Collect gems or rocks? Idaho Falls rock club is holding its annual sale – East Idaho News

The behavior of amassing rocks can turn out to be an obsession for some and what do you do with all of the rocks you gather, buy, or have to get out of the home?

You be a part of a rock membership and promote your extra objects at its annual membership sale.

The Idaho Falls Gem and Mineral Society (IFGMS) shall be holding their Annual Members Rock, Gem and Jewellery Sale, Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to five p.m. The general public is invited to come back to that sale on the Bonneville County Fairgrounds, south of Sandy Downs Racetrack on Woodruff Avenue.

There shall be a $3.00 admission for entry and kids beneath the age of 12 are free. Attendees on the sale will discover gems, completed jewellery, tough and polished rocks, minerals and fossils in addition to handcrafted and artisan objects to buy.

You will see folks hooked on rocks, a wierd bunch with extra tales than fishermen, with a starvation for journey and all the time on the lookout for the strangest and most unique rocks. One rockhound in contrast sawing open a rock with opening a shock current on Christmas morning – it may be coal or an unbelievable souvenir.

This final Thursday, I used to be invited to attend a gaggle of flint knappers known as “Your Pleasant Native Flint Knapper,” women and men who make knives, arrowheads, spear factors and different instruments out of obsidian or different rocks that may be chipped. Former president of the IFGMS, Terry Ryan, invited me to observe the gathering of knappers as they labored on their initiatives.

“Most of our group isn’t accessible to come back tonight,” Ryan instructed me once I confirmed up. “It’s looking season and most of them are out within the woods making an attempt to reap some meat.”

Wendell Lowry, “one of many prime knappers round,” was engaged on a degree about three inches lengthy out of Inexperienced obsidian. “This obsidian comes from the Glass Buttes of Oregon,” he mentioned as he confirmed me the gorgeous level. “Most of our obsidian round right here has too many impurities in it to chip out these lovely items.”

Lowry picked up a brand new fashioned piece of white materials to work on because the “newby,” of the group, Floyd Scott, was engaged on a knife blade of mahogany obsidian. “I’ve solely been knapping for a few 12 months, however I actually take pleasure in it,” he instructed me. “It’s a must to watch out as two issues are assured to occur; blood shall be drawn and you’ll break a rock. The shards are sharper than surgical metal and can get you in case you are not cautious.”

A mat made up of 4 layers of leather-based is positioned on their laps to guard the knappers from getting injured with the flying items of nature’s glass. All of them use the “strain flaking” technique through the use of an “Ishi” keep on with a sharpened copper rod to chip the stones into usable instruments.

One other grasp knapper, Tom Robust, confirmed up and I observed that he didn’t use a leather-based mat, however solely his arms coated with a chunk of leather-based. Every knapper had their very own fashion of knapping whereas engaged on their items.

Of the group, Ryan would be the just one promoting on the member’s sale on Nov. 8. She could have lovely knives with wood/rawhide handles in addition to baskets she has weaved. “I’m all the time on the lookout for new rocks and wooden to make use of,” she mentioned.

On the sale, there shall be an indication from Lion Punch Forge on using Peptools in addition to different issues for rock fanatics. As you attend you’ll discover that every of the rockhounds could have various things and shall be utilizing completely different strategies in producing what they’re promoting.