Later we will drive to the agate beds and start hunting for Fairburn, Prairie, Picture, Blue Agates and Petrified Wood. Saturday evening collecting fluorescent agates and chalcedony using ultraviolet lamps. Sunday morning will be more agate hunting. After lunch you can continue agate collecting, visit the Hudson-Meng Bison Kill & Visitor Center, return to Crawford and visit historic Fort Robinson and the Trailside Museum, or return home.

Tools needed: Surface collecting, so bring whatever you need to gather your goodies although small rake, trowel, rock hammer, small shovel and container to carry your finds would be helpful.

Recommend Clothing/Gear: Hat, clothing for forecasted weather, sturdy boots, gloves, sunscreen, food and plenty of water. No bathroom facilities outside the Toadstool Park campground area.

Where to Stay Overnight:

  • Camp at Toadstool Park. Campsites, picnic tables and outhouse available. No water. $15/night fee
  • Camp at Crawford City Park. Tents: $10; RVs: $20. Water and restrooms available.
  • Just outside of Crawford is Fort Robinson State Park with nice accommodations. Reservations are needed.
  • The High Plains Homestead has a limited number of cabins. Nice cabins.

The trip leader (Brian) will be camping at Toadstool Park both Friday and Saturday nights.

Reference Sites:
Toadstool Geological Park NW of Crawford
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska/recarea/?recid=10616

Hudson-Meng Bison Kill & Visitor Center
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska/recreation/recarea/?recid=10621

Fort Robinson State Park
http://www.stateparks.com/fort_robinson_state_park_in_nebraska.html
Crawford Lodging
https://hilltopmotelcrawfordnebraska.com/

Chadron Lodging (50 miles away)
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g45485-Chadron_Nebraska-Hotels.html

To register, contact:

Brian Walko, cell: 303 931-4283, earthextractions@gmail.com

Kemmerer Wyoming Fossils 2023

Saturday, July 1st – Tuesday, July 4th – Kemmerer Fossil Fish, near Kemmerer, Wyoming

Participants:

No limit

Trip leaders:

Nancy Kimber, (Cell: 303 807 8919, nkk9960@hotmail.com) Feel free to contact me for more information!

Description:
This is a multi-day trip to American Fossil Quarry, near Kemmerer, Wyoming, and nearby tourist attractions such as Fossil Butte National Monument.

At the quarry, you’ll be collecting 52 million year old fossil fish specimens from the Eocene, Green River Formation, Fossil Butte Member. They are a private “pay dig” location. They provide digging tools and use of rock saws to trim slabs to manageable sizes. Depending on participant preferences, I am planning on doing at least one full day, maybe 2 days. Please see http://www.fishdig.com/ for more information. Bring lunch, plenty of water, sunscreen, and insect spray.

At the National Monument, you will learn about the fossils and geology of the area. In addition to the visitor center and exhibits, there are hiking trails and a scenic drive. Please see https://www.nps.gov/fobu/index.htm for more information.

Logistics: It is basically a full day drive there, and a full day drive back, so July 1st and July 4th will be travel days. Accommodations will be needed for the nights of July 1, 2, and 3. Kemmerer has hotels, very limited camping, and some restaurants. I will work out the exact itinerary and meeting place and time depending on participant preferences and where people are staying. One option is, 2 full days at the quarry, a short visit to the National Monument, then drive home (getting home late). Another option is, 1 ½ days at the quarry, an afternoon visit to the National Monument, then drive home (maybe getting home in time for July 4th stuff).

Distance: 450 miles (I-25, US-287, I-80, US-30) one way
4WD: Optional
Kids: OK
Tools: D, H (wedges and hammers provided by quarry)
Fee, American Fossil Quarry: $139/8 hours. If we have enough participants, we may be able to do a “Private Dig”, which would work out cheaper.
Fee, Fossil Butte National Monument: their website says it is free.

Kemmerer_Fossil-Lake-Story

Kemmerer_Common-Fish

To register, contact:

Nancy Kimber, cell: 303 807-8919, nkk9960@hotmail.com

North Table Mountain 2023

Monday, May 29th, 2023, meet at 8 am (see directions below).

Trip Leaders:

Lesley Sebol (720 999 1372, lesleysebol@gmail.com) and Nancy Kimber, (303 807 8919, nkk9960@hotmail.com)

Collecting zeolites (mostly white).

Note: there is no shade on the trail and there are no bathroom facilities. A little shade may be available amongst the boulders in the quarry. It can also be quite windy at the quarry.

Directions:

From Highway 58 Take McIntyre Street exit and head north. Turn left on W 44th Ave. Turn right on Salvia Street and follow to the end into a gravel parking lot. Note, it you get to the train museum entrance on 44th, you have just passed Salvia Street. Park to the left side of the long rectangular gravel lot at the end of Salvia Street. This is part of the Tony Grampsas Memorial Sports Park. We will car pool from here to the trail head at W 43rd Drive as it has minimal space for parking and is in a residential neighborhood.

The single person width dirt trail is rated “more difficult” (the middle rating), but quite passable if it did not rain the day or so before. It will take about 45 minutes to walk to the quarry or longer depending on how often folks stop to rest. The elevation at the trail head is 5825 ft. Quarry elevation is ~6175. Thus, there is about a 350 ft elevation climb.

As the volcanic rock is very hard, bring at least a 5 lb. sledge hammer and stone chisels. Also bring a little wrapping material for the zeolite specimens. Bring lots of water and your lunch, a hat, and sunscreen. Recommend you have a backpack to carry your supplies and treasures.

Hartsel Barite 2023

Saturday, Aug. 12, Hartsel Barite

Limit of 40 participants

Locale:

Hartsel, CO

Target Specimens:

Clear to blue to opaque barite crystals. Fun trip and everyone is guaranteed to leave with a bag full of barite. Easy collecting area.