A first for the Syracuse Area... Panning for gems is one of 3 of our Discovery Activities....

This same exact activity costs 20-33% MORE at the State Fair or other fairs with gemstone bags from the same supplier that we use ! Big Don's the best value around! 

Wait til you see our 78' gemstone mining sluice (the largest in NY State)! It's very cool and has been a big hit with the younger crowd. Gobs and gobs of minerals, gemstones and fossils in every bag. You should see the wide eyed wonder on the faces of the participants. My favorite comment from the little ones when they see all the gems and minerals is, "Do I get to keep 'em?"....You bet they do!

Participants (adults or children) purchase a bag of mining rough. There are three different kinds of bags to choose from. A small mineral and gem bag, a large mineral and gem bag or a fossil bag. Participants take their bag of rough to our 78' sluice (like you see at mines). There they pour a little of the mine material into their sifter in the water. As the rough washes away, the gems appear. Patrons are also welcome to continue to sluice the mineral rough at the bottom of the sluice to look for gemstones and minerals that others have missed.

In each gemstone bag, panners normally find at least one of the following: ruby, emerald, topaz, garnet, obsidian, calcite, quartz, fluorite, peridot, smoky quartz, rose quartz, green quartz, pyrite and up to ten others. Each participant gets to take their "finds" home with them. There are 40 minerals and gemstones in all. Collect all 40 kinds! Gemstones are suitable for cutting, polishing, finishing, or mounting. We located a premium supplier, so you will not find better quality sluice bags anywhere else. This experience is a must. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the sluice.