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A gem of a rock show

Rocks, gems, fossils and First Nations artifacts collected in and around Port Moody will be on show this weekend as part of the city's 100th birthday celebrations.

Rocks, gems, fossils and First Nations artifacts collected in and around Port Moody will be on show this weekend as part of the city's 100th birthday celebrations.

It will be the 35th year the Port Moody Rock and Gem Club will host its exhibit that draws hundreds of geology and history buffs from around the Lower Mainland.

Co-organizer Andrew Danneffel said this year's event at the Kyle Centre will be one to remember with displays from Erica Williams, a science teacher at Port Coquitlam's Riverside secondary who found fossils around the Tri-Cities, and soapstone carver Elaine Thompson.

The Port Moody Station Museum will also have a small iron cannonball - found in the 1930s off Ioco Road - that was used for target practice by the Royal Engineers in the 19th century.

Former mayor David Driscoll will show his new carving from a block of wood the club donated to him in 1988. And lapidary artist Cosimo Geracitano will have his jade book available for viewing on Saturday.

As well, some First Nations hunting artifacts that a club member has kept tucked away for 40 years can be seen as well as a ram's skull found in a slough that is now covered in salt crystals.

But perhaps the biggest highlight will be the Port Moodite, a rock unique to the city that was prospected during a club field trip around the Port Moody Inlet this past summer.

Danneffel said the show formalities will happen at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with a speech from Mayor Mike Clay and a recognition of the club's 70 members including past president Lisa Elser, whose 14.24 ct. oval red tourmaline was donated this year to the Smithsonian's permanent collection.

Then to Now: 35 Years of Having Fun with Rocks runs Oct. 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kyle Centre (125 Kyle St.). Visit portmoodyrockclub.com.

jwarren@tricitynews.com