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Rock on!

Get your rocks on at the Carmichael Arena this weekend for the 30th annual Sudbury Gem and Mineral Show put on by the Sudbury Rock and Lapidary Society. The event kicks off July 20 from 5-9 p.m., continues July 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Ruth Debicki, vice-president of the Sudbury Rock and Lapidary Society, said this year's Sudbury Gem and Mineral Show is shaping up to be the best yet. File photo.
Get your rocks on at the Carmichael Arena this weekend for the 30th annual Sudbury Gem and Mineral Show put on by the Sudbury Rock and Lapidary Society.

The event kicks off July 20 from 5-9 p.m., continues July 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and wraps up on July 22 at 5 p.m. (doors open at 10 Sunday morning).

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors or $1 for children 6 to 12. Children five and under are free. Weekend passes are also available and parking is free.

One of the highlights of the event will be demonstrations of diamond cutting by Crossworks Manufacturing Inc., the Sudbury-based company that cuts and polishes diamonds mined at De Beers' Victor Mine in Ontario's far north, said Ruth Debicki, vice-president of the Sudbury Rock and Lapidary Society.

“As far as I know, this is first time someone from Crossworks will be demonstrating diamond cutting,” Debicki said. “It's a very specialized skill.”

Not only will Crossworks be on hand, the company has also donated a one-third carat diamond from the Victor Mine as the show's grand door prize.

Debicki said the Gem Show is one of Sudbury's best-kept secrets, with the public often holding the mistaken impression the event is geared toward the mining industry.

It's not.

“People are really surprised by what's there,” Debicki said. “It really is an activity for the whole family.”

In 2009, the show was voted the best conference in the city in 2009 by Sudbury Tourism.

Adults and children can enjoy making their own flint arrowheads with a flint knapping expert. Visitors can also watch demonstrations of wire-wrap jewellery, lapidary arts, and stained glass, as well as showcases of various minerals, gems, fossils and lapidary items provided by Laurentian University, and the University of Waterloo.

Vendors will be on hand with a variety of gems, minerals, fossils, beads, jewelry and lapidary items for sale.

For children (and adults, too), there will be panning for gold, the opportunity to start mineral collection or make a “pebble person,” fossil hunting and making a working volcano.

Visitors can also take part in the silent auction or rest tired feet in the video theatre.

Cliffs Natural Resources has also donated chromite samples from its Black Thor deposit in the Ring of Fire that will be given for free to every child who attends.

Field trips to hunt for minerals will also be offered on Sunday for those who sign up on site. Registration deadline is 11:30 a.m. that day, and participants must provide their own transportation and supplies.

For more information, dial 705-522-5140.

Posted by Arron Pickard

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