For the love of gems
<p>Cassie Skelton, 10, and Joselenia Kopets, 11, compare the rocks they purchased at the North Mineral ClubÕs Gem and Rock Show.</p>
<p>Cassie Skelton, 10, and Joselenia Kopets, 11, examine rocks at North Idaho Mineral ClubÕs Gem and Rock Show on Saturday afternoon. Skelton has a collection of over 100 rocks.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Ten-year-old Cassie Skelton is a self-described rock and gem addict.
During the North Idaho Mineral Club's annual Gem and Mineral Show on Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Skelton could be seen using her small stature to her advantage while weaving in and out of the crowds to pay a visit to each and every vendor.
"They just look so awesome," Skelton said. "I've found quite a bit of treasure here."
Skelton's mom, Vicki Colar of Hayden, told the Press that she is always using her birthday money to purchase new gems and minerals and they try to bring her to as many rock shows as possible. A love of gems was passed on to the girl from her father and grandfather, who are both "into" geology and have been "rock hounding" for years, Colar said.
"I think I have more than 100 now," Skelton quickly added before running off to another booth at the fairgrounds.
For show chairman Michael Burton, people like Skelton are the reason he loves putting on the show. Burton has been a member of the North Idaho Mineral club for almost a decade and has had a passion for gems and minerals since he was a child living in the desert.
"It's kind of in my blood," Burton said. "I enjoy it, I like turning a new piece into something that people can look at and say 'wow.'"
Burton said the show attracts gem and mineral vendors from all over the Northwest and that some years vendors have come from as far away as California.
"We have our good years and our bad years," Burton said of the annual show. "But this seems to be a good year. We always aim to have no empty tables, and none of them are empty this year."
The show, which takes place during the first weekend of June, was packed with people of all ages browsing the many varieties of gems and minerals on display.
"I enjoy seeing all the new people who come and discover new things about gems," Burton said.