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The Freisen Mineral Club sponsors its 25th Mineral Fair 2008 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Bruchwaldhalle (town hall) in Freisen.
The area around Freisen, known as the Saar-Nahe-Region, is well known for its discoveries of remarkable and beautiful minerals.
“When mentioning the towns of Freisen, Baumholder and Idar-Oberstein, the heart-beats of all mineral collectors increase,” said Wolfgang Diehl, a member of the Freisen Mineral Club.
“Especially pretty are the agates, which make the area on both sides of the border between the states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland, very popular in the entire ‘mineral world.’”
***image1***People driving on A62 to this north-east part of the state of Saarland, will see wide valleys and hills dominating the countryside. These hills, covered with trees, are remains of former volcanos. The hills do document the original power, which formed this countryside about 250 million years ago. The processes, which happened during those days, are the basis for all existing minerals.
Of all the minerals that exist in this region, agates play the dominant role; they are in the center of the interest of all collectors. Because of this, findings out of the Freisen and Baumholder region from about 600 years ago formed the foundation of the mineral industry in the city of Idar-Oberstein.
In the middle of the 19th century, the search and demand for agates conducted under mining conditions fell asleep. The search for minerals had moved more and more away from the Freisen and Baumholder region toward the city of Idar-
Oberstein. Nowadays, hobby mineral collectors have initiated a revival of the region. The search for minerals out of the Freisen and Baumholder region again became more and more popular among many collectors from inside and outside Germany.
Amethysts, smoked quartz and agates are the minerals which can be found the most on the plowed fields in the surrounding area and in the Hellerberg quarry near A62.
“During the construction of autobahn A62 back in the 1970s, this region was frequented by mineral collectors from all over Europe; they all were digging for their ‘treasures’,” said Mr. Diehl. “Many smoked quartz, amethyst drusen and agates with very remarkable and sometimes unique colors found their way into mineral collections of the entire world.”
Approximately 50 exhibitors will display their exclusive minerals on more than 100 tables at the fair. Also, excellent pieces out of collectors’ showcases of the very well-known northern and southern American localities can be admired.
The “Edelsteinkoenigin” (Gem Queen) will make an appearance. Near by the town hall, the club’s mineral museum is located. Here, another special exhibition takes place. Special collectors’ pieces that have never been shown to the public can be admired. Admission to this special exhibition is free. During lunch hours, coffee and cake will be served.
Entrance fee for the mineral fair in Bruchwaldhalle is €2 for adults. Children under 14 years are admitted free.
To get to Freisen, travel from Landstuhl north on A62. In Freisen, signs lead to the event.
For more information, visit the Web site www.mineralienverein-freisen.de.
(Courtesy of Freisen Mineral Club)
