Check out the gems in those rocks

Bruce Norstrom hefted the large rock he had just been handed. His eyes lit up as he shook the rock and held it up to his ear.

"That's the loose crystals inside," he said as he listened to the light tinkling sound.

Norstrom was holding a geode -- a rock that holds a formation of crystals within its plain exterior.

He helped dozens of kids crack geodes open to expose their crystals over the weekend at the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois' annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil show at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

All weekend, kids and adults wandered the maze of displays, browsed jewelry cases, bid in live and silent auctions and sought out the perfect addition to their rock collections.

"People … are always waiting outside the door before we open," said membership chairman Eileen Mizerk. "They want to get top-of-the-line stuff."

The show draws varying degrees of rock lovers as it offers items for experienced rock hounds as well as trinkets for those just getting started in earth sciences.

"There's so much cool stuff you can actually buy," said Landyn Deshazer, 8. "I thought you could only look. I got some rocks, a shark tooth and some fossils."

Richard Nelson of Sugar Grove has set up a mineral display at the show for the past four years. He said he loves seeing kids at the event.

"Bringing them to a show like this helps them enjoy something new," he said. "It's an enjoyable hobby … and it's important for kids to do something outside."

The Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois has about 250 members. The club takes summer field trips to rock quarries and visits area schools to teach kids about earth sciences.

A general meeting is held the second Friday of each month. The club also offers weekly study groups at the College of DuPage, covering a different earth science concentration each week.

For more information on club offerings or how to join, visit esconi.org or e-mail esconi@hotmail.com.