The 62nd annual Humboldt Gem and Mineral Show has kicked off at Redwood Acres in Eureka. 

It doesn’t look like much from afar, but if you take the time to get up close, your eyes will light up like Gollum finding my precious in Lord of the Rings. 

The event brings in a wide variety of vendors who turn their most prized collections into your selection. There’s common crystals like quartz, amethyst and citrine. Then there’s funky stuff you’ve probably never heard of, such as malachite stalactite and malachite chrysocolla from the Congo.

But the gems and minerals don’t just fall in the vendors lap and that’s another aspect that makes it interesting. There’s a story behind every single item on the table and they love to explain; where they got it, how they got it, who they got it from, how it’s mined, how it’s formed, how old it is, etc. It’s like taking a speed course in geology 101. 

In this LoCO video report we learn fascinating facts about various gems and minerals and get to gaze at their beauty. The event lasts all weekend and is only $3 to get in.