From 2 to 4 PM on Fridays—the 9th, 16th, and 23rd—young people aged 8 to 18 can take part in a free hands-on learning series focused on exploring rocks, minerals, gems, and geology.

In case you didn’t know, the birthstone for February is amethyst, which is beautifully crystalline and can be found in the Four Peaks mountain ranges, visible from the Globe Miami area.

Gila County is home to an impressive array of minerals and gems like azurite, peridot, chrysocolla, malachite, and turquoise. It’s quite breathtaking! Additionally, tourmaline, known as the October birthstone, is found in Pinal Mountain, while topaz, the birthstone for November, has also been discovered in Arizona. Not to forget, turquoise—the signature stone for December—is particularly well-known for its deposits in Sleeping Beauty Mountain.

The learning series on those Fridays is coordinated by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and Gila County 4-H. Each session will delve into different aspects of geology.

Activities planned include fun projects like drawing with iron on cereals, mining for cupcakes, and making rock candies. It sounds exciting! Youngsters interested in joining can sign up for the free event through a provided link.

Arizona has gained worldwide recognition for its diverse rocks and minerals. In fact, Globe Miami’s Copper Corridor offers opportunities for everyone, from hobbyists to professional geologists, to pursue their interest in geology.

If you have questions, you can reach out via email.

The series coordinator also encourages attendees to learn about amethyst and its connections to February—it’s often associated with royalty due to its rich purple hue and symbolizes deep love. Interesting, right? Cupid is said to endorse amethyst as the February birthstone!

So, make sure not to miss the first event at the Globe Public Library on February 9th!