Magnolia State Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show is Nov. 13-15

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Gem and Mineral Society will sponsor its 26th annual Magnolia State Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show on Nov. 13-15 at the Civic Center Building, Jackson County Fairgrounds in Pascagoula.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 13-14 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 15.

Admission is $3 for adults or three-day tickets for $5. Children 12 and under are admitted for free but should be accompanied by an adult. There is no charge for parking.

This year's show will have a number of exhibits featuring rare gemstones, jewelry and a variety of unique artistic creations.

One exhibit that will return to the show is Mississippi's gemstone, "Opal." This exhibit is courtesy of James E. Starnes, a geologist with the Office of Geology, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in Jackson.

According to Starnes, the exhibit will include a segment of opal in the rough (contained in the natural matrix the way it was found) and pieces that have been cut and polished.

John Wright, a retired registered professional geologist, is president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Gem & Mineral Society. He said Mississippi has semi-precious gemstones such as jasper, carnelian, agate, quartz and many others that can be found in gravel pits along with petrified wood and fossils but had no "precious gemstone" until the recent discovery of the Mississippi opal by the State Geological Survey's Surface Geology Division.

The show's scientific and educational exhibits will have fossils, rare and unusual mineral specimen, and a black (ultraviolet) light display.

Other exhibits will include a gold exhibit by Bill LaRue of Ocean Springs and Wright's collection of meteorites.

Gulf Coast Gem & Mineral Society members will demonstrate techniques such as faceting, wire wrapping, intarsia, cabbing, silver work, beading and various other techniques used in the lapidary arts and crafts.

Dealers for the show are from around the United States and will have a wide range of items for sale. Others will be available to mount stones in rings or pendants and repair jewelry items.

The Magnolia State Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show is sponsored and funded by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Gem and Mineral Society Inc. Meetings and workshops are held on the second Saturday of each month at the Ocean Springs Library, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Details: Bill La Rue, vice president and show chairman, at 229-8781; or John Wright, president, at 875-9192.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 7:43 PM with the headline "Magnolia State Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show is Nov. 13-15 ."