Salon des Fossiles et des Minéraux

Works of art in stone

The Earth, keeper of time and memories of distant eras, holds minerals and fossils of inestimable scientific value and remarkable beauty. Collectors and scientists will be there from opening time to admire the latest discoveries made in every corner of the planet. Witnesses to the Earth’s history, rare and well-preserved fossils are precious treasures that nature offers us today. From regions around the world, they will represent every geological era.

Meteorites

From the three main classes—siderites (iron), chondrites (stony), and siderolites (iron and stony)—and originating from North and South Africa, North and South America, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, …

Gems

Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds and other fine stones: aquamarines, opals, turquoise, tourmalines, topazes, pearls, mother-of-pearl, jades, …All these gem names evoke wealth, travel and adventure. But do you really know the journey these natural treasures take? From their discovery beneath the surface of our planet to their cutting to make them attractive and marketable, the lapidary’s work is a highly complex art. It requires exceptional artistic ability, along with knowledge of the laws of optics. That is why very few people are able to master this science.

Designer jewelry

A beautiful display of jewelry made with genuine stones (pendants, necklaces, bracelets, rings, …) in Baltic amber, Saint Lucia’s eye, lapis lazuli, malachite, cultured pearls, rhodochrosite, amethyst and kyanite. A wide range of jewelry will be offered for sale, or simply for visitors to admire.

Workshop for children

For children, a coloring and excavation workshop will be offered: fossil casts buried in sand and real fossil shark teeth to discover using brushes. An introduction to fossil preparation and removal will also be offered, with guidance from an instructor. Equipped with small pneumatic impact tools connected to a compressor, children can extract a Rhynchonella from the limestone matrix in which it was encased during fossilization. Participants take home their fossil, which is approximately 165 million years old. For young enthusiasts visiting the fair, a sample of petrified wood approximately 200 million years old, from Le Muy (Var), will be given to them.