Gem show is a treat for rockhounds

Rockhounds and others appreciative of what lies beneath the surface of our planet had a chance to rub shoulders at Sisters’ Roundup of Gems, held at the elementary school grounds June 30-July 4.

The vendors at the show displayed and sold rocks, minerals, petrified wood, fossils and jewelry grade stones and gems. Some of the pieces were polished; others were in their natural state. The rocks came from all over the world and represented a range of geologic diversity.

Wayne and Jean Miller of Mollala organized the show. For the past 10 years, they have filled a roster of between 30 and 35 vendors, with most of those being repeats. The show is always on the Fourth of July weekend and draws a loyal crowd of customers.

When asked how he came to be a rock, gem and mineral show organizer, Miller said, “About 60 years ago, I started picking up pebbles. They got bigger and then I realized I was a rockhound.”

The Millers eventually put on a show in Canby with other rock-minded people and things kind of grew from there. They now oversee four shows — three in Central Oregon as well as the Canby show.

There’s a rockhounding culture and people buy from each other in addition to gathering their own. Forest Service permits are available and there are some private landowners who make rockhounds welcome on their properties.

Tucson, Arizona has a reputation as a Mecca for rockhounds — not for the digging, but for the largest rock and gem show in the world which is held there annually. In addition, Tucson hosts many smaller shows and merchants from around the world bring their rocks and gems to sell.

Jim and Diane Coon turned their lifelong rock collecting hobby into a retirement business. Their favorites are petrified woods of various species and ocean jasper from the sea around Madagascar. When the stones arrive, they’ve been polished by villagers in Madagascar, said Diane, creating a viable cottage industry there.

Customers in Sisters could spend as little as a dollar or two on a handful of colorful polished stones or they could shell out much more for handcrafted jewelry. Large pieces of petrified wood, beads for necklaces and rough rock waiting to be cut were all for sale.

Hugh Martin of Sand Point, Idaho said that the stone often dictates what shape appears for a jewelry piece. Martin has come to Sisters for about 10 years and claims to have no favorites in his array of stones.

“If you really love the stones, they make their way to you,” he said.