Exploring the treasures of gems and minerals at the Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society's Fall Festival

Abigail Greenfield pans for gold at the Gem & Mineral Fall Festival in downtown Fallbrook on Oct. 5. She enjoys gems and minerals and visits the Gem & Mineral Society museum several times a month.

Collector and artist Laura Wright searches for stones to use to create her wire-wrapped jewelry.

Steve De Long, from the Poway area, examines a

In front, Olivia Harris watches as her grandmother, Theresa Sanchez, looks at some slabs of stone as Olivia

From left, Iris Ford, Olivia Harris and Elliott Dahl watch and worry as a geode is cracked and split.

From left, vendor Jason Doubrava shows collector Simon Wilshire and his fianc

Chole Duhala and her father, Kirk, center, watch as Steven Greeley, left, and Frederick Rasp split a geode. Rasp has been a member of the Gem & Mineral Society since 1972.

At the Gem & Mineral Fall Festival, Pam Frankel examines an ametrine. She is just learning to cut stones. Her husband, Brian, waits in the shade.

From left, FG&MS volunteer Sandy Schiefer watches Rylee Dynes and her Grandpa, Doug Verner, stop by the silent auction at the museum to look at a small bottle with gold chips inside. Verner gave the bottle a good shake and watched the gold move inside the bottle. Other silent auction items included an ostrich egg with a stand, a marble vase, and Kyanite stone. Items were awarded and new items offered every 45 minutes.