By Cindi Hamar
For The New Era
Petrified wood and lots of other mineral attractions were the stars last weekend, March 29-30, at the 75th annual Rock and Mineral Show held at the Sweet Home High School Activities Gym.
This year’s theme was “Knock on wood.” The show included many specimens of petrified wood from around the state of Oregon. The displays were numbered and attendees could vote on their favorites.
“Sweet Home is famous for the amount of petrified wood found in the area,” said Steve Ewings, president of the Rock and Mineral Show.
Petrified wood is a fossilized form of wood where the original organic material has been replaced by minerals, primarily with silica, over time, resulting in a stone-like structure that retains the original wood’s shape and texture.
Ewing said his interest in petrified wood began 40 years ago when he had property in Roseburg.
“I was trenching for a water line and an old neighbor guy stopped by,:” Ewing recalled. “He asked what I was going to do with some rock I had set aside and asked if he could have them. I said yes. Later, the guy showed me it was green jasper and I was hooked.”
Ewing said that hunting for rocks has enriched his life by getting him outdoors which includes prompting him to enjoy photography and writing.
The show included plenty of other attractions in addition to petrified wood. Items for sale included everything from raw rocks to polished stones such as rubies and Ethiopian crystal opals. Vendors sold jewelry such as earrings and rings, necklaces with beautiful stones, bolos, deer bone hand-carved knives and a rock lamp made in Greece.
There were displays of rubies, aquamarine, rose quartz, carnelian, arrowheads, crystals, amethyst, dinosaur bone rocks from Utah, turquoise, agates, emerald, jade, obsidian, geodes and thunder eggs, and more.
Show organizers reported that attendance was 2,630 people.
Mike Miller, Rock Show coordinator, said he got interested in the rock show about 10 years ago, and brought his granddaughter along.
“She was a little thing, finding and carrying rocks alongside me,” he said. “She also has learned to love rockhounding. She is over at a booth right now making bracelets or jewelry or something.”
The show included 13 vendors and a geologist, who helped attendees identify rocks they’ve collected, as well as a silent auction and the traditional raffles and drawings in which participants could win a smorgasbord of rock-related gifts.
The gym was filled with people struggling for space to look at and admire the displays, while some waited for the opportunity to ask questions of the experts.
People interested in becoming educated in rocks and minerals can contact the Sweet Home Rock and Mineral Society at (541) 451-1577.
Photos by Cindi Hamar
