An experience of the northern rockhound culture
gemboree1 008, originally uploaded by Mic2006.
Ontario rockhounds look forward to the Bancroft Gemboree, it is the biggest rock and gem show in Canada. I have taken a week off work to attend the gemboree and visit various rock collecting sites up in that area.
In my book (as of yet unpublished but still under review by a publisher) I write about the experience of the Bancroft Gemboree. There is a distinct division between the merchants inside and those without. As for deals – you are most likely to get a good deal where the dealers are not professionals. As I wrote …
“These outside dealers of rough stone and mineral oddities are shaggier and rougher than the smoothly coiffed gem merchants within. They are often amateur; this pursuit of beauty is their life’s calling, but not their full time job. It’s not about cash; it’s the love of rockhounding that drives them.
An aged lapidary was selling his polishing equipment. On a table beside him he had an archaic buffing wheel. He was willing to part with it for a mere $250. All around him he had 3-litre strawberry baskets filled with cut agate. I bought one on a whim and upon closer examination back at the cottage I regretted not buying more. It was an incredible mix of sliced nephrite, chalcedony, banded agates and jasper. There were all sorts of striped and spotted rocks, cabochons and nodules of every type, an absolute treasure-trove for $10.
“Why dump this beautiful stuff at such a low price?” I asked. Leaning on the table he smiled sadly at me, watery red eyes suggesting long hours at the grinder. “I’m getting on in years you know.””
I visited that majical place called Bancroft and attended the Gemboree in 1965. I spent three or four summers collecting rocks and selling them to th “Americans” along with blueberrries ,directions and whatever else would earn me money to buy more specimens. i recently went back to Sudbury and renewed my passion by speding hours at Science North in the swap shop!!The wonderful memories of a misspent youth.
I visited that majical place called Bancroft and attended the Gemboree in 1965. I spent three or four summers collecting rocks and selling them to the “Americans” along with blueberrries ,directions and whatever else would earn me money to buy more specimens. i recently went back to Sudbury and renewed my passion by spending hours at Science North in the swap shop!!The wonderful memories of a misspent youth.
[...] If I was asked to pick one gem as my favorite, it would definitely be tourmaline. Look at these colors. These cabs are in a tray that was displayed by a merchant at the Bancroft Gemboree. [...]