LOESS Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show this weekend at Illinois State Fairgrounds

[October 05, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- The 200th anniversary of the New Madrid Earthquake of 1812 will take center stage at the Lincoln Orbit Earth Science Society's Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show Saturday and Sunday in the Illinois Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The show is open to the public.

At this show, the organization will have a "hands-on" earthquake exhibit they call "Rock'n and Roll'n on the New Madrid." Another featured exhibit is a collection of dinosaur skulls from the Burpee Museum of Rockford. This exhibit includes "Jane," the juvenile T. rex; "Homer" the Triceratops; and several others.

In addition to the featured exhibits, there will be "eye candy" of gems and minerals and geode cracking, flint napping and other lapidary demonstrations. Fine dealers of fossils, gems, minerals and jewelry will also be present.

Visitors can win door prizes and bid on their favorite item at the silent auction.

Admission is $2, $1 for seniors, and free for Scouts and 4-H members in uniforms. Proceeds benefit local earth science projects.

[Text from file received from Lincoln Orbit Earth Science Society]