A moon rock, collected during the Apollo 15 lunar landing mission by Lunar Module Pilot James B. Irwin, will be a featured display when the Buffalo Geological Society hosts its 50th annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show on March 24-25 in the Market, Grange and State Police buildings at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg.
The 159-gram sample was collected by Irwin, near Station 8, from a football-sized moon rock and is encased in Lucite. The rock is a basalt, a dark colored extrusive igneous rock formed from lava that cooled quickly on the surface of the moon. The rock contains pyroxene and plagioclase feldspar. This rock was collected with more than 170 pounds of lunar samples at the Hadley Rille on the moon during the Apollo 15 Lunar Mission in July and August of 1971.
The annual show by the Buffalo Geological Society, a nonprofit organization, has expanded to a third building for increased exhibits and geological lectures that will be provided throughout the show.
Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Some of the eight geological lectures to be held on Saturday and Sunday will be on "Gold & Pyrite," "Geology in New England" and "Mineral Collecting in Ontario, Canada."
This year's theme is "GOLD," and there will be several exhibits displaying a variety of gold specimens from different localities.
This annual show provides an instant museum of Buffalo Geological Society members' fossils, minerals and jewelry, as well as: demonstrators; the famous "Mini-Mine" for young collectors; mineral and fossil identification; representatives from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; the Buffalo Association of Professional Geologists; the Buffalo Museum of Science; Penn Dixie; Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve; fluorescent mineral exhibits; and the geology department from the University at Buffalo.
This educational, family-friendly event gives attendees the opportunity to interact with demonstrators who work with minerals and gems. Demonstrators include stone carvers, jewelry designers and other lapidary artists. In addition, more than 30 dealers will sell gems, beads, minerals, fossils and jewelry from around the world. A food vendor and hourly door prizes will be available.
Sandy Cline, an internationally renowned soapstone carver from Canada, will demonstrate his art of carving wildlife forms and will have several for sale.
Young scientists can visit the "Mini-Mine," where they will be able to search for mineral specimens in a simulated mine setting.
All who attend can experience hands-on fun and learn something new about the geological sciences. Professional geologists will be available to discuss what geologists do and what types of jobs are present in the area for geologists.
This Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show annually draws more than 4,000 attendees.
Admission is $5 for adults, while Scouts in uniform and children under age 12 are admitted free. Parking is free. The event is accessible for wheel chairs and strollers.
