FISHERSVILLE, Va. (WHSV) – An exhibition of Shenandoah Valley gems and minerals took place over the weekend at the Augusta Expo.

One organization participating in the show works year-round to educate people about the use of minerals in society.

Thomas Hale, President of the Friends of Mineralogy Virginia Chapter, said:

The Friends of Mineralogy Virginia chapter provides teachers with resources and classroom visits as a way to educate schools about the minerals industry.

“We have a mineral directory published for the state of Virginia that provides resources to museums and various shows throughout the state to make the public aware of the resources here. I will,” said Hale.

Hale says their public outreach is important because it could lead one of the students to study geology later in life.

“I always tell people, in these public outreach activities, when you talk to little kids and give them rocks and minerals, they grow and develop new ideas for a greener future. You never know you could be the next geologist to find technology,” Hale said.

Hale said this is why they always hand out free maps and rocks at shows and at school.

Their mission is education, Hale said, and Friends of Mineralogy provided a mineral display for guests at this weekend’s Gems and Minerals exhibition.

“When we talk about the use of critical minerals, industry, climate change, the energy transition, and the importance of getting back to basics, these basic building blocks of rocks and minerals and their use in everyday life, really I’m trying to understand,” said Hale.

For more information on Friends of Mineralogy, please visit their website.

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