By
Brooke Wonders
Arizona Daily Wildcat
New exhibit draws students, families and experts to learn about gem cutting, bead making
UA students spent yesterday afternoon making paper crystals and learning how gemstones are cut as part of the Flandrau Science Center's new geology exhibit.
The center's new show, "Flandrau Rocks! Minerals, Meteorites and Mining," began Friday and will continue until April 30. Each monthly subject will include programs and activities, and is open to both the University of Arizona and Tucson communities.
February's mineral theme, in conjunction with the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, features huge display cases housing massive geodes and quartz hedgehogs placed throughout Flandrau.
Alexandra Rozek, a psychology senior, and Sam Chia, a geography junior, came to the show together and headed straight for the make-your-own-gem exhibit, where they made models of geometric shapes representing different crystal structures.
"We want to go to the (Tucson) gem show next week . . . this is something else to do on a weekend," Rozek said. "The gemstones (downstairs) were incredible."
The entrance to the exhibit is a passageway with a small puppet theater holding numerous large, flawed quartz crystals. Fitted with multi-colored light-emitting diodes, the crystals light up to the beat of classic rock tunes - the Flandrau version of a rock concert.
"This is great, it's my first time here (at the science center)" said Tucsonan Lupita Krieski, while visiting the show on Friday. "We've seen such interesting, beautiful stuff."
Her son Myles agreed, and pointed out his favorite part of the show.
"I like the one in the tent," he said, looking toward the display housing the fluorescent rock demonstration.
In addition, the tent features a case of neon minerals glowing under black lights. Onlookers could watch as luminol was dropped into bleach, creating a momentary cloud of fluorescence - which is also the explanation behind fireflies' glow.
One of the permanent displays at the center is a collection of gems and minerals from around the world. For the show, each of the minerals from Mexico are marked with the country's flag.
Terry Wallace, a UA geosciences professor, delivered the keynote speech about the mineral heritage of Mexico at the exhibit's opening ceremony Friday.
He discussed the role of precious gems in the colonization of Mexico by the first conquistadors, who came from Spain to seek gold.
Wallace also pointed out the importance of Mexico to the contemporary worldwide gem and mineral market. The number of tiny flags next to the minerals downstairs is a testament to just how many of the world's minerals come from Mexico, and the majority of the world's silver is mined there.
The Old Pueblo Lapidary Club, a local geology organization, is running the workshop on gem faceting.
Norman Crane, a member of the club and a Tucson resident, explained the difference between diamond cutting and amethyst faceting to Rozek.
"The machine is different...the technique is different. Diamonds have a pronounced grain...there are three or four thousand possible cuts, and you can modify them with a computer program," he said.
"I always wondered how they do this," Rozek said, in visible amazement of the explanation.
The club will return to Flandrau on Feb. 14 and 28, and is a part of the many special presentations at the center throughout the exhibit. For the February focus on minerals, glass-bead making and fluorescence are two of the workshops aside from gem faceting being offered.
