This past weekend my friend and I set out to the “Rockhound Gemboree” in Bancroft, Ontario! It’s about a 3 hour drive from the city up into a beautiful countryside known for it’s mineral formations and mining. I have been to smaller rock and mineral shows with my father who does some lapidary as a hobby. Over the years he has made me all sorts of beautiful stone pendants and jewelry. The Gemboree took place in 2 buildings and was full of polished stones, finished jewelry, beads, and all sorts of gorgeous crystals and rocks! I took a *lot* of photos.  :)!

(Sorry for the giant photo pile. Click on any you’d like to see larger for higher res!)

 

The show took place in two buildings plus some outdoor areas. It’s one of the largest shows of it’s kind in Canada! Both buildings were packed with people.

The tables were filled with polished stones ready to be placed in jewelry, or cut crystals of all sizes, fossils, or enormous clumps of freshly mined stone formations for sale. It was overwhelming! Many were impossibly beautiful.

 

 

I love the fossilized shells shown below. They’re called Ammonites which are a very ancient relative of the nautilus. Originally these creatures were called the “Horns of Ammon” referring to the Egyptian god who is depicted wearing ram’s horns.

 

 

A beautiful fossilized fish in stone on display!

 

Many of the stones and crystals seen at this show have been mined locally! Amethyst (the gorgeous purple crystal below) is mined near Thunder Bay, Ontario.

 

 

Each stone and crystal is associated with different properties or effects. Some are said to encourage healing, others to lower stress, or bring luck.

 

 

My favorite booth was the one below featuring all of the skulls, natural curiosities, shark’s teeth, and other odd deathly things.

 

 

 

I looked all over for a pink carved crystal skull with a necklace attachment to no avail! I did find many carved bone skull pendants but none in pink stone, boo hiss! My friend and I loved this little carved stone bat with yellow eyes below.

 

 

The beads at this show were incredible! Giant heaps of strands ready to be made into all sorts of jewelry of every imaginable stone and color.

 

 

Below Goreblots holds some “Eye of Shiva” polished stones at a booth.

 

 

 

We had a wonderful time exploring this enormous show! I’d definitely recommend making it a 2 day trip if you’re planning on going, one day for looking and a second for shopping. Also there are so many beautiful spots on the way there and in the Bancroft area it’s worth exploring as well.

-Taeden