Rock, mineral and gem show returning to Charleroi

Attendees can buy the items and learn more about how they were created.

For the MVI

For the fourth time in six years, Linda Horrell, gemologist and owner of Marbill Diamonds & Jewelry, along with Dr. Kyle Fredrick, geology professor at PennWest California University, will host a Rock, Mineral and Gem Show.

The show is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Off the Wall Arts, 523 McKean Ave., Charleroi. Admission is free.

Horrell hosted her first rock and mineral show at Off the Wall Arts in 2019 as a way to share her knowledge and passion with others.

“I am a collector of rocks and minerals and have a large assortment,” Horrell said. “I am very passionate about teaching and sharing the beauty of the Earth’s natural treasures.”

At her first show, Fredrick attended with his family and briefly helped Horrell discuss various fossils with those in attendance.

“I had so much fun at that event we remained in contact and I partner with her for shows two and three.” Fredrick said.

Horrell will have a large assortment of minerals and geodes for sale as well as jewelry. Microscopes will be on hand for people to take a closer look at fossils, rocks and other gems.

All kids who attend will receive a free gift and will have the opportunity to get their own rock specimens identified.

Geodes will be available to purchase and break, revealing gems inside.

Fredrick and his colleague, Dr. Dan Harrison, and students from the geology department of PennWest, will be present throughout the day at various tables to answer any questions.

“We are leveraging our students and their experiences with various content we are working on this semester, so they are able to get into the community, answer questions and share their knowledge,” Fredrick said.

It’s not often his geology students are invited to participate in something that aligns so well with their studies and interests.

“We try to get our students involved in this kind of community outreach as much as possible, but this event was really tailor made for them”, Fredrick added. “They each have their own casual and personal interest in minerals, gems and fossils and this aligns perfectly with that.

“It’s nice for us as faculty to be able to take our students’ personal interest in geology and add on their content knowledge to allow them to be that go between from basic geology and that kind of “this is cool” recognition of the rocks and fossils you can find in our area. It’s not an opportunity that presents itself very frequently, so we are all excited to be involved.”

Fredrick hopes people take time to stop by Saturday to help gain a better understanding of the world around them.

“I think getting people to understand the beauty of the world around them is important,” he said. “When you are walking outside in southwestern Pa. in the middle of February, it can be dreary. All you see are a bunch of gray rocks, but there is an amazing story to be told when you take a closer look at them and inside of them, and we often take that for granted.

“When you take the knowledge that Linda (Horrell) has to offer, it is a door to open the wonder that is geology, especially local and regional geology. That is a win for us as a university because by creating that interest, so many things can branch off of that appreciation you can have just by picking up a rock in your back yard.”