Emeralds from Brazil, malachite from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, serpentine from Turkey, agate from Indonesia, fossilized fish from Wyoming and sapphires from B.C. were all on display at the Victoria Rock N’ Gem Show.
For four days, rock enthusiasts from the south Island and beyond had the chance to attend one of Canada’s largest gem shows as it made its stop at Langford’s Eagle Ridge Community Centre from July 24 to 27.
Organized by Alberta-based gem seller Silver Cove, the event featured more than 400 tables of minerals, some handpicked in Canada and others sourced from around the world.
A large section of the exhibit featured maple leaf flags marking the company’s own finds. Their selection included ammolites from Alberta, the province’s official gemstone, peridot, and a sizable collection of sapphires from mining expeditions near Revelstoke, explained event organizer Ben Rautiainen.
“Some of them were all the way up to the size of cantaloupes and some of them were the size of my pinkie,” he said. “It was actually the largest hardrock sapphire mining expedition that's ever been done in North America.”
Rautiainen added being thrilled to set shop in Victoria, one of 34 stops on their cross-country tour. Travelling as far east as Ottawa, the self-claimed “crystal carney” said this was the opportunity to connect with geology enthusiasts around the country.
Attendee Leo Loving said she jumped at the chance to visit the show in Langford and pick up some handmade earrings and jewelry when she heard about the event.
“It's just beautiful being in a space like this,” she said. “It's incredible to see all of this stuff, especially found in Canada.”
More than just selling stones, Rautiainen said the event was also a chance to share his lifelong passion for geology and rockhounding with the roughly 4,000 attendees who visited this year’s show.
What makes geology so fascinating? Rautiainen says it has a touch of magic.
“There are rocks that will hold on to the sun's light and a minute later they'll be phosphorescent," he said. “Other rocks that fluoresce and react to a black light.
“There's also camphor fluorescence which happens when a rock breaks, it'll emit lights. If you take two pieces of a specific quartz, you can make a cold fire by rubbing and they'll actually glow.”
For all those who missed the opportunity to visit this year’s event, Rautiainen said to keep an eye out as the show plans to be in the Cowichan Valley next summer and hopefully make another stop in Langford.
To know more about the Victoria Rock N’ Gem Show, visit facebook.com/Canadagemshow
