Panning for gold technique shared at Tyler Gem & Mineral Show

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - The 25th Annual East Texas Gem & Mineral Show got underway Friday at the Tyler Rose Garden Center.

Henry Sanders, President of the Northeast Texas Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association, and Rod Johnson gave a demonstration of how to pan for gold.

The show, hosted by the East Texas Gem and Mineral Society, runs Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Tyler Rose Garden Center. Admission is $5 for adults $1 for children and students, and free for scouts in uniform.

Vendors from all over the country come out to display and sell their collections.

“It’s amazing what nature can make you can just see the boxes around here. Nature makes rocks in pretty much every color you can think of,” Sudderth said.

Friday was school day, where kids from 4th to 6th grade got to participate in fun, hands-on activities.

The show has different stations for kids to enjoy, including jewelry making, rock painting displays, and geode cracking.

One of the most interesting displays is a table of rocks set up to look like a table of breakfast, lunch, and dinner food.

The world-renowned rock table displayed as a feast was donated to the East Texas Gem and Mineral Society by Keith and Tony Harmon. They acquired the table from the Patillo family, who traveled all over the country displaying stone food for the eyes.

The gem show is a major fundraiser, with the goal to establish a workshop in the members’ clubhouse to hold classes, group meetings, and house their equipment.

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