"The Magic of Fluorescents" is this year's special theme at Gemworld 2024, the 57th annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show, presented by The Gem and Mineral Society of Syracuse (GMSS). The show will return to the Center of Progress Building at the New York State Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14. There will be various interesting displays of fluorescent rocks, as well as other minerals and fossils, many that come from New York state. Bob's Fluorite Quarry, from Rochester, Malachite & Gems of Africa, from Greece, and Meliora Crystals & Minerals, from Batavia, will be featured dealers at the show.

The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Suggested donation is $8 for adults each day. Scouts in uniform and children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult.

You will discover minerals, geodes, crystals, fossils and other items of interest at more than 65 retail and wholesale dealers from New York State (including 11 from Syracuse and Central New York) and 14 other area states from New Hampshire to Florida, Massachusetts to Illinois. There will also be beautiful jewelry, trendy beads, cut stones and supplies as well as educational exhibits, interesting demonstrations, informative speakers, and a special activity area for the kids. There will also be a Treasure Hunt with prizes for the kids. Hourly prize drawings and the popular 25 Cent Straw Draw will be at the GMSS Club Booth. Six Metaphysical practitioners will also be in attendance, located in the Annex area.

Speaker topics at the Learning Center will include ones on "Fluorescent Minerals of Northern New York," UV lights, geode cracking, and "Historic and Cataclysmic Volcanic Eruption Sites," "Lagerstatten - Windows into the Past" (fossils from the Burgess Shale in Canada) and "Extraordinary Fauna of Fossil Lake, Wyoming."

The Gem and Mineral Society of Syracuse began in March 1951. Richard Sylvester, an employee of NY Central Railroad, was tired of taking the train to Rochester for mineral club meetings. He met with six Central New York people who were also interested in geology and rockhounding - the hobby of searching for gem and mineral specimens - and formed the Syracuse group. The first meetings were held in Lyman Hall at Syracuse University.

The GMSS Club now meets in the Ponderosa Plaza, 209 Oswego St., Suite 15, Liverpool, NY. Meetings are held on the third Monday of most months. There are monthly speakers who present topics related to the rockhounding hobby and geology, as well as silent auctions and the Knowledge Center, which focuses on various subjects. Visitors of all ages are always welcome. More information is available on the group's website: www.gmss.club, on its Facebook page: gemandmineralsyr, and on Instagram and Twitter at: @gemmineralsyr.

Contact information:

Cheryl Brown, Show Chair - show@gmss.club
John Sweeney, Club President - pres@gmss.club