Demonstrations of silver smithing, and gem faceting intrigued visitors to the Ballarat Gem, Crystal, Mineral and Fossils Show on Saturday.
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The show is being held at the Ballarat Specialist School FARM campus in Invermay Park throughout the weekend.
Various forms of mineral specimens, gems, fossils, beads, jewellery, findings and machinery are on show and for sale at 15 stalls.
A children’s competition kept the youngsters entertained while helping to educate them about gems, fossils and minerals. They were encouraged to ask traders for information to help answer and submit a question sheet.
The yearly event is run by the Ballarat and District Gem Club.
The club’s members share a common interest in collecting minerals, fossils and gem stones.
Assistant treasurer and show organiser Jeanette Dyett said the event gave visitors an insight into what the members do.
“I have been in the club close on 30 years. I really enjoy the craft side of it,” she said.
“We learn skills like bone carving, enameling, and faceting at the local club and we can learn to make gems into jewelry.
“It offers such a release of stress. Crystals give you a warm feeling anyway, when you see something so beautiful formed out of a piece of stone, it is truly amazing.”
The club has around 40 to 50 members, but Ms Dyett said there were many more prospective members who expressed interest during the show on Saturday.
The Ballarat Gem, Crystal, Mineral and Fossil show is held on Saturday August 18 and Sunday August 19 between 9am and 4pm at 800 Norman Street Invermay Park.
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