Russell Hartill wrote an article in 2014 about his first rock, fossil and mineral show . I thought it would be a neat idea to write an article about my own experience at my first mineral and fossil show, and share the specimens that I purchased from that first rock show as well.

During the first weekend in March, every year, the Eastern Indiana Gem & Geological Society hosts a rock show at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Several dealers offer quality specimens, both minerals and fossils and have a kids table where for fifty cents you can buy “grab bags” filled with small specimens. The mineral and fossil exhibits are also of particular interest and you get a chance to see many Midwest specimens that you would normally not see for sale at any shows.

The Richmond, Indiana mineral show is popular for collectors who specialize in Midwest mineral specimens, as those dealers typically collect and sell specimens from the Midwest region. It doesn’t take very long to find sleeper specimens and I have always have found great bargains at this show. Also this show has an added bonus that it this is one of the earliest local Midwest shows that is several of weeks after Tucson where these dealers unveil their new finds.

The first time I went to the Richmond, Indiana show was on March 5, 2005, when I was a geology undergraduate student. All the specimens that I purchased, both minerals and fossils, were all between two and ten dollars and were affordable for a college student. While the suite of these specimens would be considered “low-end” by most collectors’ standards, I consider them more for their sentimental value, rather than any actual monetary value.

These are the specimens that I purchased at my first mineral show, March 5, 2005:



Kyanite was one of the first mineral species that I was attracted too. I absolutely love its blue color, striations and zoning. Kyanites from Brazil are considered to be excellent examples of the mineral species that are affordable to beginning collectors. I learned about kyanite in my physical geology class. The specimen is approximately 2 x 1.5 x 7 cm and I purchased this specimen from Harris Precht



Many beginning collectors are attracted to amethyst from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and for good reason. Brazilian amethyst makes for a colorful addition to any mineral cabinet and like the kyanites from Minas Gerais, Brazil are affordable to collectors who are first introduced to minerals. The specimen is approximately 9 x 6 x 6 cm and I purchased this specimen from Mike Manning.



Many beginning collectors are initially confused when they see these citrines, directly next to the dark purple amethysts from the same locality. I purchased this specimen from Harris Precht, who told me that the orange color is achieved by heat treatment. The specimen is approximately 9 x 4.5 x 2.5 cm



Dolomite was one of the earliest minerals that I was exposed to in my physical geology class. Dolomites from Corydon, Indiana typically show these “saddle shaped” crystals. The Corydon Quarry is now a closed locality. I purchased this specimen from Harris Precht and is approximately 8 x 6 x 5.5 cm



Azurite and Malachite are two colorful minerals that often introduced to introduction to geology classes. These two carbonates are often found together in many copper producing mines. This specimen comes from the Morenci Mine, Morenci, Arizona and is approximately 3 x 3 x 4.5 cm. I purchased this specimen from Harris Precht.



When I first began learning about mineralogy and geology, I was surprised to learn that my home state, Ohio, produced excellent mineral specimens. I was cautioned by my professor about purchasing fluorite because, it is “…a common mineral species”. Years later, I decided to ignore that advice and fluorite became one my favorite minerals to collect. I purchased this specimen from Harris Precht and it is approximately 5 x 4 x 7 cm.



Pictures of fossil fish, sting rays and plants from the Green River Formation are typically shown in many geology textbooks and I learned about these fossils from my Earth History class at college. This specimen came from Lincoln County, Wyoming. I purchased this specimen from Mike Manning and is approximately 14 x 8.5 x 9.5 cm



When I was a student at Earlham College, our geology classes would make frequent trips to hunt for Ordovician fossils. While many of my friends were fortunate at finding these trilobites, Flexicalymene meeki, I was one of the unlucky people. I decided to purchase this specimen from fossil collector Mike Manning who explained that the trilobites from Mount Orab, Ohio are much easier to find than their Indiana counterparts. Mount Orab, Ohio is a popular place to hunt for fossils and the “Dry Dredgers” a Midwest Fossil Club, has found many trilobites over the years at this locality. The trilobite itself is about 3 x 1.5 cm.

If you are in the Richmond, Indiana area during the first weekend in March, you should consider attending the mineral and fossil show. I would also like to thank dealers, Tom Kottyan, Mike Manning, Harris Precht, and James Below for providing great information, specimens and friendship over the years. Also thank you Russell for giving me the inspiration to write my own story!

So…do you remember your first rock show?

References Cited:

Hartill, R., 2014, Do you remember your first rock show? http://www.mindat.org/article.php/1491/Do+you+remember+your+first+rock+show .