Chippewa Nature Center will host the MidMichigan Rock Club’s annual Rock Show Sat, Nov 4 from 10 am to 5 pm and Sat, Nov 5 from 10 am to 4 pm at 400 S Badour Road in Midland. Admission is free.

Vendors will have fossils, rocks, minerals, gemstones and jewelry available for purchase. There will be several activities including a black light booth with florescent rocks, a scavenger hunt for kids (geared toward Scouts meeting geology related badges, open to all), a free rock and fossil dig for kids, a display of common uses of minerals and rocks (such as gypsum in drywall and copper in pennies) and a rock-themed photo backdrop for visitors to take photos. Area children will share their rock collections, and information such as the Rock Hound Code of Ethics and other rock collecting and identification will be available. The MidMichigan Rock Club will have the following items available for sale: goodie bags with 10 stones for $1; a variety of rocks, minerals and fossils starting at 25 cents and kids booklets related to rocks and fossils starting at $1.

There will be several presentations free and open to the public throughout the two-day show:

Saturday

10:30 am (also Sunday at 12 pm) – Sand: Many Types from Many Places – Tyler Thompson will help you understand sand is not as simple as you might think. It can be made of many different materials, and comes in many sizes and shapes. Tyler will describe 10 or more different types of sand and where they come from.

11:30 am – What is a Fossil? – Alex Iwanow will provide general information about what fossils are and the different types of fossils. Many fossils will be displayed.

1:30 pm – Identifying your Beach Rocks – Randy Kursinsky will provide a display and slide show of common beach rocks found on Great Lakes beaches, point out items you may mistake for rocks and help identify unique items found while beach combing.

2:30 pm (also Sunday at 3 pm) – Earth Rocks! And So Do Minerals! – Pam Kirchoff will provide a brief overview of geological science. The emphasis will be on Earth structure, the composition of geological materials, their formation, occurrence and uses.

3:30 pm – Odd rocks – John Copp will provide information about odd rocks.

Sunday

12 pm – Sand: Many Types from Many Places – Tyler Thompson (see description above)

1 pm – Geodes – Deb Young will help you understand what geodes are and how they are formed. Information on where to find geodes and examples of geodes found in central KY will be provided.

2 pm – Fossils of the Michigan Basin – PaleoJoe will provide a look at the fossils that can be found right here beneath our feet in Michigan. Corals, Crinoids, Bryozoans, Oh my! Learn where you can to find these prehistoric treasures.

3 pm – Earth Rocks! And So Do Minerals! – Pam Kirchoff (see description above)